| Re: What's with the dog attacks?
It still kindof seems to me that the facility allowing a class of that proportion is the one creating the problem.
There is no way that a single instructor can possible give everyone the time/attention that training properly deserves.
My guess is that they're trying to make the most $$$ possible by "training" as many dogs / class as they possibly can without having to expend the effort of actually investing in multiple trainers of varying expertise who can actually monitor, mentor and assist in individualized attention.
A personal story:
Many years ago I took my first rott to an advanced training class....we learned a TON.....several years after that I took my 2nd rott thru the same instructor and I came away at the end of the 10 weeks feeling disappointed and jaded ~~ it was like the instructor was just "going thru the motions" without any personal investment into the successes or failures of his students........several more years later I got invited to attend the "graduation" of one of my pups from this same school and I was appalled. The "graduation" was the final class, off leash heeling with distraction, long downs/sits, stand for exam etc.....you know basically the same test you would do for a CD. At this graduation I observed 3 dogs break and immediately go after the 12 month old rott pup in an extremely aggressive manner. And yet the instructor gave them all their certificates of graduation......I couldn't believe it. It bugged me for months until it finally occurred to me that it was the instructor that had changed. Frankly I think that he was simply going thru the motions and that he was tired and bored himself from year after year of the same classes. I think he simply lost interest in dealing with the same training after too many years.
Perhaps that is the issue with your training facility....perhaps the trainers are simply tired and undoubtedly overworked having that many dogs to watch/ attempt to train, and have developed a very apathetic approach to everything.
Personally even tho the instructor wasn't there to witness what occurred I still find it somewhat presumptuous and frankly inexcusable to immediately blame the puppy before getting all her facts in order. And then after she did have the facts, not immediately excusing the offender dog and rescheduling another training session with that dog & owner at a later date after both had calmed down.
Perhaps I just expect a lot from my trainers but this is how I see it. Why spend your hard earned money for training from this facility when it isn't benefitting you and is / could result in a training setback on your young girl as well as other issues. I think this training facility is frankly setting themselves up for a lawsuit when something does occur and someone brings up past incidents and they are found to have been negligent for not doing something regarding foreseeable/preventable lapses in their training regimen. I understand all about signing waivers and all at a training location, however there is a difference between an "accident" vs negligence on the part of the training academy.
Training your dog shouldn't result in your pup possibly developing fear issues because of a negative training experience. I would find a new training facility with smaller class sizes and more attentive trainers.....
JMO
Heather Peters  |