Please help me understand??

[E-Feddy]

I have this situation here. Over the weekend I was invited to visit a club that does Obedience Training, Shutzhund, Protection, etc. I not going to mention no names, cuz I don't want to affend no one. Well anyways, I'm new to the clubs, working titles, & training classes, And also on a 6 month waiting list for our puppy. So I wanted to gather as much information on the clubs and also find a good trainer before our puppy comes home.

When we pulled up to the meeting spot. I was amazed! A very nice ranch with a bunch of Rottweilers & German Sheperds along with, what looks likes to me a obstacle course for the dogs, with a police car parked in the drive way. I suppose that's where they do the Shutzhund training. Now I'm really anxious to see the training session & meet everybody. I get out the car and seen a person with a rottie so I approached him & introduce myself & he ends up to be the person that invited me. We had a brief conversation and a member of the club walks up to us, stares me up & down without introducing himself to me. Now I'm feeling a little out of place and not so welcomed, so I step back & let them talk. A few minutes later we find out that the others have already gone to do the tracking session, so we leave to meet up with them.

We get to the place where they're at and they already started to do the tracking. The guy that invited us comes up to our car & tells us what's going on & briefly explains the process. I get the car with my wife & kids and approach the group of people introduce myself & my family and the only people that acknoledged us was a new person & one of the trainers. The others didn't make no attempt to welcome us. Now, I'm like forget it! I'm here, so I'm going to make the best of it. Everytime we joined the group to see what they was talking about the group simataneously went to another spot. I know it wasn't really how it was looking or maybe it was?? But the way I was feeling it appeared to be that way. Was it my age?? My wife & I are in our late twenties and everybody else was probably in their late forties. I have so many WHY questions, but I'm not going to sit here annoy you guys by them. Just curious to get you peoples opinions, so I can understand. How are you guys here when other people joins your clubs? Do we have to be older, so to speak. I'm not going to let this experience hold me down though. I'm still searching for another place to go, can you guys list a few places. I'm out here in Vallejo, CA. Thanks guys. & please don't attack my post, I'm already feeling pretty frustrated about this experience.

[WorkinDogz]

WOW! What a horrible experience for you!!

As the President and Training Director of a SchH Club; let me apologize for the way you were treated!

We in the sport of Schutzhund pride ourselves on our sportmanship and welcoming the next generation of sportsfriends TO our sport!

We don't roll out the red carpet for visitors; but you would CERTAINLY have been met by each Club Officer and introduced to our memebers by an Officer.

I sincerely hope that this doesn't cloud your opinion of the Sport or those who work so hard to preserve the integrity of our sport.

DON'T GIVE UP! Cali is LOADED with SchH clubs....I'm quite sure you'll be able to find one that will serve to help you not only with training but also with building the lasting friendships that are so typical of those of us in the sport.

I would give a call back to the person who invited you and thank him for the invitation; but also voice your concerns.

Generally we try to save the "cold shoulder" for people who waste our time for a year in training and don't have the desire to progress....not the first time you step on the field.

[Carol Burke]

I have to comment on this subject. I have been "in dogs" forever, GSDs and Rottweilers and I have found dog people and dog clubs to not be particularly friendly on first meeting. Of course there are exceptions, but I think what was described in the original post is pretty common. It almost seems to be trial by fire, if you keep coming back eventually they warm up. I went to a Schutzhund trial recently and I did not happen to know anyone there, no one introduced themselves to me or indicated friendliness, but I was there to watch and that's what I did.

If you keep trying you will eventually find people that suit you and the more you try to become involved the quicker this will happen. I have found dog people to be pretty self involved, especially if they are serious about one or another aspect of training or showing.

------------------
Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[German Vanegas]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Carol Burke:
I have to comment on this subject. I have been "in dogs" forever, GSDs and Rottweilers and I have found dog people and dog clubs to not be particularly friendly on first meeting. Of course there are exceptions, but I think what was described in the original post is pretty common. It almost seems to be trial by fire, if you keep coming back eventually they warm up...
</font>

I agree with Carol. I encountered similar attitudes when I wanted to get into the inner circle of the protection dog ring enthusiasts, and still I find some guys trying to "show me"... but I am "pushy"

[Bucky's Mom]

I too have had some experience with this attitude - it is like until you prove to the current members that you are serious and committed - they don't want to waste time with you - Also - just a guess - you didn't have a dog with you so they may have thought you were just a tourist - Keep trying - I admire you doing your research - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)

[Judi W]

This can also occur when a club thinks they have "enough" members. They might feel that their helpers' time is already full. It is short-sighted, but happens. You can either keep going back (like German) until they realize you are serious, or keep looking for perhaps a younger club.

[Urbans]

I am sorry for your experience and agree with all of the post above. Although schutzhund people seem cold to the outsider we are a pretty OK bunch of people for the most part. Your age should not be a problem, we need younger guys around to do the grunt work

A few things you may want to do to make your self more welcome:

Arrive early, help set-up the field. Also help put the equipment away.

Leave the kids at home. Once your a member and the kids are quiet and well behaved bring them along.

Do as the training director instructs you, within reason. Ask him/her what equipment you need and buy it.

Go to every training session, rain or shine.

Put as much energy into tracking and obedience as you do in protection.

I sure other members of this forum will have other suggestions to add.

[German Vanegas]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Urbans:
Although schutzhund people seem cold to the outsider we are a pretty OK bunch of people for the most part. </font>

I agree with your entire reply, however, to get into a schutzhund club is not nearly as hard as to get admitted into a protection dog group (or club). We are talking about some "hardliners" here. Albeit, the overall attitude has positively improved quite a bit in recent times

[E-Feddy]

Thank you all for your replies, now I feel a little better about the situation. At the time I was feeling like it was me, but now I got a little understanding on how they looked at us. I told the guy when we first spoke that I was fairly new to everything, just for this very reason, so they wouldn't expect to much out of me. I was feeling so akward that I didn't want to conversate and ask question. They might of looked at me like I was ignorant or something. I mean where is a person supposed to start if us new people get the treatment? For the people that get discouraged fast, this could steer them totally away from what they might of had planned for their dogs.

Well atleast I know what to look forward to when I visit the next club. I'll be a little more prepared for the "cold shoulder". Thank you all for your opinions and advice, I truely appreciate it.

Ed

[Storm]

[quote]Originally posted by E-Feddy:
I mean where is a person supposed to start if us new people get the treatment? For the people that get discouraged fast, this could steer them totally away from what they might of had planned for their dogs.

Firstly congratulations on your enthusiasm and interest. Joining a club can really be such an unpleasant experience!! Locally there is only one club that offers the training that I was interested in and man those first few visits, sessions, encounters etc. were unbearable. But due to circumstances I had no other alternative but to "bite the bullet" and hang in there and I managed to dig my claws (or should I say paws) in deeper day by day and eventually found myself in a position where I could do a better job introducing new people to our club and making tons of friends in the process. With time you get a feel for everyone, you yourself become more experienced therefore confident and eventually can associate with jargon, techniques and various members associated with the dog world. Yip, as for the people that easily get discouraged I see them come and go on a regular basis and then everyone wonders why the membership is so limited? Some clubs are also weary of newcomers as they are not always aware of their intentions. But this should change as they get to know you. Unfortunately only time can make things easier, follow some of the good advice offered in the previous posts and in no time I'm sure you will be able to have a good couple of laughs with the "local guys".

Best of luck!

[Monkey]

Any group or club has its best interest at heart when it retains only those people who are truly committed. I think we'd all agree that we don't want people who just decided last week that they want to get involved in protection training, but leave after a month, with just enough knowledge to make them and their dogs a danger?

Show them you are committed by doing the WORK. They'll realize that you only have the best interest of the sport in mind.

Also, I think it is a natural human reaction for the experienced ones to be a bit dismissive to novices at first. (I, myself, have learned over the years that people don't have to be expert trainers, to be good and kind dog owners. I gently try to suggest kind alternatives for inappropriate or even cruel training methods. Working with animal rights and welfare organizations allows one to spread the word about irresponsible pet ownership, too. I'm convinced that "once people know better, they DO better".)