Starting training, so confused, please advise!!

[Janet529]

Training classes are opening up, she's out of heat, I have the time and off I go to the local PetsMart to sign Samantha up for a class. I watched one of the classes taking place in the store and spoke to the trainer. The trainer told me they've just started a new positive reinforcement method of training vs. correction. Sounds good to me, sign me up. Then I start to re-read all the training posts and now I'm confused. I wish one of you senior pros lived next door! You have such good advice! I want someone I trust to look at the two of us together and say 'sign up for this course'.

Anyway, Samantha is about 4-5 yrs old. Her previous owner trained her very strictly on his own and was considering breeding her (on his own - another byb -- OH NO!) She knows a couple of hand signals...sit, right hand up, elbow bent and lay down, right hand straight up in the air. She also knows sit, stay (won't stay with distractions), lay down, come, heel (needs constant work on this one). I've taught her 'wait' which means sit and stay, 'ICK' which means don't eat whatever it is and we're working on 'find' to play hide and seek.

I had asked once before if anyone thought we should be enrolled in training classes and it was a unanimous yes. I'm wondering if the training class I just signed up for will be right for us? I'm concerned about confusing Samantha with different commands. Also, I read in one post that the dog should never be in front of you walking out the door. I always make her take the lead because she drags her leash behind her if I have my hands full and I don't want the leash to get caught on anything. Should I be looking for one on one training instead of beginner classes? Does anyone know of a good trainer in the Boston area? I've spoken to friends that have done one on one and not one of them would recommend their trainer. Even though they finished the courses with the trainer, they weren't happy.

I just want to do what's right for Samantha and I. She's a great dog and I really just need to get her to obey with distractions and am not sure how to do that. I've tried but no luck so far.

thanks

[SchIVRotts]

Janet, email me at von_aphaus@yahoo.com and I can suggest some trainers in the Boston area.

[Caleb'sMom]

SchIVRotts,

Can you send me that information also? I've got Caleb enrolled, but I would like to have options.

Thanks,
Amy

[suzanne611]

I took Boris to Petsmart for puppy kindergarten. It was o.k. for puppy socializing but I used a private trainer for Boris. (he trained me well) Everytime I take Boris to Pets,art and their trainer sees me socializing with Boris and another dog, she gets so bent out of shape because he has a prong collar on, that she says he's not to play even told one couple that their dog's tongue could get caught in Boris's collar and they ran like I was praticing animal cruelty. I tried to joke around with her and tell her that I would like to meet up with her when she is 61 and THEN tell me she disapproves of a prong. Look for a trainer who looks at your dog and you as an individual and addresses those problems that are not only dog pecific but breed specific and very importantly you specific. Anyway Boris is going to fire her when he is hired as the social director of Petsmart.

[Janet529]

Maybe Boris could put in a good word for me - I'm looking for part time work. Social director at PetsMart sounds fun! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[suzanne611]

Janet, I just spoke to him and he said that he is absoluteky sure he will need an executive assistant when he takes over the job, and since you were the first to inquire you will be given top priority. Suzanne Beskn Sec. to Boris Rottenface

[suzanne611]

Janet, Boris just informed me that if his secretary didn't check her spelling, she was going to lose her job. However, my daughter lives near Boston and I will ask her to make inquiries through her vet for you. I liked my trainer VERY much and think he was extremely competent. Sounds like your dog is well trained and you probably just need to keep her on her toes.

[Janet529]

Thanks Suzanne - I sent an email to one trainer and haven't checked for replies yet today, but would like to have options. I was orginally convinced a brush up course was all we needed - actually, I think I need it more than her - but the more I think of it I'd rather do one on one.

I'm going to put Boris as my reference on the application http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[Janet529]

Frau - so right! How can I work on distractions with her if I'm in one on one training. Maybe I should start with the private lessons and then take a class??? Or do it the other way around??

Maybe there's no easy answer - just wanted to do what made the most sense for Samantha's training and my pocketbook. Doesn't take much to confuse me sometimes!! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/confused.gif

[frau]

I use a trainer for both private lessons and group. I learn much less in group because the Rotti learns so much faster than the other dogs ++ I had several private lessons before we went to class.

BUT, the group really helps with distraction. At home, off leash, Gypsy works beautifully. Get her around potential playmates and watch out. From this angle group is a must.

We use only positive methods and I am very happy.

Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[suzanne611]

Boris said he would be happy to give his future executive assistant any references necessary. His secretary is waiting to hear from her daughter re: trainer. She is teaching at Mt. Holyoke and very harried at this time of the year.

[suzanne611]

Hi Janet, I take Boris over to Petsmart frquently and do some obedience work with him in the strip mall where it is located. He now knows the security man at Loehmann's, girls who work inKitchen Capers and he has to work around all the people entering and leaving these places, he is only ten months old and I am very proud of him. It seems that in the past couple of weeks he's been doing better with distractions. Took him into Center City Phildelphia on an elevatot and he was great. He sure doesn't like the down command though, but we are working on it. I'm not too computer literate and trying to find out how to post a pictur from a CD to the forum. My daughter did reply and her vet is out of town, she will get back to me.

[Janet529]

Thanks Suzanne - our local PetsMart is in a strip mall also. People don't like me bringing her into the store, much less walking around the mall with her. I try to take her to dog friendly parks for walks and into the center of town. People are not tolerant of rotties around here at all. I have to be in the right frame of mind to put up with the nonsense. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif But I'll keep at it till I can find a trainer to go talk to.
thanks

[K9-man]

Originally posted by Janet529:
People don't like me bringing her into the store, much less walking around the mall with her.

How unfortunate. What people? The employees or the customers?

I take Belle into the city to go to Petsmart almost weekly and she’s more than welcome every time. People from toddlers to seniors, pet and hug her and she gives out hundreds of rottie kisses. I couldn’t imagine her being ostracized there.

[suzanne611]

Janet, I'm sorry you have to tolerate that kind of attitude. Many people on the forumhave mentioned this problem. I did not mean to imply that Boris was allowed in the other stores, no such luck but there are people constantly walking in and out. and he must stay in a heal mode and sits and stays when around them. If they want to pet him I have to give the O.K. I really have not had a lot of negative feedback while doing thid on the contrary, I get a lot of compliments. Since you are faced with that, frau is probably right, a group situation and one on one would be the best. I am friendly with a few stores owners locally and they have let him in since he was a little guy so they don't see him as a threat to them or their customers. I feel very fortunate in this circumstance because it is the real world he is working in and I always express my appreciation to the people who stop to pet him and talk,I tell them that is what will make him a wonderful dog. For his first birthday I plan to take a big cake over to Petsmart to say Thank You to the staff there. (But you know who can't have a piece), because Boris is definitely going to replace her when he gets his job.The real truth is I sort of feel sorry for someone so young being so rigid in their beliefs, that they can't budge. As soon as I hear from my daughter I will let you know. Good Luck