classes

[debbiej]

I've checked around, can't find obedience classes-pup or otherwise going on now. Some agility classes will start in Dec. the trainer said they would be good for Hilda, and would also accomplish obedience and socialization. I can keep up the training and socialization I'm doing now I guess, but I think we're missing the guidance of a trainer and the fun of class. I think the dogs enjoy showing off in class. Plus it's been a while since I've had a dog in obedience and I don't remember all of it by a long shot. So I'm going to call around some more. I also wonder about something. today I went to see the person who's classes I've always taken my dogs to and I took Hilda. She is friendly to people coming up to her, but if she sees someone walking from a distance of say, across the street, she will bark. she also barks at people who come up to the car. Well, a man came out of a door down the street, and she barked at him. just woof woof, not snarling, pulling or going crazy. the trainer very sharply corrected her, grabbing the scruff at the side of her neck, and yelling no. then later bopped her on the nose for barking at someone else. I was a bit taken aback, I guess because we weren't in a class. It was effective but I'm sure she has been hit a lot and everything seems new and scary to her. I've been just popping her collar, telling her no and then reassuring her when she barks-which granted hasen't completly stopped her barking at people in certain situations. but it's greatly reduced automatic barking. Thinking about the trainer's reaction now, it seems ok, but at the time I wondered if she should have grabbed my dog to correct her-with me there and Hilda not knowing who the heck she was.

[Sharon Marples]

If you reassure her when she is barking, you are inforcing the barking. If you want her to stop the habit, she needs a correction, not reinforcement. I think your trainer was correct in putting a stop to her unwanted behavior at the time.

[debbiej]

that's true. what I had been doing is when she barks, I'd pop her collar tell her no then when she looked at me, reassure her things were ok. probably sending mixed message with that because the trainer left no doubt in her mind.

[Wookie'sMom]

While the corrections may have been the right reaction to the barking, I don't think I would be comfortable with an instructor who suddenly took control of my dog like that, especially if I wasn't even in class...maybe I'm just a really protective dog-mom, but I go to classes for the instructor to teach me how to train my dog, not for them to do it for me. I'm the only one who corrects my dog in classes, but I welcome advice from the instructor on how, when, why, etc.