Trainer suggestions Please?

[MarleysMama]

Hi all.

Marley will be 7 months old tomorrow, and while he is a well behaved dog, I am trying to find a reputable trainer in my area. The only ones i can find at petsmart and petco..and I'm not wasting my money. ;)

We got Marley from a less than reputable breeder (told the story a million times...so I'm sure you all know. lol) and have been very lucky that he has the temperment that he does. He's very gentle to my daughter, but I am beginning to notice a few things that I am not sure how to handle and I think that I am probably not communicating to him in a way HE understands. I need the training class, not him. LOL He follows basic commands.. but I am noticing now that sometimes he just doesn't want to follow them every single time and I know this is something that must be corrected NOW. Obviously what I am doing is not conveying that I am the Alpha in the home, not him.

My son is 3 and a VERY busy 3 year old at that. We have taught him to not to yell, run things like that around Marley yet we have noticed that the moment Joey picks up his pace, Marley is right behind him. He even occasionally nips just b/c he notices that my son will giggle (he never does it hard, just mouths) and that isn't not helping either...as Marley thinks this is now a game...and I thnk my son is beginning to think so...yet I know better. This is NOT acceptable and I am just not quite sure how to disipline him... we immediately give Marley something he CAN have and praise him. Marley was also taken from him mother at 5 weeks and his littermates at 6 weeks, so we knew mouthing and bite inhibition was going to be an issue, I just need to know the next step in continuing to teach him not too.
We now allow our son to bring Marley his food, but only after he sits and gives a paw and he must stay until Joey tells him it's okay for him to eat and things have been much better. I just want to keep things going in the upward direction they are going and I am afraid I just don't know anything else. LOL

Anyhow, we had every intention to get him into a training class whenhe completed his shots, but were not able to due to my husband being layed off. Money before that was never an issue, we bought an SUV to accomidate having him! So anyways, we are back on our feet and ready to get him into a great training class to be sure we are training Marley correctly and efficently.

Thanks so much in advanced. Oh.. zip code is 20603. Thanks!!!!

[AngelBunny]

Oh, yes, indeed, Marley and you need to be in class.

Try contacting obed clubs in your area. My kennel club runs various training classes throut the year.

My Rottie rescue group has a listing on our site of trainers and behaviorists with whom adopters of our dogs have worked with and liked. Perhaps Rottie rescue in your area has a similar service.

Have you asked your vet for suggestions? What about grooming salons and pet sitters?

You're correct--it's not a good thing for Marley to start running after Joey.

How about putting a line on Marley, reeling him into you while calling him in a happy tone, and making him do a fun obed routine for which he's rewarded with yummy goodies when Joey starts zooming around?

[MarleysMama]

Thank you so much Angelbunny, you are always such a big help. I did find 2 that are pretty close to me. Now are there certain things I should look for or are all these on the list good ones?

I know experience with Rottweilers would be wonderful, but unfortunately for my area there are none breed specific for us..so I would just basically find out what type of experience with large working breeds, correct?

Also, are there other certifications etc that i should look for?

Thank you so much for your help with this!

[AngelBunny]

As with many things in life, not all trainers are created equal. It's easy to call yourself a trainer and hang out a shingle, so you being a discriminating student is important.

Ideally, you want the trainer to have experience training working breeds. You want the trainer to use positive reinforcement. You should be able to audit a class. Classes shouldn't be too big. The beginner class should look orderly to you if the class is a couple of weeks along in its session. People and their dogs should look happy. The instructor should demonstrate flexibility in training methods, understanding that one training method doesn't fit everyone.

Ask the trainer about his or her credentials and what titles the person has put on his or her dogs.

As far as what certs the trainer should have to his or her name, I really can't answer that--perhaps other RDNers can. I'm interested in obed, drafting, herding, and tracking, so what's important to me is the level to which the instructor has taken his or her dogs in these venues and what titles the instructor has earned with his or her dogs.

Good luck. Dog training is alot of fun and is such a good thing to do with your dog!