Professional Dog Trainers

Do you have a dog training or equipment question?

Leerburg's Q&A database has 2949 entries from multiple categories. Ask Cindy at Leerburg

If you read the article I wrote on my philosophy of dog training you will know that I seldom recommend sending a dog off to be trained. I explain why in that article. I get a lot of emails with horror stories. I just decided to start to add these to my web site. If you have had similar problems send me your story and I will add it here.

With this said I want to say that going to a professional trainer WITH YOUR DOG - where you are guided through the training by the instructor and your dog goes home with you is a different issue. Not that every so called pro is qualified to be an instructor (many lack experience and are not) but if you are there you can say NO I DON'T AGREE WITH THESE METHODS and we are leaving.

I always recommend my Basic Dog Obedience DVD to new trainers. I first did this DVD in 1982 and it has gone through more revisions than I can remember. This has been a life long endeavor of mine and as I learn more I add and refine this DVD. Those trainers who have special issue dogs may choose to get my DVD DEALING WITH DOMINANT AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS or REMOTE COLLAR TRAINERS FOR THE PET OWNER.

If the information in these three DVDs do not answer individual behavioral problems the owners may need to seek the help of a local professional. Owners will have a clear understanding of their needs and the qualifications of the professional they select after watching these DVDs.

An example:

Ed

I have a three year old German shepherd dog he has always had good prey drive and been extremely motivated however also very dominant. His pedigree had extensive background of schutzhund titles from German and Norwegian background. He would play tug on a Hessian bag and chase balls till the end of the day. I have trained him very basic obedience however I was never very good at it. I just sent him off to an intensive 10 day obedience course with an ex Royal Australian Air Force Police Dog Trainer. I went to pick him up and he is a totally different dog. She did a quick training session with me and it nearly brought tears to my eyes as he wouldn’t down and she corrected and corrected, then forced him down as he fought back using her body to smash him to the ground and holding him on his back until he would submit. He was screaming and trying to bite her, this went on for about fifteen minutes. She told me he was hard to train as he is passive dominant. she has used the electric collar on him daily claiming he was anxious and paces and was staring out the other male dog at the school. He now looks like he is on heroin as he has no drive at all, he will obey commands however he looks like he is doing it only because he is scared to death and complies very slowly.

I wanted to start doing some schutzhund training with him but I am worried that he won’t do anything as he just lies around all day. I have your video from Bernhard Flinks on building drive and focus, he used to do these exercises and never stop now he just doesn’t seem to be interested although is slowly starting to do this work, but nowhere near as with the same intensity as he used to have. He doesn’t even want to roll around on the ground with me or be patted. Can you help, has my dog been completely broken, and what can I do to get the mad prey driven puppy like attitude back in him..

Regards
Brian
Gold Coast, Australia.

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