I called to enroll my jack russell/dachshund mix in obedience training. The guy who runs the classes told me they teach soft training. Can anyone let me know what soft training is...? Also, it's a 7 week course, 1 hour, 1 night a week for $90, this a good deal? I know it probably depends on how good the training is... but I've asked around and nobody has any experience with this particular trainer. Thanks in advance for any info!

Sounds stupid.

Dont do it. Get my Basic Obdeince DVD and do this yourself http://leerburg.com/302.htm Half the price and odds are twice the training.

I believe that soft training is the same as the politicaly correct, treat only, no corrections style. Go with Ed's DVD, it is great information!

My fiance and I WERE going to enroll together with our dogs, mine the jrt mix, and hers a spaniel mix. After the advice, will now definitely buy the DVD... after looking over what all it covers, it's everything I was wanting to go over with mine. Anyways, to my question... my fiance has a 9 yr old spaniel mix, it was a stray she found at 4 months old, and was neutered at 1 yr old. I know Ed discourages taking dogs to dog parks, but sadly it's one of our few options. I'm a student at WVU and live in a college town... so I have no fenced in yard, and like to let my jrt run off leash to get rid of that rediculous amount of energy. We take my fiances dog as well, but always have to keep him on leash due to him wanting to hump every single dog in the park. Doesn't matter if it's male or female, he finds one dog... and won't let it be! Oddly, he's never went after my JRT, but any other dog can't get away with him. Our vet has recommended taking a spray bottle with us and spraying him everytime he tries to mount which isn't working, also told us to try smacking him when we catch him in the act and make him wish he never had done it. Nothing is working, all the other dogs do great in the park... my JRT and the others chase each other and play fine, it's just my fiances dog has this insatiable desire to hump everyones dog. Even when we knock him off the dog he walks for a few seconds 'air humping'. I'm sure someone has had to deal with this as well, anybody have any ideas as to how to curb this type of behavior? Thanks again guys, will be getting the DVD soon!

Leave the spaniel at home <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (I too, hate dog parks. Most of the people stand around talking to each other & ignore the dogs).

The humping is a dominance behavior and can easily trigger dog fights. EVERYBODY can find a way to let their dogs run off energy without risking their dog`s life. Get a long line or flexi leash and let him run that way but don`t go back to the dog park. Our border collie mix used to hump our other dogs but a week of dragging a long line with a choke chain on made him stop. We still let him be the dominant dog because of his age but he learned that we wouldn`t allow humping. Most vet have had no training in dog behavior beyond basic bite prevention stuff so he isn`t the one to go to for good training advice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We sort of figured it was dominance behavior...he will run along side the other dog with his neck draped over the other dogs neck, then he'll procede to his mounting. I have a 26' retractable lead lol but when on that lead, he just runs about 10' away from me... and comes back and sits. Thanks again guys for all the info!

One more thing, how old is your jrt/dach? I bet it would be great at fly ball. You know, they are always looking for high energy, fast, short dogs. I've never done it, but it's sure fun to watch! (almost as fun as watching the racing jrt's when they run over the jumps & then squeeze into the little hole at the end).

I'm with ya there, I love watching the little guys run and squeeze through the hole in the hay. She's 7 months old, the runt of the litter and a HANDFUL! But an awesome pup! Has the colors and tail of a JRT and the ears, head and body of a dachshund. Legs are either a dachshund or a short legged jrt. She's very quick... it's just her attention span that is lacking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Not to sound stupid, as I'm a new owner, but what is flyball?

Try catching those crazy little #&@$+^RD$ when they come through that hole. I generally take as many Tshirts with me as they have races cause they WILL get shredded! I usually come home looking like I had a fight with a wildcat.
Lots of web info on flyball. Yes, they are always looking for a low, fast dog. YOur dogs focus will become almost obsessive on the flyball. People are even breeding the JRTs with border collies for this reason. Talk about the ultimate OCD/ADHD dog! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />