...really, no common sense at all?

Just an observation by a wanna-be trainer who has had basic pro training (I'd consider myself qualified to teach basic obedience/problem solving/puppy-rearing) but not an expert and I don't know it all. I do have to say I have a good amount of common sense though. LOL

I stopped by a local training business to see if they sold dog boots. I train 'privately' (as in not officially and it's not my 'job') and to a very select few (AKA friends and friends of friends) but still, technically, this woman is my competition so I was interested in seeing what her place looked like. Nothing fancy and, quite honestly, poorly set up. Anyhow, that's off topic.

I was standing behind a man and his puppy, a fluffy puppy of some blend, waiting to ask the clerk about the dog boots. As they were talking I realized he and the puppy were waiting for a training class to start and the clerk was also the trainer. Puppy was wearing a chain collar (choke chain) and was straining against it to get to me. I was a safe distance away--I mean 'safe' as in far enough to not encourage the dog to approach at least a leash and a half away. Neither the owner nor the trainer said/did anything to correct while the puppy was gasping and gagging and heaving at the end of the leash. I stood there, stunned. Isn't THIS why you're paying this lady? THIS is the perfect opportunity for her to say "ok, in this situation you should..." I finally got to ask about the dog boots--she had none in stock.

I go to the car and as I get in the woman in front of me is unloading a gorgeous Rottweiler puppy. My breed of choice so I make my driver wait until the pup is leashed and on the ground so I can drool over her. Then I see the choke collar that was way too big and hanging so low around the neck that should the puppy pull back suddenly she's be loose on a very busy street! Basically the collar was hanging open enough that two Rottweiler puppies could have had their necks in there. Normally I would have hopped out and had a kind word with the owner but we were in a rush to catch the store before it closed so the pups would have grub for dinner.

It boggles the mind...no common sense at all.

One of the reasons I'll not go into private business when I retire is idiots as you described. It's not because they are idiots, it's because I'd tell him he is. It's been "my way or the highway" for too many years to make it in business. I was told once by a private trainer, that I'd have to be careful because I'd run off clients. My answer was, run off, hell, I'd throw some of them out. I guess I'll just have to rely on woodworking or something when I quit this business.

DFrost

 Quote: david c.frost

One of the reasons I'll not go into private business when I retire is idiots as you described. It's not because they are idiots, it's because I'd tell him he is. It's been "my way or the highway" for too many years to make it in business. I was told once by a private trainer, that I'd have to be careful because I'd run off clients. My answer was, run off, hell, I'd throw some of them out. I guess I'll just have to rely on woodworking or something when I quit this business. ...

How about keeping a staff translator?

You say "You #*@%ing moron! What the %&*# are you thinking?" and the translator translates: "He says that Fluffy will feel emotionally validated and fulfilled if you do some basic obedience work."

Connie????? #*@%ing,,, from you????

Holy doodles, you guys are FUNNY! I've been fuming about what I saw for days and I am finally laughing. Thanks.

Anyone want to share their "makes ya' wonder" stories?

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: david c.frost

One of the reasons I'll not go into private business when I retire is idiots as you described. It's not because they are idiots, it's because I'd tell him he is. It's been "my way or the highway" for too many years to make it in business. I was told once by a private trainer, that I'd have to be careful because I'd run off clients. My answer was, run off, hell, I'd throw some of them out. I guess I'll just have to rely on woodworking or something when I quit this business. ...

How about keeping a staff translator?

You say "You #*@%ing moron! What the %&*# are you thinking?" and the translator translates: "He says that Fluffy will feel emotionally validated and fulfilled if you do some basic obedience work."

ha ha ha, it would have to be a translater. I sure don't see those words coming out of my mouth. ha ha.

DFrost

Lucky for my clients I'm still the police. I can't cuss anyone out till I retire. Freedom of speech my ass!!

Howard

The one time I can really remember is I was helping out at the local 4H club dog OB class. The lady who taught the class told me she handled police k9's in california and so on and so on....anyhow there was a lab that came to the class, the owner said that the dog just jumped and jumped and jumped. She couldn't think of any way to get this dog to stop. So this "trainer" took the dog invited it to jump(even patted her chest) on her. She gave this poor dog one hell of a knee to the chest, so hard it yelped. Then the idiot invited the dog to do it again. It refused to even go near her.....I just stood in amazement at how stupid she was. The owner and I had the same thought, she nor I ever went back....and the lady didn't last long after the word "slipped out" to the fair board. I have heard of the method but have never seen it carried out like that.
I always thought that it was lift the knee before the dog got there not knock the snot out of the dog with it.
I was there mostly to see if I could offer help, most of the time she took my ideas or ways I have learned a method for a way to teach something and put her name in front or behind the thought.

People don't always mean what they say/ask.
In one of my earlier teaching days there was a woman with a young, tough Rotty. About 20 months old (go figure).
She begged me to stop it's aggression towards people.
After working abotu a month I was making some good progress when people stayed at a distance but up close the dog was still doing a lot of posturing and growling.
She couldn't handle the dog and I had told her so but she wanted a furbabby Rotty.
I casually walked up along side the dog and when it growled and made a move for me I simply grabbed it by the collar and lifted it off it's front feet for 60 or so seconds till it actually calmed dowm. When I put it down the dog gave me submissive posture. No problem, right?
The lady got pissed, left and never came back.
This was back in the early days and she had no idea how easy the dog got off but that's all I figured out the dog would need. Leadership!

"The only problem our dog's have is the turd stuck on the other end of it's leash".
OED)

Brandon, I experienced something equally ridiculous about fifteen years ago when I took the family dog, a Lab/Doberman, to a community training class.

The dog was protective of me, overly protective I now realize, but wasn't aggressive. He's give a bark to keep strangers away and that usually worked. Well, not at this class. He barked at the trainer who approached to show me how to hold the leash and I politely asked the trainer to just demonstrate out of harm's way. Trainer refused, saying 'no, I have to show you what you're doing wrong' and sort of bumped me out of the way to show me exactly where/how to stand and hold the leash. Dog grabbed the bottom of his jacket, about waist high. I was appalled, of course, being fifteen years old and shy, plus the dog had never progressed passed his warning bark. I started apologizing, in tears, when the trainer proceeded to 'hang' my dog. The scariest part was seeing the anger in the trainer's face. I think if someone didn't stop him he would have killed my dog. And no, I'm not exaggerating for effect! My cousin had come to watch the session and ran over to grab the leash from the trainer as my dog was gasping for breath. The trainer said I wasn't welcome back and I, stepping out of character, told him to @#$% himself and informed him that the SPCA would be getting a call about that abuse. I worked with the dog on my own and he learned basic obedience but passed away a few months later. Protective till the end but controllable.

Oh, another stupid trainer story. Again, like I said I understand that everyone has their own methods but some just seem stupid and even dangerous. In high school, in hopes of getting into the dog training field afterwards, I joined a work experience program. I was accepted as an apprentice with a local trainer--the only woman trainer around and since I would be spending every day with them the school board ruled that you had to work with employers of the same sex...except she was a lesbian so I don't know if I should have been there, ha ha, and no that wasn't a jab at lesbians, just an observation on the screening criteria. So, I go for my first day of work and she's got an aggressive dog coming in for a private lesson. What do I get to do? I get to sit at the opposite end of the classroom with my pockets and hand full of liver treats. I am instructed to call the aggressive dog over in a cheerful voice, then crouch down and feed him treats if he wasn't acting threatening. Umm, what? I was too shy to question this brilliant idea so off I go, liver treats falling out of my pockets all the way. I manage to sqeak out "Come Luger" to this huge GSD who is sitting pretty beside his exhausted looking owner (who brought her three kids with her, two are fighting in the corner over who gets to sit in the back with Luger on the way home, the baby is howling in her car seat). The trainer bellows "USE YOUR TRAINING VOICE!" and makes the dog's owner jump. Luger is confused, I'm freakin' out, the kids are getting louder, the baby is turning bright red, the trainer is pissy with me for being quiet. I muster up a "Luger, COME!" in my best sunshine and lollipops voice and Luger trots over, sits and starts toothing my hands for the treats. I think the first thing he should have learned was how to take treats politely if they were going to use treats at all! He's nipping my hands and getting all excited. I'm too scared to push him away or give any sort of command because I'd just read his file and this was a known biter. In a happy voice I ask the trainer to please, come help me, but she's too busy explaining something to the owner to listen. I ran out of treats in my hands and thought I was safe until the dog realized I had pockets full of them and jumped up on me! I am a smaller woman and here I am, face-to-face, with a full grown, very hefty GSD who wants those treats. I was pinned against the wall for a second before the owner stopped fussing over her ugly baby and called her dog over. I was shaking. In fear and anger. Luger was rehomed a few weeks later, to a middle aged gentleman who didn't let him get away with anything and apparently they worked out just fine. I cringe thinking about that day...what could have happened!

Scary.