Hi all...I'm new to the forum but I did read the rules so if you have any info...good or bad...I guess just send me a private message. I have a 2 year old German Shepherd with basic obedience training. I'm very interested in sending him to a good trainer for some off leash training and level 1 personal protection (bark and hold..I know people call it different names). I'm in the Sacramento area and I'd like to stay within an hour or two. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I did contact John Riboni and he's not able to take him due to scheduling conflicts at his facility. So if you know of any others. Thanks.

David

Why do you wish to send your dog away for training? I would never want someone else training my dogs & most especially out of my sight. Also, just because you have a GSD, doesn't mean that the dog is suitable for that type of training. You need to have your dog evaluated by a professional, before embarking on that type of training. Most dogs that are going to be worked in that venue( SchH,PP, Ring sports etc) are imprinted & started at a early age & brought along slowly.

Time is money & many 'trainers' & I use that term loosly, that take dogs in for training take 'shortcuts' to get the job done quickly to get the dog in & out to make room for the next dog to train & $$$$ to make. Not to say that there arn't a few good ones out there, but there are VERY few & they are very costly & it take alot of time & as I said...time is money. But it's just not the way that I would want my dog trained. JMO I'd be very careful about leaving my dog for training.

Mike Ellis has his dog training school just south of you. Why not look into taking a class of his. Or look into a Schutzhund club in the area for qualified help.

Most importantly, enjoy your dog.

Everything you want done, you can do yourself at the local Schutzhund club. Without the risk of your dog being lost, starved, killed or abused when out of your sight at a "board and train" facility.

 Quote: Anne Jones

Mike Ellis has his dog training school just south of you. Why not look into taking a class of his.

Most of us would kill to live close enough to M. Ellis to benefit from his skill. You need look no farther. Have a gret time training your dog!!

Thanks for all the replies...everything you've posted I'm fully aware of...unfortunately my only option at this time is a board and train facility...so if anyone knows of one that wont starve or kill my dog...that will treat him well and give him the best training I'd appreciate it. I'm not interested in competing in schutzund or any bitework...he's american bred shepherd and lacks prey drive...but he does have defensive drive hence why I wanna do some bark and hold training. Thanks everybody.

David, May I ask why this is your only option, and I don't mean ANYTHING negative in that question!

If you don't have the time to train your dog, you don't have the time to own a dog.

Please rehome.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

If you don't have the time to train your dog, you don't have the time to own a dog.

Amen!!! Well said...

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

If you don't have the time to train your dog, you don't have the time to own a dog.

Please rehome.

Agreed, but does anyone really listen?

Working in defense, with no prey drive to get releif in, is not a nice place for a dog to work. Especially a young dog. You would be kinder to this dog if you just let the dog be what it is. Teach it to bark on command & then you have your deterrent/threat dog.

You can train with some ScH clubs without the desire to trial. Look into it.

Enjoy the dog for what he is & train him yourself. It creates a bond between you & your dog. I wouldn't want my dogs bonding with anyone except me.

If you really don't have the time or can't make the time to train your dog to even have a reliable recall, you shouldn't own a dog. You owe it to him to be safe (reliable recall) & to be the best that he can be or rehome him to someone that will & get a goldfish.