Today I witnessed a 5 month old puppy correct another 3 month old puppy who was biting to hard on his ear. He gave a yelp a nose bump then backed away to retreat. His owner (who has him on a prong) hung him up then slammed him onto the ground and yanked the chain till he screamed.

I responded by "that's not a good idea" to which she responded "I'm a dog trainer who specializes in aggressive dogs"....my knee jerk reaction is "so what, that's still not a good idea" though I was able to shut up.....

This puppy came home from the shelter TODAY, he doesn't even have a name yet...I don't think he did anything wrong and even if he did he doesn't no better and a "correction" like that with the modified slamming alpha roll thing was entirely unjustified....he did submit after being hung and went down easy when cranked on the prong (I would have too)

am I right about this? Is this a dog I should avoid in the future since I see that treatment leading to aggression....

also, from the same lady.....according to her this 5 month old "staffordshire mix" which is apparently NOT a pitbull (and therefore "allowed" in the complex) who is at most 35lbs now with small is going to mature at over 100 which is typical of the staffordshire breed (really?)....this isn't possible is it?

She's already started giving "advice" to some of the puppy owners I've been working with...today one of the people I've been making a lot of headway with "spanked" his dog because she told him too and now is convinced she's got the right idea because it made his dog lay down and behave (and urinate and cry) which up to this point only I've been able to do (minus the urinate and cry of course)....

I'm not one of those fluffy positive only crackpots....but this isn't going to end well....I've finally sold most of these people (most of which who have no buisness having a dog) on marker training then this person shows up and well yeah...her methods to get "results"

Jamie,
If you have any control over this situation, I'd ban that "trainer" from ever coming near any dog that I'd have contact with - you're absolutely right, this "isn't going to end well".

Avoid her, and warn others, ASAP!

I have control over one of my neighbors and her puppy, the fiance of the puppy spanker is on my side after I gave examples of why it's not a good idea (explained why alpha rolls are stupid and dangerous, proper prong collar use, etc)....unfortunatly I have no control of the area (it's public for the complex) and am fighting an insane amount of "macho man" syndrome with the puppy spanker...I WAS making progress....until this lady arrived -_- I was not there for their first meeting but it made an impression....these people are already screwed with their TWO pet shop trainwreck puppies...they need everything advantage they can get and this lady is NOT going to help since to them her "methods" work...never mind the damage it causes....

 Quote: jamie craig

I have control over one of my neighbors and her puppy,

Probably more like "influence"... if you have control over her, make her come to VA. and clean my floors and windows please!! LOL!

Influence can be very effective - can you simply show them that the proof is in the pudding??? Ryuk vs the other "trainer's" dog? Have a party and just show all the great things Ryuk (Ruyk? I get confused) can do. Don't know if it will help, but it can NOT hurt!

If they won't listen, like Will said, I wouldn't hang around... Poor puppers...

jamie, you can only do what you can do. if you can change only one person's thinking, it's like throwing a pebble into a pond--it WILL have a ripple effect.

meanwhile, lead by example. if you're not being paid by these people, well, there's not anything you can do. again--lead by example (though i know it's REALLY difficult to watch the nonsense--the dogs don't deserve it).

and that's all the wisdom i have for tonight, FWIW

 Quote: ann freier

... if you can change only one person's thinking, it's like throwing a pebble into a pond--it WILL have a ripple effect. ... lead by example.

You're so right, Ann.

What a great reminder .... when we feel helpless, we can always try to be what we want to see.

Just keep doing what you're doing. That's all you can do. But, you do have the right to not deal with "macho man" if he refuses to listen to you.

That so-called trainer is a total idiot who will probably end up being badly bitten one day. And, sadly in this day and age it'll be the dog that pays with its life. Neither puppy did anything wrong.

And, no Am-Staffs are NOT supposed to mature at over 100 lbs (unless the dog is mixed with some giant breed, such as a Mastiff).

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: ann freier

... if you can change only one person's thinking, it's like throwing a pebble into a pond--it WILL have a ripple effect. ... lead by example.

You're so right, Ann.

What a great reminder .... when we feel helpless, we can always try to be what we want to see.

Oh, I like that - I'm going to try that!

"I responded by "that's not a good idea" to which she responded "I'm a dog trainer who specializes in aggressive dogs"....my knee jerk reaction is "so what, that's still not a good idea" though I was able to shut up....."
Specializes in aggressive dogs or specializes in making (fear)aggressive dogs......?

Jamie, that is a tough one. You may want to point out (to the puppy owner of the spanked puppy) that only primates use that sort of disipline, the puppy has no clue what that means, it just hurts and frightens them. I have seen a spanked puppy grow up to be an extremly hand shy (to the point of biting) dog. I learned never to grab at Sammie's collar. She thought I was going to hit her, I guess.



Poor puppy,

What is wrong with people? Can they not see what a great dog Ryuk is?

Ugh. I hope they open their eyes before it's too late for the dogs.

Honestly, that trainer's "techniques" sound more like animal abuse than actual productive training