My friends have a 13 month old golden retriever that they took thru both of Petco's "obedience" classes. I walked in the door and was nearly knocked down by their hyper boy; as soon as I took off my shoes he stole one and ran with it. They had to chase him throughout the house while he knocked down a few chairs and an end table. She stubbed her toe while chasing him and in her pain swung at the wall and broke a decorative mirror. I the mean time her husband caught the dog and retrieved my shoe. All the while I couldn’t control myself and laughed so hard I almost wet myself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> She was very proud later when she showed me how the dog had learned to take a bow. How on earth does Petco training stay in business? Do they think this is normal acceptable behavior out of a year old dog?

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American consumer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

lmao! So are they gonna do any real training with their dog? I find that most pet owners are happy if their dog will sit for a treat. My neighbor yelled at me because my dog was off leash one night and took off running up n down his front lawn when he brought his aggressive lil fluff pile out for a walk, he had taken a petco training class from what I heard from my other neighbors... Cujo ignored my recall n kept running off when I went to grab him.... since then I've done alot of off leash work with him, now I can laugh at my neighbor when my dog is heeling perfectly off leash, n his lil white fluff pile is still choking itself pulling on the leash barking n jumping around at my dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I saw an American GSD at a petsmart training session once - I feel embarassed for any GSD made to go thru the ridicule of such a class. It may not be from german working bloodlines, but it's still a big smart dog with a tough reputation.... spinning in circles for a treat <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well, my 3 year old Malinois spins in circles left and right for a treat and neither she nor I are embarrased by that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That "trick" can be used in agility to get her to spin away from me and go to an obstacle. It also helped when I was teaching her the commands for directions in skijoring.

The Golden definitely needs some obedience training. Stealing has become a game for him and the habit is going to be hard to break now that it's been made into a self re-enforcing behaviour. I really don't understand why people chase their dogs when the dogs steal. It's not like we slow humans can often catch them!

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com
http://eklypsevanarek.tripod.com

 Quote:

Well, my 3 year old Malinois spins in circles left and right for a treat and neither she nor I are embarrased by that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That "trick" can be used in agility to get her to spin away from me and go to an obstacle. It also helped when I was teaching her the commands for directions in skijoring.

Well its different if it's being put to a good use, but it seems like a waste of talent for a smart dog to spin in a circle to get a treat for no reason other than the amusement of friends. "Look! My dog spins in a circle if u hold up a treat and make a circle motion with it! And he won't come when called n he'll steal your steak off the counter tops!" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I like going to Petsmart just to embarras them. They act like they never seen a down in motion or a real stay before. That's when I plug Leerburg and my Sch club. The funny part is that Max is a Sch reject.

I just wrote an article on MY PHILOSPOHY ON DOG TRAINING - it covers the kind of training that these pet food warehouses offers their customers. http://leerburg.com./philosophy.htm

I am closing this thread.