"mainly its because they treat their dogs like children or because they are weak spirited and poor pack leaders out of ignorance"

Nicely put!

What I was trying to say earlier is I don't feel the behavorist was worth the $125 an hour (3 hour sessions). There are enough people on this forum that can help you if you are not the person described above by Howard. If you are, a behaviorist can't help you anyway.

Hi You guys are a lucky lot.
i have scoured every avenue i know to find a person who will help me train Fred and give me guidance one to one but i cannot find any here in my area of Belgium and indeed not in Belgium at all who does this job. there are of course classes for general dog training but you have normally 10 to 20 dogs all in the field together and most times from Toy dogs to Shepherd and dobermanns as well not the best situation as you are only 1m apart at all times and twice a week maximum.
so you people are lucky to get someone to help teach the dog owners first then the dogs would come second i guess i think thats the way i look at it
Steve

Steve, The sheer number of dog clubs where you are would surely find someone to help you out. Being in Malinois territory there ought to be a sack full of trainers within driving distance who have experience with tough, hard or aggressive dogs. I've heard though that if you aren't part of a club (and their hard to get into) that folks are reserved in helping others. I could be mistaken though.

Howard

Once again, you all have been very helpful. I'm going to send my friend a link to this thread and maybe she'll see she's missing out.

My main problem was that she wouldn't go to the trainer, despite how excellent she is, soley because she said she didn't work with aggressive animals. That would make sense if her dog was aggressive, but her dog is just a happy-go-goofy lab who loves nothing more than a ball and a belly rub! His problems are related to having no boundries or training and my trainer can certainly help with that!

I am amazed to hear how few trainers and behaviorists there are that will help people with aggressive dogs, though, I had no idea. It's sad because I know there are a lot of dogs that could use the help. On the other hand, I can appreciate why it takes a special kind of person to be willing to take on the challenges that the dogs (and their owners) must present.

Knowledge helps. I think my GSD had it in him to develop aggression issues if I hadn't done so much research before getting him. This board has been hugely helpful in helping me prevent problems instead of having to fix them. I admit I would have been lost if I just assumed that he was to be treated like the passive Goldie I had before him.

 Quote: SaraMilliken

Are there any obedience trainers on this board that have this policy?

yes. i train obedience (and train owners in canine behavior) and that is indeed my policy. i have no problem working a dog and owner through animal related aggression, however human aggression is another story. simply put, it's too much of a liability.

i can handle and have handled truly human aggressive dogs. i have no problem training and rehabilitating an aggressive dog if it is going to remain in my possession for a long while. however, like many have said, it is often a problem with the owners.

plain and simple, i don't want any ties with a dog that has gone through training with me and then bites somebody because his owners can't live up to what i try and teach them! correcting human aggression is an ongoing process and many average dog owners just do not have what it takes (i think howard said it best!)

 Quote:

mainly its because they treat their dogs like children or because they are weak spirited and poor pack leaders out of ignorance.

Sara, this is keeping in mind that if i'm training a dog and he decides to be a little snot about something and growls, takes a snap at me, etc., i do not turn i blind eye and ignore it! the unwanted behavior is handled right then and there (this is where trainer crosses into behaviorist) and then we move on.

you're friend should realize that just because the trainer (who sounds like she has a good bit of sense) chooses not to take on aggressive cases, it does not mean that she's incapable of doing so.

Kacie,
It's ironic that I moved out of the Athens, GA area about 3 1/2 years ago ( I lived in Watkinsville ) or else we'd have likely met one place or the other.

Next, I did allow aggressive dogs in my classes but I required the owners to attend two one-on-one sessions with me first to learn enough handler skills so that they could give a correction if the dog required it in group class. And I was known for simply removing people from class on the spot if they dropped their guard or were careless in my class.

I know a trainer that spent $75 on medical care for a dog bite that he was paid $30 to take. Being able to deal with aggressive dogs and wanting to deal with aggressive dogs are very different things too

Hi Howard
You are correct in the bit there are dog clubs but most have a great of amount of dogs in the classes some 20 at one time of all sizes.
I am lucky to have got into a German Shepherd Club some 15 kms from us And we take young Fred there the twice a week they work. But the policy there is not to work Pups until they get to 7 -8 months old, I did ask if any would help me train Privatly but none took me up on the offer. You know my main Problem with him as i told you in a mail No matter what i do he contiues to grab my forearm when i play with the obly ball on a rope if he cannot get that he will go for my forearm.and he aways grabs my arm when he comes in the house why i do not know, He does not bite down but still cuts or bruises the arm at the monent i have 17 cuts or bruises on my right arm, He is 7 months old on the 16th which is also my birthday, When i tell the trainer what he does all he says is that i must stop him before he gets older but no answer as to how
I ordered the e collar from leerburg but one of the leerburg girls told me the customs in belgium may take it so i declined to buy it, i bought the e collar DVD a leather collar and leash and a snach bag. they were delivred today but the Belgium govenment wanted 35 euros from me before i could have it a right rip off they are
i have ordered an Dogtra e collar from Holland with the help of Eds DVD and the collar perhaps it will help me and FRed. i do not want to break his spirit that would be a sin, just stop him grabbing
Steve

You can buy Dogtra e-collars from Apport Hondensport in Rotterdam, NL. More expensive than the US but no customs problems. They will ship it to you.

I was under the impression that for somebody to legally call themself a behaviorist, they had to have a degree (Phd) in animal sciences. Does anyone know?