I'm currently one of the managers at Petco locally. I always marvel at the people who refuse to buy puppy prisons (crates), can't believe anyone would spend money on a cat (we have them up for adoption from a local shelter), or "top notch" breeders who feed a high quality food like purina. *eye roll* I also get a look by our resident dog experts for walking my Lab with a prong.

Ever get the feeling the general population all learned how to care for animals from Disney movies?

HAHAH. Yeah, I feel you Enrique .. and Melissa..

Don't forget that not only does PPD training turn a dog into a viscious blood sucking monster - feeding raw makes dogs turn on their owners, kill them in their sleep, and eat them...

About spending money on a cat I get that all the time. My Siamese was given to me for my birthday by the breeder because she was a friend and a client of mine at the pet store, but his littermates all sold for $800-1000.00. I am looking to get another kitten from them, at a discount but it will still be around $500.00 plus the $500.00 to fly out there and bring him back! People think I'm nuts.

I don't tell most people how much I spend on my animals. I spend more on food/supplements/toys/etc for my pets than most people spend on rent. When I had horses I spent over $1000.00 a month.

I don't know where the general public learned to care for their animals but I have a feeling they base their expectations for dog behavior, intelligence, and training off of TV Shows and movies like Air Buddies and Lassie. A good dog is supposed to independently seek out people trapped in wells and is born being able and willing to take down a burglar in the house, chase a purse theif across an entire state, save baby deer from mountain lions, and brew your coffee and bring you breakfast in bed.

What's really hard here is that the most respected local trainer is a long time friend of mine, a college educated animal behaviorist......and an advocate of positive-only training and halti use. It's tough because she's so fantastic in so many ways...but....After her there is, of course, Petsmart and Petco. Ugh. I usually compromise by taking my puppies to my friend's classes because they are fun, and a good opportunity to socialize the puppy. At one of these classes the instructor was 'talking up' the halti, and pointedly stated that her aunt had a pair of Dobes that she regularly walked with Haltis and they did well (she knows I'm NOT a halti-fan). Three of our pups were in this class, and she was looking at us when she said it. Okay; I HAVE met some VERY soft Dobes where you could get away with this, but they were NOT bred by me . I'm not sure this instructor understood the difference. It's frustrating. So after puppyhood I train on my own, then proof my training at a class taught by a local police chief who likes and 'gets' the temperaments and training needs of my dogs. I guess everybody has their own trip, but I don't care to be looked at as an abuser because I insist on having a well-trained dog that behaves himself. SO many stories....

I use Pet Smart, Petco for socialising sometimes we walk through 3-4 times a day depending on the dogs nerves and allways carry treats she barks at someone give them a treat to give her.All people are not bad.

 Quote: kristel

a college educated animal behaviorist......and an advocate of positive-only training and halti use.

Well, just because we majored in animal behavior at college doesn't mean we were taught much about dogs. :wink:

At least you are her friend and respect her for what she dos well. Maybe she'll learn something from you.

I worked at a Petsmart for a period of time and I can't tell you how many times I wanted to challenge what the store trainer said. I was runnning my own "Leerburg campaign" with the customers. I sold for Ed much more than I sold for Petsmart! I also sold for Honest Kitchen and I managed to talk quit a few people out of buying from Petland as well. Probably a good thing I was sneaky and the mngers never heard. (Well, except for the Petland. We were all in agreement on that one.)

I have gotten the area trainer for Pet smart into schutzhund gave them a whole new perspective. plus brings new ideas to the table.But the company training policy is based on AKC Obediance

My St Bernard which i adopted from the humane society came with a halti. One of the first times we were walking together she saw and ran to another dog and DESTROYED the halti... My Gsd's never walked with a halti, only prongs and now the same is true for the St Bernard. And guess what??? Problem solved! (doesn't take a genius right?)

enrique

Kristel, you might point this out to the people who think you are so mean for not using a Halti.
Dobermans are prone to Wobblers, which is usually caused by impaction of the vertebrae in the neck.
Look at how a Halti/Gentle Leader works. Think of what that does to the dog's neck.
Look at how a choke chain works, think what THAT does to a dog's neck.
Watch a dog walking with a prong collar. It does nothing to the dog's neck.
Just a thought.

Sorry, but the company training policy is based on whatever brings in the most $$, and public perception, regardless of whether it works or not. I think that's a big part of the problem, Doug.

The allmighty $ well i dont trane with pet smart so im safe but dang they have made some money off me buying Kong balls.