I would be incredibly offended if I paid top dollar to attend Yale and then later found out that other students had access to special tutoring sessions that were not offered to other students. Or I would be upset if I paid top dollar for a purse that was promoted as high quality leather...and turned out to be plastic. It would upset me greatly if I paid $1,000 for a dress and the hem came unravelled.

I don't mind paying top dollar for quality instruction. And I'd be happy to pay Michael Ellis $20,000 because I think he is honest and puts it all out on the table (along with Diane Bauman, Sandra Ladwig, Silvia Trkman and many other awesome trainers).

I think that I am just jealous because of SG's self esteem. If she could only give me a tiny percentage of the self esteem she has. Clearly she has an over abundance of it

Robin Clark
Cincinnati, OH

Just remember, big egos are often over compensating for something else. From what I've heard, I don't think she's got great self esteem. Ego, yes. But she makes excuses when things go wrong, and can get huffy when she has a bad run with her dogs nad hides things from her students. People with good self esteem don't do that sort of thing.

So don't be jealous, just aspire to be better!!

 Quote: Robin Clark

I don't mind paying top dollar for quality instruction. And I'd be happy to pay Michael Ellis $20,000 because I think he is honest and puts it all out on the table (along with Diane Bauman, Sandra Ladwig, Silvia Trkman and many other awesome trainers).



Robin Clark
Cincinnati, OH

Hey Robin, specific to dogs and training, no analogies. What is it you think is worth 20,000 or why you would get it from paying someone that. I'm not knocking any trainer at all, but I'm curious about what you're thinking.

And I have absolutely NO ego.

I don't have an ego either

Michael Ellis has a 22 week immersion course that I would love to take when I can get the time off work. You can read about the course on his website. I've learned more in the past 6 months from his videos (many of them free on this website) than I've learned in the past 5 years. He has a gift for saying things in a way that make perfect sense to me. I also love Ed Frawley's podcasts...they are free, down to earth, and relevant.

I've also paid quite a few bucks, not $5,000, but over $1,500, to Diane Bauman for her knowledge. And it has been worth every single penny. Diane has trained many different breeds and temperments. I consulted her specifically to help me with my older Keeshonden. I am having problems finishing his UD. She has trained several Keeshonden and I believe she has unique insights into their peculiarities. I drove 30 hours last August to spend a week with her. And I will be driving another 30 hours this April to spend another week with her. She is an amazing person...very generous with her knowledge. She is busy right now training Afghan Hounds in agility and rehabbing/rehoming rescue BCs. I think that she is more interested in understanding dogs than in making mega dollars so she keeps a very low profile. I am lucky to be able to spend time with her.

I've also trained with Sandra Ladwig in Wisconsin. I don't train with her any longer, but she is a uniquely creative dog trainer. And she charges $50 for a one hour private lesson. Her students regularly win high in trial and earn OTCHs.

I'd be happy to pay Sandy or Diane or Laura Romanik twenty times more than I am willing to pay SG. Her DVDs and web posts are nothing but hype. The two people who I know who train with her methods have terrible results, but rave about what a great trainer she is.

Robin Clark
Cincinnati, OH

 Quote: Robin Clark

But I am curious what other people think about it.
Robin Clark
Cincinnati, OH

What do I think of it? Let the buyer beware.

Other then a specific issue like your having right now, that a trainer watching can help you with, what is it you think you're missing with dogs? The only reason I ask is that most of the time online, I get the idea that people that ask about schools and trainers are folks that have no real hands on with dogs at all hoping some class will turn them into the next Ivan overnight.

I don't think that fits you, so I'm just curious. Not trying to lead into anything or imply anything.

Interesting... esp. about her withholding info and getting huffy! I'm being beaten up by the no correction/Susan Garrett nazis on another forum where I joined just to stick up for Leerburg and Michael Ellis! And yes had I not been all the way in New Zealand I would have done anything to get to a Michael Ellis course, can't say I would pay a cent for Susan Garrett...

"I'm being beaten up ..... on another forum where I joined just to stick up for Leerburg and Michael Ellis! "



It can get heated, can't it? You know what they say about the only thing two trainers will agree on: that a third trainer is wrong.

At least we keep other boards off ours .... we don't link, copy/paste, etc.

LOL exactly... The Michael Ellis DVDs were the best investment I ever made so I really don't like other people running his methods, that do work, down.