The SPCA in Richmond does a great job of placing good dogs in good homes

Shaniqua, please check your PM.

I don't know if this is insane or not, but if you pit/lab mix has any drive, how about taking him to CA., learning the basics, making sure this is really a passion, and THEN taking your time looking for the right dog?

I also love the idea of a rescue - that is certainly a win, win, win situation. But wanted to add the other option since you already have two dogs, and adding two more at one time can be a huge change.

Shaniqua, I just want to say I appreciate the fact that you hung in there through all the grilling and questions, and didn't go storming off because you didn't get exactly the info you wanted at first.

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

.... how about taking him to CA. ... I also love the idea of a rescue - that is certainly a win, win, win situation. But wanted to add the other option since you already have two dogs, and adding two more at one time can be a huge change.

Oh, gosh, I completely missed the dogs already there!

There's a way bigger difference between 2 dogs and 4 dogs than doubling the number of dishes. I know you may know this intellectually, and I'm not trying to be a wise-ass, but do you realize how different having a pack is from having 2?


And yes, please accept my kudos too for getting through the grilling needed to define the situation before you starting to get the help you wanted.

Hah, thanks guys. And my lab/pit mix is wayyyy too old to go through much of anything. I found a couple of rescues I'm interested in.

And yes, I realize how big of a difference it is. But i'm not getting the 2 for myself, one will be for my brother. Yes it will be the same household, but that also means twice to income to provide for our dogs.

Hi,

I don't know how far you are willing to travel for your pups but I work with a rescue in Ohio. You can check out our dogs at pawsandprayers.org. We have some pups right now. Each foster gets to decide who they adopt to so I can't promise that you will be approved but take a look if you are interested in making the drive.

 Quote: shaniqua bradley

 Quote: betty waldron

My questions has nothing to do with your age or that you are just getting started. I have placed dogs successfully in both situations.

My concern is the feeling that just any old dog will do, the dog is secondary to the class, almost like a school supply you are checking off the list.

I'm a little confused to your goal. Do you want to breed? Be a trainer? If yes to either one of the above questions, what kind?

I want to be a trainer, as previously stated. I do not want to breed, ever. trust me the dog will not be considered as a "school supply" I just waited to get a new dog around the time of this course that way it can be a learning experience for us both. i was going to get a puppy before, but then i thought about it and i don't want to mess it up too bad as a puppy and then not be able to fix it. but like i said i have had dogs all my life, and they are family members. i have never given away a pet and they have all lived with me to die of old age, happy in their beds.

I will throw my two cents in here.

You said you have pit/lab mix.

Honestly, I wouldn't get a new dog if I was you. Take that pit/lab mix and go to the Seminar. I guarantee you, you will learn more by taking the your dog than a new dog.

As a trainer you need to know how to correct dogs and with that you need to learn how to correct yourself and the mistakes you've been doing. With a new dog you won't learn as much as you would with your current dog.

What I'd do is to keep training the pit/lab mix and then somewhere along the line get a new dog and start that one to train. That way you will learn and get the most out of the situation.

I have an abused dog, a completely middle aged raw dog that I've trained myself and a very young dog that I got as a puppy.

I have no trainer, I research on the internet and every day I learn something new. Do I make mistakes? Oh yes but I keep correcting myself and learn from the dogs. If I'd go off and buy a new dog everytime something doesn't work I wouldn't learn anything at all.

You need to do mistakes to learn from them and I guarantee you, you'll benefit more from taking the dog you already have instead of buying a new dog.

Training dogs is about experience. Also, do research on the internet, there are so many videos on youtube alone, it's ridiculous. See if you can find a reputable trainer that is posting his videos on the internet and learn from that. Try it out yourself. Even if you do mistakes, which is expected, let yourself do them. That's the only way to learn on how to do is right is to correct your ps.
revious mistake
Everybody goes through that and everyone starts off small.

the lab pit mix is way too old. thanks for the advice but as previously stated she is oldddd

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

It might just be me, but this whole things feels wrong. In so many ways.

Agree completely. I think this is the wrong approach to ME classes. I think they're aimed more at an already bonded pair, dog and handler.

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

I think this is the wrong approach to ME classes. I think they're aimed more at an already bonded pair, dog and handler.

I think you're completely right.

I'm pretty sure no one means that they should pick up a dog or two on the way, though.

I hope not.



eta

Maybe ME would be a good person to discuss it with ....


Edited by Connie Sutherland (10/28/2010 10:38 AM)
Edit reason: eta