I apologize before hand for the long post.... So I am in a few classes right now, one a reactive dog class for Ted and the other is a nosework class with Flash.

I realize classes are good for learning new things and then you take that knowledge and train at home, but there are a few things I felt I needed to list about why I get frustrated (and PO'd) at these classes....I want to preface this by saying I take them to these classes to work their minds and gain more knowledge for myself and in most cases to have fun with them.

1) Ted's class is a class for reactive dogs. It is a 2 hour class and for the first 1.5 hours it was going around the room asking how everyone's week was with their dog...Then our first bit of training was to use our body posturing and energy to get them to stay in the crate without saying anything after opening the door. Then once they were out the instructor was just talking to some people on the opposite side of the room.

Then, people just started walking around the room walking close by other dogs, without the instructor saying to do so. Remember, this is a class for reactive dogs and now people are challenging their dogs without the instructor even paying attention. Ted did great, but I was about ready to start yelling at other people in the class because they were really testing me.

2) I really don't like when people in the class speak over the instructor because they think they know better. There was a lady with a highly reactive border collie who tried telling everyone what to do when the teacher was speaking to everyone. To her I should have said, if you know everything then 1, why is your dog the worst in the class and 2, why aren't you the instructor. I can answer these questions for her...because the advice she was spewing was stupid advice and could've led to a dog bite.

There was another lady who was spewing out advice, but at least she's had some success with her reactive dog. But honestly, from all of my research and being on this board, I know a thing or two about dogs and a lot of the stuff being spewed at this class was a good way to get bit. I told her about Ted's resource guarding and she said you need to challenge him and let him bite you and then issue harder corrections. No offense, okay lots of offense, but I will let her get bit by my 100# dog before I do something stupid like that. If she wants to do that than let it be, dumb a**.

3) I started Flash's nosework class last night. It is in the same indoor facility. Instead of setting up the crates in the open room, they had us set them up in the little store. Dogs crates were right on top of each other and I was surprised there wasn't more crate fighting going on. That is my first gripe.

4) Same issue as Ted's class. There are people who know nothing, ask lots of questions, but then when someone else asks a question or do something wrong, they are the first to chime in with a wrong answer or get mad when someone isn't doing something. There was this guy who I recognized from a Schutzhund training club here. He thought he was the sh** hitting on every woman there. His dog was in the crate just barking away getting all of the other dogs going. Instead of going to correct it, he stood there. Then after about 15 mins they finally asked whose dog is barking and he said mine, they were like do you mind shutting it up and he was like why. Well sir, it is very distracting to the dogs working the scent.

5) I like this class, but there were supposed to be less than 10 people in it. Well they overbooked at 14 people. So now in an hour class we may get 1, or if we are lucky, 2 runs in. This leads me back to what I was saying at the beginning, I understand classes are to learn and we take that info home and train. However, if they stayed under 10 we would be able to work our dogs 2-4 times, depending on the day. Also, the instructor spent more time working dogs she knew, which I think is crap since I paid just as much.

6) I don't mind people who don't know anything and admit it. Then the instructor can help shape them. I do mind the people who don't know anything and pretend they do and offer wrong advice and people who don't know anything accept the advice as being good. (Can you see a running pattern here?!?) I also don't like people that insist their dog doesn't like food and will only work for the toy even though the instructor says lets try food (it is a beginning scent class) and then spend 5-10 minutes trying to get their dog to pay attention to the toy, then they switch to treats and their dog goes nuts. I understand their dog may like a toy and have high ball drive, but I think if the instructor says something and you don't disregard, you shouldn't get twice the time to work the dog because you were not willing to listen.

I am all about helping the beginner and giving input, but I don't feel I should be spewing it out over an instructor when we are paying them to teach. If someone asks me something because of something I did, then I will be happy to explain, but I am not there to teach the class over the teacher.

Just some gripes...This is not complete, but mainly the things I felt after this week of training. Anyone else have any gripes or comments about dog training classes?

Personally if I wasn't happy with a class I'd demand a refund and be very specific as to why that would be. You can simply copy and paste what you wrote into a message. That would likely be specific enough.

Yep; what Melissa said. I wouldn't let that go. The instructors may even be happy to get the feedback, especially where it concerns the reactive dog class. That nonsense isn't just disruptive and irritating, it's potentially dangerous.

Maybe this sounds terrible, but I never take dog classes with the idea that I'll learn something new. I usually take puppies for the social experience, or trained dogs for the social experience for ME and to get a chance to work in a new environment. I'm certainly open to learning something new and there HAVE been a few gems in there over the years, but I gave up on it as an expectation. I LOVE to learn effective new techniques and get fresh perspectives, it just doesn't happen that often. Even so, it would totally grate my cheese if other participants in the class were trying to offer instruction. That's just over-the-top disrespectful.

I would definitely tell the instructors.

 Quote: Kristel Smart

it would totally grate my cheese

That is my new favorite expression.

Keith, I hear you about eeejits in dog classes. So many people are just arrogant, egotistical jackasses. I have pretty much come to expect it.

What they said.

Keith, even if every other aspect was awesome, the things you enumerated in the reactive-dog class would have ended my participation. (It might have been ended for me when I yelled out "OK, can we listen to the instructor we paid to hear instead of the owners of the problem dogs?!")

The problems with the other class would have to be corrected (overbooking, wildly unequal time with instructor, etc.).

I take it there was no general outline offered of what would happen each session?

I am in an awkward place with these classes. I know the owner of the facility because of purchasing my food with her at her store. We are friendly in a business type of relationship. She overtook the facility and has trainers in different areas come in and teach classes.

I am in no way getting any discounts for the class, but it is awkward if I asked for a refund. I will call her tonight and discuss my concerns and issues with her.

I totally agree about the reactive dog class and that is the one I am mainly going to discuss with her. I cannot trust the other dogs, nor the owners to handle their dogs, I can only trust myself. I feel like I am very tense in that situation, as much as I am trying to relax, due to other dogs and I am on alert if I am going to have to jump in and protect my dog from the others.

I too like taking them to classes, not necessarily to learn new things, but to experience new environments and work with new people and dogs. I just would like to have my dog out of the crate for longer than 2 minutes and feel comfortable...

Connie, last night there was a general overview for the nosework class, but there was not one for the reactive class. Also, I felt I didn't get anything out of it with him. He was perfect, probably because he was so subdued from falling asleep in the crate while the instructor went on and on with everyone about their week. It honestly was a waste of my time.

I appreciate your comments!

Edited by Keith Kaplan (06/11/2010 03:53 PM)
Edit reason: Additional Info

 Quote: Keith Kaplan

We are friendly in a business type of relationship. She overtook the facility and has trainers in different areas come in and teach classes.

I think your honesty about how her business is being run will be appreciated, if it's done as constructive criticsm.

Different people with different personalities, different skills and abilities. If you can't deal with them, don't go. If the trainer has something worth learning, have a couple private lessons.

This sounds extremely frustrating. I would just address the concerns that you mentioned above in a diplomatic way. You could also suggest to her that perhaps those that need a Happy hour, mix & mingle, could meet prior, or after, the actual training session, but leave the training session as just that, “Training!" She could actually incorporate an additional fee into this socialization class!