Hello fellow dog lovers--I am new to this forum, but have been enjoying Leerburg products for around 4 months now. We recently took a 16 month old GSD on a 1 month trial basis from a nice young military family who could no longer keep her. Abby is good natured, but has spent her life in a small house with a family that included a baby, 3 and 7 year old and their parents. She has received no obedience training has has basically no exposure to the outside world.
It became obvious on day #1 when we brought Abby home 2 weeks ago that she had major fear aggression issues. She is now a 72# muscle bound dog who is a force to be reckoned with outside. I have an interest in dog training, but our trainer, who has helped us with several previous dogs, seems insistent on taking Abby for a residential program where I will have limited ability to participate. Part of the reason for bringing Abby into our home was so I could "raise my game" as a handler, but handing Abby over for foundation work would (I believe) deprive me of an important bonding experience, not to mention a great educational opportunity. She has already made significant progress in her 9 days with us.
What do you think? Is there some basis in dog training to support separating owner and dog during such a critical period of training? I like and trust our trainer, but am leery of this approach. I appreciate any comments. Thanks

I would ask why and why not.
What does he think make this dog different.
Or get a second trainer to look at the dog too

 Quote: Charlie Bernstein

Hello fellow dog lovers--I am new to this forum, but have been enjoying Leerburg products for around 4 months now. We recently took a 16 month old GSD on a 1 month trial basis from a nice young military family who could no longer keep her. Abby is good natured, but has spent her life in a small house with a family that included a baby, 3 and 7 year old and their parents. She has received no obedience training has has basically no exposure to the outside world.
It became obvious on day #1 when we brought Abby home 2 weeks ago that she had major fear aggression issues. She is now a 72# muscle bound dog who is a force to be reckoned with outside. I have an interest in dog training, but our trainer, who has helped us with several previous dogs, seems insistent on taking Abby for a residential program where I will have limited ability to participate. Part of the reason for bringing Abby into our home was so I could "raise my game" as a handler, but handing Abby over for foundation work would (I believe) deprive me of an important bonding experience, not to mention a great educational opportunity. She has already made significant progress in her 9 days with us.
What do you think? Is there some basis in dog training to support separating owner and dog during such a critical period of training? I like and trust our trainer, but am leery of this approach. I appreciate any comments. Thanks

I'm just a pet owner, not any kind of professional trainer, but I would NOT "out-source" your dog to anyone else -- I'm waiting for some of our EXPERT trainers here to share their more Educated & Experienced opinions on your question ... Meantime, you are hopefully taking Full Advantage of the "ARTICLES" icon in the Banner at the Top of this page !!! Progress is GOOD

IMO putting your dog in the hands of a professional away from home may work for your dog WITH that trainer but it's YOU that has to control the dog after you get it back.

That would still require you to go through everything with your dog he's so he can then train you to control what he has taught the dog.

I believe you finding a good trainer to work you and the dog together.

You'll learn a lot more about identifying what makes your dog tick and not just the mechanics of putting the dog through it's paces.

I'd never hand over a dog to a dogtrainer even if it were the most reputable one. I'd always want to participate and I'd want to do this at home. I fully agree with Bob.

And you yourself, Charlie, you know it. You write it would deprive you of an important bonding experience and a great educational experience. You need to build a strong relationship with your dog not that trainer.

He as professional should know this and so his suggestion sounds to me rather strange. It would make me very suspicious. To learn from a good professional is without doubt a recommendable thing. But I would Always want to know what's going on, so I could intervene in case I couldn't agree with his method. It should happen with you and in your and your dog's home.

IMO a dog trainer's function is not to train YOUR dog, but to teach YOU how to train him, or to help you with training where problems turn up.