dog related problems

[666333YO]

Hi im new to the forum.

Im a canine behaviour / consultant trainer, with 40 years involvement in all types of dog training.
My background is obedience and working trials. I had both ob ch and working trials ch dogs.
Ive worked with all breeds and types, and offer advice to new owners on the right sort of dog to suit their lifestyle.
Im freelance and work mainly now with disturbed [ owners] and some mixed up hounds.[ Dog training 7 days a week]
I take dogs into my own home for training, offer a training package where 'difficult or disturbed' dogs can be with calm dogs in a secure home environment.

Recently ive been made aware of the sheer numbers of people jumping onto the dog training, dog walking 'band waggon'. In particular the people who have decided to offer advice and calling themselves 'psychologists', some after spending a few weeks on a course, or learning from books.

Twice in the past month ive had to go and try to sort out problems caused by the disasterous consequenses of people employing these con artists. One local 'dog professional' charges £80 for a one and a half hour session where he 'sorts out all problems'. I have met young girls with no other experience than having a family dog who call themselves 'trainers', they go to people's homes offering advice on dog related problems.
But the worst by far is a woman who worked for guide dogs who told the owners of a dangerous dog to keep it on a low dose of sedatives!.

If I could charge for my years of experience id be a millionaire.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

I do help people out with basic commands, lead training etc. As you say, I help the owners out and give pointers as well as help them train their dogs.
Just last night I was helping my OH's neighbour with his St Bernard - nothing too taxing, nothing out of the ordinary, just something that needed a fresh pair of eyes - he keeps pawing you because he knows you will react to him and it is turning into a big game - ignore it, he will stop.

Simple stuff like telling a +6ft sportsman that his bitch isn't recalling because she was a bit intimidated by his size and tone of voice, when he crouched down and made it more fun and enticing, she raced back to him.

I would never call myself a trainer or a psychologist or behaviourist, as I say, I just give people, and through people, their dogs, a shove in the right direction.

I don't have letters after my name and I certainly do not ask for money, although people offer it. I do take wine if it is offered

I do not attempt to take on or sort out extreme behavourial issues but if I meet someone that does have this problem I point them in the direction of a number of trainers that I do know and who have helped me.

At the club where I train, people who have put their dogs through qualifications successfully are encouraged to take that experience and help other owners and handlers coming up through the ranks with their own dogs to help them pass, too.

On the flip side, one person who runs a business in dog behaviour and training and has LOTS of letters after their name, was totally wrong about my dog.
That person was not there to see my dog and I pass our obedience/companion dog qualification last month, or to see my dog totally ignore the 'passive dog' who, when it was a puppy, he tried to attack exactly a year earlier.
That day, a year ago, that expert told me I would never 'get that out of him'.
But I did

However I agree it is a disturbing trend and it is up to owners to seek out qualified, or at least properly experienced people to help them.

 

[CAYLA]

Lol.....Cavey u kill me.......*pictures Cavey* helping idiotic owners with theit dogs for wine.......I bet u have bottles and bottle and bottles of the stuff

CAVE CANEM
here to help spivs with their dogs
First session = 1x dry white
2nd and 3rd session I may be a little typsy but I can still help.



Sorry Im in a giddy mood.......

Totally agree with everything said

 

[Spudlet]

Baaaah I agree too

And welcome to the forum 666333YO!

I have a new, recently instigated policy of taking only the advice I think will work no matter who it comes from - cos while there are LOTS of people who know more about dogs than me, nobody knows MY dog the way that I do.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Whereas I, of course, am an expert and never need to take advice from anyone, so this is not a problem I encounter

(thats a joke BTW....

)

 

[666333YO]

Im going to write a book one day.

I was 'called' to a small terraced house one day to a couple who had bought a hairy little puppy off a chap in Devon who was sleeping rough on the beach. [ they were on a camping holiday] Anyhow at 15 weeks old was now the size of a small sheep!.. and was quite happily taking over the house.
It wasn't that it was naughty or anytrhing, just 'HAPPY'' it was on happy pills and on its own happiness trampoline.

Trouble was the couple hadn't a clue what to do with it, or how to exercise it, or how to feed it.
It had the appitite of a pub full of drunks on a saturday night [with the manners to match.]
It slept on their bed, far**d, and wouldnn't get up until 11am!.

I tried to keep my face 'bland' as they were telling me their woes... while this hairy monster attempted to climb onto my knee, tongue lolling, in happyland.

I totally loved this dog, but it was obvious that unless I found him a new home this couple would end up in a loony bin somewhere...

It took me about 5 weeks, but I found him the most perfect new home.
He became quite the biggest pet dog id ever seen, more like a highland cow than a dog, but the nicest temprement ever.

He now lives in the highlands of Scotland on a farm with a couple who have 3 kids, 3 other dogs, two horses and several hundred sheep. He spends all day outside running around and is like a pig in muck

 

[CorvusCorax]

More please

And have you a photo of him?!

There is one dog that I would love to kidnap for two weeks (I know that is all it would take) but I also know that the minute I handed it back, all the work would be undone......