Jan Fennel Dog training methods opinions please!

SaharaS

SaharaS

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Hello

Just wondering if any of you have any good or bad opinions of Jan Fennel & her methods...feel free to pm me if you worried about putting any negatives, but I'm looking for any pro's & cons that you may have found...we all know Cesar Milan first appeared to work magic and arguably now some love him & others are trying to get him banned...I know it is all down to the individual handler & their discretion as it is their own dog..and I am sensible honest...just don't want to invest tonnes of money in books & dvd's to then find out she's another Cesar or that the methods are not what I expected....all round opinions please! I have some Amazon vouchers to burn tho not literally!:-) Is there anything in her methods you feel really works or really is wrong or .......?????? :D
 
i read one of her books, i quite liked her book but not her programs so much, but then i like CM too (runs for cover) to an extent, but i think that its good to read or watch everyones methods and then take out the bits that suit you and your dog, so maybe just buy one book and see what you think.
not much help really :o
 
Thank you both...both v good points..I had only flipped thru cm book & seen a few snips but I was horrified when i heard of some of the things he is said to have done...so although I initially thought his methods were great after a friend was raving about him...she's read every single book of his & still swears loyally by him, so as I've not seen the offending bits, I really baulked-makes you question everything they say...just keen not to spend anything till I'm sure...will give the other book a go tho in the mean time...many thanks:-) am very open to suggestions for other trainers methods...they all seem to hate eachother so I'm going to make my millions socializing behaviourists instead!:D:D:D
 
Dobiegirl said:
Jean Donaldson is highly thought of and if you go on to youtube you will see some of her videos. Whilst you are on there look up Kikopup who is amazing.
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Thanks Dobiegirl..& I think half of H&H will thank you too....I'm off to watch some youtube!may be quiet for some time!!!:D
 
Dobiegirl said:
Jean Donaldson is highly thought of and if you go on to youtube you will see some of her videos. Whilst you are on there look up Kikopup who is amazing.
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i will have a look at these too as iv not heard of either of them but i am always looking to learn more :)
 
I like to pick and choose from different trainers to do what suits the dog :) bits of Jean Donaldson are really great, not much experience of Jan Fennel.
I also like bits of CM, but that's a different debate for a different day :D
I'm a negative-positive-positive person I suppose, it just tends to suit the dog I am training at the mo, but I appreciate that does not work for every dog :)
 
I don't like her at all . Read a book of hers years ago and didn't get what she was trying to get at at all . I recently read the puppy book when it came out and got to the point where she said you need to use a crate so you have somewhere to shut a puppy as punishment when he has been naughty and couldn't get any further . I do try and read as much dog ( and horse ) stuff as possible as you never stop learning and you never know where a little gem will pop up but this woman I can't get at all . I'm not saying it is her ( well yes I am;)as I'm special and perfect!:p eta tongue in cheek folks, tongue in cheek ! ) others may click with what she has to say and if it works for you , well it's all good isn't it !
 
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Shes quite old school isnt she? Ignore dogs, eat before them, go through doorways first, be the alpha type?

Whilst some things like that are helpful- I dont want him dragging me through doorways- but that is manners! Im not going to pretend to eat some of his dinner before I give it to him.
 
Interesting to hear those two last points, v grateful for some negatives too and esp for your saying why...its like the many out there that still think its acceptable to rub their noses in it...acheives nothing positive at all...I like a few things I've read from diff people...but thinking youtube may be the way to go & I can then pick & chose what I agree with & what I don't I simply can try find an opposite or simply not watch....oh the power of the remote!!that way I have less books to dust & more money to spend on cake and we all know how good therapy that is.....particularly if full fed happy feelings are passed down to your dog via lead:D:D
 
I do ignore my dog as he is a whiny whiner and I also do not let him charge through doors in his own manner of choosing :p but yeah, this is just manners.
The I ARE ALPHA thing works with certain types of dog but I think there are very few truly dominant dogs out there in pet homes, just insecure/confused ones who have been passed mixed messages.
 
CaveCanem said:
I do ignore my dog as he is a whiny whiner and I also do not let him charge through doors in his own manner of choosing :p but yeah, this is just manners.
The I ARE ALPHA thing works with certain types of dog but I think there are very few truly dominant dogs out there in pet homes, just insecure/confused ones who have been passed mixed messages.
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Oh me too but I read one of her books and the ignoring thing was taken to extremes!! You basically didnt seem to have a relationship with the dog at all!!
 
Why not try reading some or all of the John Rogerson training books he is very good. Or Sarah Whitehead who is also excellent. Both are English and never use choke/check chains or electric shock collars. I have seen CM use spike collars on dogs but they are quite standard in the USA.
 
I think it would be short-sighted to discount every single one of a trainer's ideas because they use a couple of items people don't agree with. Unless they are just completely crap :p

Jane Donaldson thinks choke chains are the devil's work, calls them strangle-collars etc, which I disagree with, I have used them all my life, I think they are a tool which used correctly on the right type of dog, certainly have their place.
I also think she uses incredibly and overly emotive language with clouds the issues she is dealing with, sometimes.
However I do agree with a lot of other things and found myself nodding along with the vast majority of her book.

Like I say, I take bits and bobs that suit my own dog, if someone can show me one system that suits every single dog on this earth, I will eat my hat.
 
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