Oh the Shame of it!!!

Karma67 · 12-08-2007, 04:42 AM

I had booked Barkelys puppy training/socilizing classes and went to first session 2 weeks ago.....

After getting lost finding the hall, we went in. There were about another 7-8 puppies there....lots of teeny cocker spaniels, labradors..Barkely was a GIANT compared to them!! lol

Well....Barkely would not be quiet! Barking at all the other pups/ straining on his lead wanting ot get closer and play, and not listening to a word I or the trainers were saying to him!!

He got 'chosen' as a demo for the 'sit' command (we already had taught him this at home). We couldnt hear a word frm the instructors as Barkley's bak was echoing around the hall! THEN he slipped his collar and decided to visit all the other pups for a 'hello'! Though he did stop barking when he was runnign about the hall saying hi!

Well after that incident, we were taken to a back room and had nearly whole session of one to won coaching! Mainly so that Barkley didnt distract othe pups fom learning etc! Oh the shame!!!

The trainer said that he was so focused on seeing all the othe pups and distracted from what we were saying to him etc....and he decided it was better for him not to come back to puppy classes, and to have one to one training for a while until he is able to focus on me in future instead of everything else!!!

Was quiet embarrassing to be honest! When i got home and hubby asked how we got on.....and after i told him he said 'I knew Barkley would be the 'naughty' one!!!'

Oh well, just waitig for our individual session now....on a positvie note the trainer did say Barkley ws very intellegent and picks up instructions very quickly and learns them...when focused lol

Anyone else had embarrassing situation with their pup too??

Lexxsmom · 12-08-2007, 09:08 AM

Im honestly surprised that the trainer suggested that to you. How old is your puppy? An important part of puppy training is socializing the puppy to others and getting them used to working WITH distraction, not without it!

Im not sure what I would do in that situation, but maybe someone else will have a better idea. I know that when Lexx was in puppy school there were other puppies that barking the WHOLE night and they were never kicked out!!! ( lexx hates barking as a rule..)

Am I wrong to think that this is unreasonable?

Also, don't be embarrassed! Puppies are puppies and they do love to have fun. Its not your fault at all!

Reds · 12-08-2007, 09:40 AM

I am also suprised by the reaction. Maybe you should see if there is a class in your area geared towards working breeds. Check with GSD clubs maybe?

Also, a quick run before class will help settle Barkely and tire him out a little. He needs the socialization, and keeping him away from the others does not seem IMO to be a good way to train him.

**Luvbirds59** · 12-08-2007, 09:52 AM

Puppy class is for puppies....the good, bad and ugly. The trainer should be teaching YOU how to get your boy to focus on YOU! He has to learn how to be around other dogs/puppies, and behave. That is what puppy class is for! There is plenty of time for one on one trainers down the road.

Petey was the worst BRAT of his beginner obedience class, also as large as the ST Bernard puppy in the classs....but we got through it, he learned a ton.

Can you find a different class?

oxc

waiting · 12-08-2007, 10:02 AM

I agree, maybe give her a call and have a chat about socialization and working with distractions, and not being put in a room with none of the above. What is he learning in that room that you couldn't do on your own, nothing. Your dog by acting up is helping the class and himself to learn manners and to carry on with the distraction. Like when they use bikes, baby carriages, loud noises, for training a dog to be steady and carry on.
To be quite honest I only went with my dogs for socialization aspect and sometimes to work on my timing when I needed a tuneup. My dogs learned more on a hour walk with me and then took it to class to work and socialize. There is no shame in learning, we have all been there saying at one time but he does it at home. Yes he does, point being there are no distractions and that is the key to the classes, which I think your instructor might need reminding. Keep up the good work and don't get disheartened.

Julie W · 12-08-2007, 10:06 AM

I completely agree with the others. I would look for a better class with an instructor that can actually handle a large and energetic breed. The thing to do with them is NOT quit going to class if they are misbehaving there. How in the world are you supposed to train them to behave in that situation if you aren't allowed to be there? Ridiculous to me. If I were that trainer I would have not only kept you in the class, I would have encouraged you to sit on the sidelines of every other class I offered just to socialize him to it as fast as possible. That way he could get the most out of the classes he participated in. If he doesn't get a ton of exercise, start it, and especially before class. Also make sure he hasn't eaten before class so he is hungry for treats and more focused on you.

**Kratty** · 12-08-2007, 12:29 PM

Wow, I'm really surprised by the instructors reaction to remove him from the class. Like the others are saying, Puppies are puppies and this behavior is normal from what I have seen in our classes. They are there to socialize and learn some basic stuff, like attention. I think they are wrong to do this.

Getting them to pay attention to you is the first thing we work on in these classes. Pulling out the treat bag and treating away would have been the route I would have took just to get the attention back to you. Sounds like this isn't a very good instructor to avoid addressing this behavior. Sorry to hear this

**Quita** · 12-08-2007, 03:56 PM

When Fiddler was younger he would also bark in class. He'd misbehave a bit and I'd feel so embarrassed. The instructor really didn't give us any extra help, and there were many days I'd come home from class crying in the car. At one point in time I wondered why I was doing this.... It was supposed to be fun! Well, I finally found a trainer who I LOVE! I always look forward to our Saturday sessions with her. You might want to try a few private lessons and see how things go. If things just don't feel "right," I suggest finding a different instructor. I will say, however, that the most learning that I've done has been with private, one-on-one lessons. Yes, the dogs benefit from socializing... and we DO join classes with other dogs. However, for MY learning, I learned the most from just a few private sessions. Taking private classes isn't the worst thing in the world, but you do need to start socializing the puppy ASAP. I'd be concerned, however, about the philosophy of training that the instructor has. I interviewed instructors and went to observe a class before I started working with our current trainer.

Oh, one of the things that was the worst... Years ago Fiddler and I did a beginner agility class. Fiddler was the only big dog in the class. At the end of the program, we were all lining up for a class photos. Fiddler was a little antsy and so the instructor said we could take a photo later, one of just him. I was so hurt! All the dogs were lined up in a row... some on chairs, and the instructor told me to be out of the picture! I was quite upset. Never returned to work with that instructor again!

A site note: My mom always said that the brightest children were the most difficult ones to raise!

Karma67 · 12-11-2007, 04:23 AM

Thanks everyone for you helpful replies...

I've found a new trainer..we start on 6th Jan...brrrr!!!

She got a great reputation...she actually is one of the trainers in the tv program 'Dog Borstal' here in the UK! Luckily her training centre is only about 10 miles away from us!

Her name is Lynne Davies and has tonnes of experience in behavioural problems..not that Barkley has that!!

I'm really looking forward to it!

alwayshadpets · 12-11-2007, 05:08 AM

Excellent idea!

“Dogs are not our whold life but they make our lives whole"
Roger Carcas