Consumer Homes.

Question:

I have a dilema about obedience training my English Mastiff.  The breeder advised at four months she should have formal OT and I would be glad I invested in our relationship.  But she added that Mastiffs are a bit manipulative and sensitive at the same time and we would be better off with a private in home trainer.  I contacted several trainers in the area and found only two who do in home training.  I went with the gentleman who said he does not train dogs for a living he trains people to train their own dogs.  As cost was not so much an issue as doing "the right thing for the dog" I went ahead and scheduled our 1st training. After reading on in your NG I have found no one who reccomends this way of training.  I should clarify that the trainer does in home only with the understanding that if we do not work with her outside the house it will all be for nothing.  The dog will do great at home and be "untrained" out side the home.  We take Kira everywhere with us and want to have a very well trained and well mannered member of our family. Help! did I make the wrong choice? Should I also get her into a group class?  The time for that would be when? She gets a lot of socialization at the local doggie park and has a ball with other dogs regardless of size.  She is actually already doing well with the little training we have done with her, sit, come, stay, down and four on the floor to visitors. Any feed back would be appreciated.  I really want to do the right thing for Kira.  She’s the biggest part of being a family and nothing is better than a dog in the house. With the exception of a maid if I could have one of those too:)  :)

Response:

: After reading on in your NG I have found no one who reccomends this way of : training.  I should clarify that the trainer does in home only with the : understanding that if we do not work with her outside the house it will all be : for nothing.  The dog will do great at home and be "untrained" out side the : home.  We take Kira everywhere with us and want to have a very well trained and : well mannered member of our family. : Help! did I make the wrong choice? Personally, I think private, in-home training is a *great* way to go as long as you do what you’re apparently doing (or planning on doing) and making sure the dog gets out and exposed to lots of environments and situations, including lots of other people and dogs… and that you’re working on the exercises in various areas and with various distractions as your dog becomes able to handle them. The major advantage to private training is that the instructor is watching just you and your dog, and can help you immediately with any problems you’re handling. The major disadvantages are the cost (private training is obviously more expensive), and the fact that classes are good socialization – but as long as you concentrate on that outside of training, you’ll take care of that. Sounds to me like you’re on your way to having the kind of dog you want! April with Levi and Caper, the Border Collie Hurricanes

Response:

KeenaCU2 writes: >I have a dilema about obedience training my English Mastiff.  The breeder >advised at four months she should have formal OT and I would be glad I >invested >in our relationship.  But she added that Mastiffs are a bit manipulative and >sensitive at the same time and we would be better off with a private in home >trainer.  I contacted several trainers in the area and found only two who do >in >home training.>>

be!), supplementary private training can be of great benefit.  Group classes are great for offering distractions with the training, but even with group classe, most of the work goes on AT HOME – with you, the owner. << I went with the gentleman who said he does not train dogs for >a >living he trains people to train their own dogs. >>

owner/dog relationship! <<As cost was not so much an >issue as doing "the right thing for the dog" I went ahead and scheduled our >1st >training. >After reading on in your NG I have found no one who reccomends this way of >training.>>

address a lot of issue (dogs are social animals after all), but it can be a great thing for problem solving and getting an increased level of individual attention. <<  I should clarify that the trainer does in home only with the >understanding that if we do not work with her outside the house it will all >be >for nothing.>>

in "real life".  This goes for group class trained dogs too!  If you don’t use stay and heel when asking your dog to be polite – why bother teaching them?  I encourage my students to use stays for door greetings, settling, etc. >Help! did I make the wrong choice? >Should I also get her into a group class?  The time for that would be when?>>

of fun, but since she has a social life (good for all of you!), just work her a bit and use your learnings, when around other dogs.  Unfortunately, my experience with dog parks says that a lot of the other dogs have NO real training, and don’t listen to their owners worth a squat!  HEEL to the park. Do a few stays and recalls before you let her off leash to play.  Call her to come during play (and go GET her if she doesn’t – bringing her back to where you were when you called), and have her sit, praise, and release her back into play (she’ll learn that coming doesn’t have to mean the end of playtime EVERY time!) > She’s the biggest part of being a family and nothing is better than a dog in

the house.>> > With the exception of a maid if I could have one of those >too:)  :)

cats, I really wish she lived in! Janet Boss Best Friends Dog Obedience "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" "If you think posters misunderstand your posts and jump to conclusions, re-read before you post a message, and make sure you have been clear and complete with your information."

Response:

It sounds like you’re doing fine.  By far the best way to train is to train the owner as well as the dog.  I wouldn’t worry too much about group since you’re already handling socialization on your own at the dog park.  What you *might* want to do is to train for 5-10 minutes in the park while other dogs are around, using them as distractions. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have a dilema about obedience training my English Mastiff.  The breeder >advised at four months she should have formal OT and I would be glad I invested >in our relationship.  But she added that Mastiffs are a bit manipulative and >sensitive at the same time and we would be better off with a private in home >trainer.  I contacted several trainers in the area and found only two who do in >home training.  I went with the gentleman who said he does not train dogs for a >living he trains people to train their own dogs.  As cost was not so much an >issue as doing "the right thing for the dog" I went ahead and scheduled our 1st >training. >After reading on in your NG I have found no one who reccomends this way of >training.  I should clarify that the trainer does in home only with the >understanding that if we do not work with her outside the house it will all be >for nothing.  The dog will do great at home and be "untrained" out side the >home.  We take Kira everywhere with us and want to have a very well trained and >well mannered member of our family. >Help! did I make the wrong choice? >Should I also get her into a group class?  The time for that would be when? >She gets a lot of socialization at the local doggie park and has a ball with >other dogs regardless of size.  She is actually already doing well with the >little training we have done with her, sit, come, stay, down and four on the >floor to visitors. >Any feed back would be appreciated.  I really want to do the right thing for >Kira.  She’s the biggest part of being a family and nothing is better than a >dog in the house. With the exception of a maid if I could have one of those >too:)  :)

Response: