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  1. #1
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    Does any of this make sense?

    Some of you may remember the bad experience I had when I went for a consultation at a daycare/boarding facility last year. Long story short, the young owner was rude, opinionated, and believed in dominance theory. Didn't go well.

    Here we are a year later and work schedules have changed. This place is in the PERFECT location, and my anger had significantly faded. Although I don't like the owner, I know she and her staff supervise very carefully and take really great care of the dogs, our issues were more different training beliefs. So I went back. Bad idea.

    She was rude again. But there were a few things she said/did that were just plain baffling. Can someone explain?

    1. as soon as you go in the door she takes the dog away to do an evaluation (fine). We go into the office with the admin person. I can hear her loud Cesar Milanesque Shushing behind closed doors. That carries on for a while. Is this a common way to deal with a strange dog?

    2. She said Archie had no interest in meeting the other dogs. He shut down. This is NOT like him at all. She said this was our fault because he has separation anxiety (I've never seen evidence of this), we're too soft with him, and he's under-socialized. I'm thinking it's because she handled him so roughly, which he isn't used to at all, and introduced him to, in her words, her very dominant bulldog while he was on-leash. I think all of that is more likely to be the reason he shut down. Am I wrong?

    3. When she returned with him to the office to give her evaluation, he was panting and panicky. Again, she said it was separation anxiety. I think it was just plain anxiety from her being so rough, the shushing, and the collar tugging. That's not how we train. Is this plausible? He's never shown any other signs of separation anxiety (destruction, barking, etc.) Never.

    4. He's pretty well trained. One of my favourites is he's trained that when he's on leash, and I sit down, he lays down. I can't think of a situation where this doesn't come in handy (vet, cafe, etc). She kept yanking him up when he tried to lay down. I got angry and said "can you please stop yanking on him. He's trained to lay down on leash when you sit" Her response: first, she condescendingly asked He's trained professionally to do that?" Yes professionally, you ****. Then, "He's not allowed to lay down because I haven't told him to." And she followed that up with "if you're training him to be a service dog he shouldn't be in daycare." Umm he's not being trained to be a service dog?

    5. Then she said that he sniffed her dog's butt, which is the most rude thing you can do in dog body language. I thought that was polite doggy greeting?

    Anyways, the whole thing was infuriating. Archie came home and slept the rest of the day. She stressed him right out. I never heard her talk to the dogs, although I heard the constant Cesar Milan shushing. She never petted. Never seemed to enjoy the dogs at all. Needless to say we won't be using them, but can anyone shine some light on any of the things she said/did?
    Laura, Archie & Quinn
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  2. #2
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    I am no professional, but this is NO way to treat a possible customer. She spent the time being rough with Archie and putting down his training. I am guessing the reason Archie was panting and nervous after the evaluation because she was probably dealing with him in a way that he is not used to, and therefore he was nervous because what he thought was "right" was "wrong" to this b-word of a woman.

    1. Ceasar Milan anything is just plain weird to me. Does she advertise that she uses his practices?

    2. He shut down because he was nervous because this terrible woman I am sure was giving off a negative vibe. Negative vibes effect dogs more than what most people realize. Bacon knows when we are angry (not angry at him, just in general), even if we dont talk.

    3. I agree, anxiety was from the way he was treated. If he had separation anxiety, you would know it. My first dog Lily had it (she was a rescue who was abandoned 2x before we had her) and it was very obvious.

    4. As a doggie day care, they should be getting a detailed background of your training style and what Archie has been taught. If Archie is TRAINED to lay down when you sit, She should NEVER be yanking on him for that!! He is doing what he knows is right. I am equally infuriated for you, and to be honest, I would feel quite insulted, and violated for the way she treated Archie. From what I know, Archie is a great dog, and he should fit in at any doggie day care environment.

    5. I'm pretty sure butt sniffing is a greeting. This lady is a little loony.

    To be honest, I would NEVER leave my dog with this woman. Like Archie, Bacon is trained to do things that are not typical, but are great for us in our training. I am so sorry this happened to Archie. Be sure to give him some extra pets and snuggles for me. I really think that Bacon and Archie would be such good friends. Such similar personalities
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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    Born: 9/02/13

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    In memory of Lily 1/1995 - 2/2/2012

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  4. #3
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    I think they would be great friends too!

    Some dogs can be handled roughly and they're none the worse for wear. Archie isn't like that. He's very soft, so we train positively. Too bad she didn't care about any of that. It has to be her way if the dog is going to run with "her pack."

    Honestly I think she loves being an expert more than she loves dogs.
    Laura, Archie & Quinn
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  5. #4
    Best Friend Retriever emma_Dad's Avatar
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    I would have taken my dog and walked out. Without saying a word.

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  7. #5
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    That is insane! No way would I even think about letting my dog anywhere near there, even if it is in a good location. Tux is a very "soft" dog....if he would be handled that way, he would COMPLETELY shut down.

    What a freaking bitch, how does she have enough clients to stay in business with an attitude like that?

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  9. #6
    Senior Dog sheltieluver's Avatar
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    Wow is all I can say!! I run a boarding kennel and I would never treat a dog or a client this way EVER!!!! The main point for boarding or day care is for the dog to socialize and have fun not for training. I wouldn't feel safe leaving my dog there. Dogs are different and Archie is prob a softer dog in which how you train him is working. I have a sheltie like that he's very sensitive. If he were to be treated like your dog was he would get stressed and shut down as well. I can't give corrections to him I have to reinforce good behavior. Gauge on the other hand needs more corrections but I still reward the positive he just has a stronger personality.

    Anyway this woman needs to find a different career bc knowing dogs and working with them isn't something she should be doing.

  10. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    I'm sorry, I know you are a good owner and you try your best, but I'm upset you went back and let her take your dog at all after what you know about her from your past experience. You must have had a momentary lapse of some kind. I know such things happen. Just the other day I said to a friend, "Are you crazy? What did you do that for?" I say it to you too.

    But you do have some good questions so I'll give my opinion there too.

    1. Yes, sometimes the owner impedes the dog's reactions. Our boarding place does this and have offended many patrons because they don't explain the long goodbyes stress the dog out. Same as my 18 month old great nephew's day care, they want Mum to leave while he's still distracted by his entry. But you should have been told what was going to happen. Maybe they should have a one way mirror viewing area.

    2. Nobody who didn't see what went on can really answer this but I bet your guess is most likely correct.

    3. Yes. But same as #2, nobody saw so impossible to say for sure.

    4. Sorry but I feel another, "Are you crazy? What did you let her do that for?" coming on. She sounds like a crackpot but why did you let her yank him more than once? Lying down when you sit sounds to me like a nicely behaved dog.

    5. Excessive butt sniffing is rude. Dogs have exceptional sniffers, they don't need a complete medical history of a new dog. Nobody saw so you have only her account of it.

    Sorry.

  11. #8
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I'm sorry, I know you are a good owner and you try your best, but I'm upset you went back and let her take your dog at all after what you know about her from your past experience. You must have had a momentary lapse of some kind. I know such things happen. Just the other day I said to a friend, "Are you crazy? What did you do that for?" I say it to you too.

    But you do have some good questions so I'll give my opinion there too.

    1. Yes, sometimes the owner impedes the dog's reactions. Our boarding place does this and have offended many patrons because they don't explain the long goodbyes stress the dog out. Same as my 18 month old great nephew's day care, they want Mum to leave while he's still distracted by his entry. But you should have been told what was going to happen. Maybe they should have a one way mirror viewing area.

    2. Nobody who didn't see what went on can really answer this but I bet your guess is most likely correct.

    3. Yes. But same as #2, nobody saw so impossible to say for sure.

    4. Sorry but I feel another, "Are you crazy? What did you let her do that for?" coming on. She sounds like a crackpot but why did you let her yank him more than once? Lying down when you sit sounds to me like a nicely behaved dog.

    5. Excessive butt sniffing is rude. Dogs have exceptional sniffers, they don't need a complete medical history of a new dog. Nobody saw so you have only her account of it.

    Sorry.
    I know, I know. I guess my impression from last time is that she's rude to people but the dogs are safe and happy. This time, Archie was the victim too. Also, my husband wasn't there last time, and didn't believe she could possible be that bad.

    I'm also extremely non-confrontational, pretty much incapable of confrontation. Again, I know. My fault.

    I knew all of this, but was just curious if maybe I was wrong or overprotective. I don't mind her taking him right away either. It was the shushing thing. The constant shushing. ugh.
    Laura, Archie & Quinn
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  12. #9
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    I'd definitely go elsewhere. If some handled one of my dogs that way, they would have a real problem. Me.

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  14. #10
    Senior Dog CraftHer's Avatar
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    I remember a post, not sure if it was you, where the first thing the person said was "you should never let your dog walk before you". Even before they said "Hello". Was that you? I like to think I would have said "Oh yeah, watch this" and let Mocha walk ahead of me right out the door. But I usually think of the perfect this to do or say much later

    Anyway, I would not have wanted her to take my dog and evaluate or introduce him to other dogs without me. He's MY dog. I do the introducing. And she absolutely told him to lay down when she sat. Professionally trained or not, that's one of his commands. If someone touches their shoulders, Mocha will jump on them because they asked him to jump up. He shouldn't be punished for that. Although, he should be given the OFF command immediately

    I read one of Caesar Milan's early books. In it, he says he's not a trainer. He rehabilitates dogs. So I took that to mean it's not appropriate to use all his techniques to train because they are not training techniques.

    Next time he's on leash and you sit down and he lays down, give him TWO treats!!

 



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