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  1. #11
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    We didn't have a ton of choices but I picked the places where competition folks went. Honestly, even if I wasn't going to compete, I would pick places where the folks that DO something with their dogs go. If that makes sense.

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  3. #12
    Best Friend Retriever annkie's Avatar
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    Criteria for choosing a trainer

    So I just hired a trainer. She sounded very "large and in charge" on the phone. We had a chat about my needs and her experience. After we scheduled the appt she told me to go get a gentle leader. I replied that I already have a no pull harness but ideally i want to use a flat collar. Her reply was "why don't you let me do my job". She reluctantly agreed to see how he is in the harness before trying the gentle leader but I still have to buy one. I don't know what to make of this. I feel like I can teach Archie myself on a gentle leader! In addition, she said the training school i go to sucks (honestly i wasn't that impressed with it either). She has 35 yrs experience with great reviews online. She worked with Richard Walters and retrievers. I guess I'm just a bit thrown off by her "job" statement. Either she knows what she's doing or... I don't know what.

    Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to spend a fortune just trying to find a trainer i like??

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  4. #13
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    I know a lot of people don't like gentle leaders, but I have used them a limited number of times and liked them. I spent a lot of time conditioning my dog to them and then we had nice walks without any kind of pulling that would harm the dog. I've used them on fosters that did not allow other types of training collars and I used them on Sam for a few months when he was going through a lunging stage during adolescence. I'd be careful of retriever people with spaniels. Labs are much different, especially field Labs. Compared to Labs, your spaniel is very soft. They don't like repetition. Richard Wolters is old school retriever training. Not saying some methods are not sound, but if you're looking for progressive, his methods are not it. Personally, I would still talk to the woman and see what her plan is, but I wouldn't let her touch my dog (I don't let anyone else train my dog, nothing against this person).

  5. #14
    Best Friend Retriever annkie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    I know a lot of people don't like gentle leaders, but I have used them a limited number of times and liked them. I spent a lot of time conditioning my dog to them and then we had nice walks without any kind of pulling that would harm the dog. I've used them on fosters that did not allow other types of training collars and I used them on Sam for a few months when he was going through a lunging stage during adolescence. I'd be careful of retriever people with spaniels. Labs are much different, especially field Labs. Compared to Labs, your spaniel is very soft. They don't like repetition. Richard Wolters is old school retriever training. Not saying some methods are not sound, but if you're looking for progressive, his methods are not it. Personally, I would still talk to the woman and see what her plan is, but I wouldn't let her touch my dog (I don't let anyone else train my dog, nothing against this person).
    Well I made an appt for this Friday. She has trained all kinds of dogs over her career. I don't know what else to do at this point. I don't know how else to choose a trainer. I wish I could see them in action before spending hundreds of dollars. The reviews look good over all. This process is turning out to be very frustrating.


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  6. #15
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by annkie View Post
    Well I made an appt for this Friday. She has trained all kinds of dogs over her career. I don't know what else to do at this point. I don't know how else to choose a trainer. I wish I could see them in action before spending hundreds of dollars. The reviews look good over all. This process is turning out to be very frustrating.

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    It takes time. When I decided to get serious, I went to one training place that was local. I went to her for a couple years with two dogs. I then realized that something wasn't working for me. Because I was engaged with the obedience club, I learned a few more names and contacted the one person I'd heard most about and liked how her students trained and how their dogs were in the ring. That was three years ago and I've been with her since. But that is just obedience. I do online training and I've had to pick and choose which instructors I like and which don't really do it for me. Then there is field work and agility and for both, I can see myself changing trainers over time for different reasons. My point is, it takes time to find the right trainer. And sometimes you think you have found the right trainer and then you find someone you like better or your objectives or methodology changes. So, if you feel comfortable saying, "no, don't do that" or "no, I won't do that", or "I'm not comfortable with that can we think of another way?" then meeting with different dog trainers won't hurt.

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  8. #16
    Best Friend Retriever annkie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    It takes time. When I decided to get serious, I went to one training place that was local. I went to her for a couple years with two dogs. I then realized that something wasn't working for me. Because I was engaged with the obedience club, I learned a few more names and contacted the one person I'd heard most about and liked how her students trained and how their dogs were in the ring. That was three years ago and I've been with her since. But that is just obedience. I do online training and I've had to pick and choose which instructors I like and which don't really do it for me. Then there is field work and agility and for both, I can see myself changing trainers over time for different reasons. My point is, it takes time to find the right trainer. And sometimes you think you have found the right trainer and then you find someone you like better or your objectives or methodology changes. So, if you feel comfortable saying, "no, don't do that" or "no, I won't do that", or "I'm not comfortable with that can we think of another way?" then meeting with different dog trainers won't hurt.
    This is an expensive hobby! Each training session is about $185-300! So this trainer I'm meeting seems very...arrogant. I'm really trying to give her the benefit of the doubt since she has good reviews online. But I don't appreciate how she talked to me on the phone. When I told her that Archie chases his tail she said "it's all your fault ". Like what?! I couldn't understand if she was being sarcastic or not. Anyway, I don't have many options right now [emoji53] I guess I'll see how Friday goes. I hope I don't throw out $185 for nothing!


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  9. #17
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    $185 for one sessions ouch. and i agree their reply in the phone would have turned me off. BUT many trainers get into this cuz they love dogs not people part of why i haven't explored getting more into training myself....i am not great with people.

  10. #18
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    $185 for an hour to teach a dog to walk on a loose leash??? I sure picked the wrong job!

    The instructor I do classes with in PA charges $50 an hour for private lessons.

    I'll be the first to admit I'm still a complete NOOB when it come to training a dog for competition, but all of the dogs I've had over the years were trained by me to do all the basics, sit, down, stay, recall, leash walking, etc. I can't imagine paying someone $185 an hour to do these things.

    Annkie I am in no way saying that you shouldn't get help if you need it, but it seems to me you are already put off by this person, I think if it were me, I'd continue my search and find someone who you truly feel comfortable with. I almost feel like you're setting yourself up for failure.

  11. #19
    Best Friend Retriever annkie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    $185 for an hour to teach a dog to walk on a loose leash??? I sure picked the wrong job!

    The instructor I do classes with in PA charges $50 an hour for private lessons.

    I'll be the first to admit I'm still a complete NOOB when it come to training a dog for competition, but all of the dogs I've had over the years were trained by me to do all the basics, sit, down, stay, recall, leash walking, etc. I can't imagine paying someone $185 an hour to do these things.

    Annkie I am in no way saying that you shouldn't get help if you need it, but it seems to me you are already put off by this person, I think if it were me, I'd continue my search and find someone who you truly feel comfortable with. I almost feel like you're setting yourself up for failure.
    Where did you find a trainer for $50/hr??? I found this website, Thumbtack, that has trainers on there. The cheapest quote I got was $55/hr and the trainer had 1 yr of experience. The next one up was $150/hr and he's in MD. The person I'm meeting with is $185 for 1.5 hrs. and lives near me. Aside from the $55/hr trainer everyone I talked to or see online is $95/hr+. Geez! Maybe it's the area I live in...

    Even though I have mixed feelings about this trainer, I'm gonna give her one shot because I don't have anyone else lined up. I liked that she said she doesn't use treats to train. Archie is not food motivated outside. Inside, yes. Outside, he couldn't care less about food. After stalking her online yesterday (I'm not ashamed :P) I discovered she trains horses too and lives on a farm. So, perhaps she's not good with people like Tanya said. Ha! We'll find out!

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  13. #20
    Best Friend Retriever silverfz's Avatar
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    My house visits are 50 bucks , but we did take 4 of her group sessions before . So she gives us a deal..

    Gigi has anxiety and we are working on dealing with it. 2 classes at home and a few changes and we see a big difference in jumping and mouthing. Actually we had people over and cujo gigi did not show up and greets people happy at rhe door and does not even jump at mother in law who spoils her .

    I also by using various trainers seem to have my own thoughts. When a trainer shows her dogs as well breed Golden's that behave great it's like my dog will never have the golden retriever temperament. I seem cheated .

    My current trainer has 3. The oldest is a Craigslist dog that started her training with . A massive black lab mix. A collie she does competitions with and her recent addition , a Belgian mal which was not socialized and a working line. The owners were unable to manage her and she was aggressive. She took the dog and rehabbing it. I have met the mal. She will never be a dog park ,doggie day care type but can be handled by others ,plays well with dogs she knows and does not try to aggressive at strangers . But she will not be euthanized. Her bf we also know is talking about doing ipo stuff with her.

    As gigi had anxiety and some aggression when anxiety spiked she was rhe trainer we went with and not the lady with 3 Golden's ans 395 $ an hour.

    Do not be afraid to ask what dog they own and what do they do with them. I once spent 1500 bucks on trainer with a bitter and learned later she was a show dog trainer. That dog got better is show walking and tricks. not biting.

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    Last edited by silverfz; 12-21-2017 at 10:18 AM.

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