A friend called me last night to help her out with two Aussie pups that she is keeping from a litter her dog had.The pups are now almost 8 months old.They have had obedience and are ready to start them in foundations for agility.Because she can't work two pups at the same time she wanted to know if I was interested in helping her with the other pup.I said maybe depending on where she was doing the foundations.She is doing it with another place but the problem is the instructor is clueless in my book.She has Novice titles and Open titles on her dog.There is no one over seeing her teach so I am having a hard time saying yes to her.What would you do?Thoughts?
Thoughts
- Thread starter Sharon
- Start date
corbinam
Moderator
I agree with Margaret. May be let her know that there is another trainer that you think might be better suited for her and her pups. She may listen to you since she knows that you are very experienced when it comes to agility.
On the other hand, is there a chance that the foundations class would be okay, as long as she didn't continue classes there?
I ask because DH and I are not super experienced (we just have 1 masters title on Bentley, everything else is all advanced) but we are teaching an intro class. I feel like we know enough to help beginners, since we've taken a lot of seminars and done a lot of research. We also know when to say that there's something we don't know.
On the other hand, is there a chance that the foundations class would be okay, as long as she didn't continue classes there?
I ask because DH and I are not super experienced (we just have 1 masters title on Bentley, everything else is all advanced) but we are teaching an intro class. I feel like we know enough to help beginners, since we've taken a lot of seminars and done a lot of research. We also know when to say that there's something we don't know.
k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
I'm going to assume that she wants these dogs to become champions, and if so, I would start them out with the best possible training. After knowing now all the mistakes I made with Koji during foundation, and how it affects us, I believe that the trainer needs to know all types of dogs, how to handle them for foundation training and adjust if necessary. Not just treat all dogs the same and train them 100% the same.
(trust me, Koji's not THAT special, but I see issues that could've been avoided had my trainer understood/seen his ways early on. I believe that comes with experience of handling all sorts of dogs)
If she's doing agility for fun and just wants them to get a head start, then the trainer she chose is good enough. I guess it depends on what you want out of the dog.
(trust me, Koji's not THAT special, but I see issues that could've been avoided had my trainer understood/seen his ways early on. I believe that comes with experience of handling all sorts of dogs)
If she's doing agility for fun and just wants them to get a head start, then the trainer she chose is good enough. I guess it depends on what you want out of the dog.
I decided I am not going to do it.She does AKC and USDAA with her other Aussies.I have never worked with and Aussie before.They are nice dogs and I hate to see backyard training on them.A few years ago I retrained a friends sheltie on weaves that this lady taught.The dog would do 2 weaves and look at the handler do 2 more then look.She never made time because she wasted it on the weaves.
k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
I think that's a good choice.
I just realized, one of the reasons I chose not to go with trainer two, ALL of the people were using luring for weaves. They'd use their hands. One dog just wanted to go through the weaves, but the lady kept putting her hand in the way, distracting the dog because it thought she had food in her hand, and the trainer said nothing. I bet if she didn't use her hands, the dog would've done the weaves by itself.
To me, that's a not so good trainer. If *I* can pinpoint things, then they definitely are a bad trainer. lol. cuz I know I'm not the greatest at all!
I just realized, one of the reasons I chose not to go with trainer two, ALL of the people were using luring for weaves. They'd use their hands. One dog just wanted to go through the weaves, but the lady kept putting her hand in the way, distracting the dog because it thought she had food in her hand, and the trainer said nothing. I bet if she didn't use her hands, the dog would've done the weaves by itself.
To me, that's a not so good trainer. If *I* can pinpoint things, then they definitely are a bad trainer. lol. cuz I know I'm not the greatest at all!
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
LOL
omg that is so true, that's how I feel.. when I pick up on some things in class.. But my trainer picks her battles with the weekend warriors who never really want to go to competitions.. people like me on the other hand... she threatens with bodily harm and defection of Toffee if I don't do it right LOL