Australian Dog Training

[Erny]

I agree with Cosmolo here. Reading this thread I couldn't help wondering what people really expect in a class environment and whether they wonder if their expectations are realistic. With all the different 'wants' it sounds to me as if some people would like the luxury of a private lesson for the price of class lessons.

The other thing that crossed my mind as I read was the suggestion that customers who do classes should have things explained more fully to them - even by way of a separate class without dogs. I completely agree with explanation (I'm an "explainer trainer") but one of the problems I have is that many people don't want too much explanation, they want to keep working/practicing in class.

So it leaves me to wonder how any one dog school could appease to the requirements of all. Consequently, it is a good thing that there are a variety of schools providing different methodology - the main thing is that those schools have a thorough understanding of dogs and dog behaviours as well as a good broad knowledge of the methodologies they use.

Whilst ADT do tend to prescribe to the use of check chains (they 'relaxed' on this for a while but found many of their doggy clients were not progressing in their training and were becoming a bit out of control) they will speak singularly with certain people for who the equipment and/or method is not working for them and will seek to come to a solution by exploring other options - both in equipment type and training method/s. They have assistant instructors who are trainees (but who must be at a certain point in their training) who coach 'one-on-one' within the class and also will arrange a behaviourist see their customers before or if possible during class to also assist them with their individual problems/issues.

I think the services ADT provide are more diverse than many of other dog schools that are around and that given those services the fee they charge (which is for the life of the dog) is very reasonable.

For the poster who mentioned that they didn't appreciate ADT's methods, did you cancel your membership within the first 30 days? ADT have a cancellation policy which allows you to do that with a good part of your money back.

So I am not criticised for not announcing it, I am engaged by ADT as an instructor. I am also a trainer and behaviourist in my own right and when I provide private lessons on a one-on-one basis it affords me the freedom to adapt a method of training to suit the dog/owner combination and I can direct all my instruction and advice tailored to that individual.

ETA: Again in the same vein as what Cosmolo has written, I have found many people advantage greatly by arranging a few private lessons in obedience training first, and then heading off to a good training school. This way, the "show and tell" .... not to mention practice under exclusive coaching can afford the human part of the 'team' to learn and practice co-ordination and technique AND the dog gets to learn basic obedience skills before being exposed to the increased distractions of a class environment. This might sound like 'sales hype' to some, but it is something that I'd recommend regardless of my own commercial interests.

Edited July 27, 2007 by Erny

[Flaves]

I have found ADT nothing but positive.

They reccomended flat leather collars, if training wasn;t progressing then they would suggest a correction chain but did not force the issue.

I didn;t have a hard sell wehn i went to Berwick.

THey have been great fo rmy dogs.

Deltron their is a great one around Moorabbin that a friend goes to, their pup is doing really really well.

Try a couple, go to ADT and a local one, but use the tools they give you that suit. If you find that you need to use food treats, use food treats to a degree.

I can;t reccomend ADT at Berwick highly enough, Haven adn Her Rottweiler have been wonderul with all their help as has Erny.

Go to your intro session adn then go by yourself to watch next time they train and see what they are about, you can see if you like it that way.

[SpikesPuppy]

My biggest problem with a school like ADT is the enourmous amount of money you need to pay up front. There is no way you can 'try before you buy' so to speak. After that 30 days, if it's not working for you, you've lost several hundred dollars. I get that if you use the centres for a long time, they are excellent value for money, but if you don't use them or can't (with the stuff up from Maribyrnong council my mum hasn't been able to attend since the last class they conducted at the Yarraville soccer oval, and there is only so much she can do on her own. None of the other schools are suitable for her to travel to due to distance and/or times, not ADTs fault I know!!!), then you have lost a great deal of cash. If she had've known this would happen, she would have invested in private lessons instead.

Mum was doing well with her dog, but she didn't always feel she was getting the help that she needed, and because of her dog's barking issues, she was often told to go stand on the outskirts of the classes so others could hear, well what about HELPING my mum fix her dog's barking problem??

Accodring to my mum, there were some real positives about the club, but there were also some serious negatives in her situation.

My own experience with them wasn't a pleasant one, when my Newf was 5 months old (back in early 2000), we attended a free intro session and they wanted me to use a prong collar on my puppy who had never pulled in his life "Beacause he was going to be huge". Turned me off em straight away and I was quite angry at my mum for going to them last year but after she told me they had changed, I forgave them

Just my personal thoughts and experiences

[Pawprints]

I wouldn't touch ADT with a barge pole!! Very bad experience there and getting your money back off them - well thats a whole other saga!!! If they spent as much time on their personality skills as they do their selling tactics, they might get somewhere!

Save your money and go to a local training facility. Look around and make sure you chose one that suits you. Good luck!!

I can also vouch for Croydon Obedience and a friend who goes to Knox says it's excellent there also!!