Would anyone recommend Hanrob training for life?

[persephone]

@Zoeh
Corvus is absolutely correct in this comment   I think day training is safer because you are still caring for your own dog.

My suggestion is to ask folks on here about obedience clubs/private trainers . 
That way , you get an HONEST opinion, from those that have done the work ..not marketing talk from a business  ;) 

In the meantime ..get to watching video clips, reading blogs ..reading and re reading the characteristics of your breed ..

 

stuff like the following are a great resource :

HERE
HERE
HERE

 

[KobiD]

I can see where you are coming from, and from your original post there is limited information regarding the challenges you are having.

 

With our puppy I have opted to train her myself (my first time training a dog, however always had them around as a child). The rest of the family has no experience with dogs at all so it's been as much teaching myself, the puppy, and the family.. but I have enjoyed the process.

 

The thing is that I am the kind of person who gets great satisfaction out of learning and applying that knowledge, and that expands beyond just the pets. My wife on the other hand like to be taught (demonstrations, guidance, etc). She doesn't have the time or desire to sit and read, filter, try and apply.. and from what I can see it seems you are more like her. 

 

In saying that, I still agree with everyone else that having someone to work directly with you would be preferential to sending the dog off. It's equally as much your responsibility to liaise with the trainer and ask for guidance if there is something you're not sure about. If you ask them to show you something they should be more than willing, but ultimately it'll be you reinforcing the behaviour day in and day out.. and it's that same consistent behaviour on our part which shapes the dog over time. 

 

All the times my partner has got frustrated at the puppy (and the amount of time I spend with the puppy), I simply remind her of something I read... that the first 12 months are the most important.. the time you put in is an investment into the rest of the dogs life. While with children you get around 16-20 years to teach them what is expected of them, you only get 12-18 months to teach the dog the same thing. It makes for a very busy time! ...and I can see how that can be an issue for you particularly if you are in a situation where you don't have a lot of time on your hands.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

for a first time dog owner... in the spirit of someone "telling you what to do"...

http://tim.blog/2016/11/14/susan-garrett/

 

and video of how to play your first game.
http://dogsthatlisten.com/tim/

It's your first dog - it is crucial you get someone who will coach you in how to become a good trainer for your dog.   A dog is not like a car that you can send away for a tune up.   A dog is always learning - and if you're not training it - it will be training you...

[Scrappi&Monty]

As mentioned above, going to some training classes would be good. Even just an obedience class on the weekends for a few months. BUT also do some research to teach yourself at least the basics of how dogs think, behave and learn, so then you can apply that to dog ownership, it will help in the long run.

Have a look on YouTube at:

-Grisha Stewart

-Zak George

& 

-Kikopup 

There should be videos which apply to your situation.

They have been very helpful to me.  

[Tassie]

 

As mentioned above, going to some training classes would be good. Even just an obedience class on the weekends for a few months. BUT also do some research to teach yourself at least the basics of how dogs think, behave and learn, so then you can apply that to dog ownership, it will help in the long run.

Have a look on YouTube at:

-Grisha Stewart

-Zak George

& 

-Kikopup 

There should be videos which apply to your situation.

They have been very helpful to me.  

And another addition to a helpful YouTube list.   I find  The Glasgow Dog Trainer very good at explaining and has some great tips, and shows how he gets the owners to go about their training.

 

[Panto]

What are you currently doing and what are the specific training concerns with your dog and your lifestyle that you're after? 

 

You've asked about Barkbusters, Hanrob, and generically trainers in general. You have had a trainer come to your place but it definitely sounds like they didn't gel with you. Did you call them back and ask questions? Have you had them back since the initial consult?

 

The responses to Hanrob sound lukewarm. If you're out of your depth and need a board and train package, they're not the only ones that do it - k9pro who many here have recommended (with no affiliation), myself included - also have that package. An initial consult will tell you if that's what you actually need and they'll be realistic with telling you exactly how much time and effort you need to put in, IME they won't sugarcoat and overpromise. 

 

Frankly I think you need to be on the phone talking to the recommendations provided and talk to them about what works for you - you could go with the easiest options or the closest but frankly you're better off saving time and money and going with what will work. 

 

 

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

well spotted Panto.  Someone asks for advice and then decides to do their own thing against the advice and then comes back and asks again like we've got some magic wand trick we're keeping secret.

Dog training isn't difficult but you do have to learn how to do it and then do it.

[melzawelza]

Ex Hanrob employee and trainer here. Absolutely would not recommend sending your dog there. 

I do agree with Corvus's comments though that good board/train facilities can be really great for giving you a kick start, as long as you understand that unless you put in the work once they're home they'll just go right back to how they were. 

If you're looking for a board & train option in Sydney that will actually look after your dog (my experiences at Hanrob leave me to never trust a dog will be looked after properly), send him to Pet Resorts at Dural. Added bonus is all their trainers actually have qualifications and ongoing education. When I was at Hanrob I wanted to get my qualification through them it was refused because 'any monkey can train a dog' and therefore qualifications weren't needed. I put myself through it. 

[Panto]

On 7/19/2017 at 4:46 PM, melzawelza said:

Ex Hanrob employee and trainer here. Absolutely would not recommend sending your dog there. 

I do agree with Corvus's comments though that good board/train facilities can be really great for giving you a kick start, as long as you understand that unless you put in the work once they're home they'll just go right back to how they were. 

If you're looking for a board & train option in Sydney that will actually look after your dog (my experiences at Hanrob leave me to never trust a dog will be looked after properly), send him to Pet Resorts at Dural. Added bonus is all their trainers actually have qualifications and ongoing education. When I was at Hanrob I wanted to get my qualification through them it was refused because 'any monkey can train a dog' and therefore qualifications weren't needed. I put myself through it. 

omg I am absolutely gobsmacked! Thanks for the frank response. I've a friend who sends her 2 dogs there when they go away, the younger one has developed some social issues and it was around the time they had left them there. :/ 

[melzawelza]

19 hours ago, Panto said:

omg I am absolutely gobsmacked! Thanks for the frank response. I've a friend who sends her 2 dogs there when they go away, the younger one has developed some social issues and it was around the time they had left them there. :/ 

Their problem is their numbers and the level of training and staff experience. From memory they have capacity for around 600 dogs when full and when I was there over Christmas they'd put makeshift kennels in the training shed so they could board even more dogs. Problem is this wasn't on sealed concrete and had no exercise yard attached or appropriate ventilation, so the smell in there was absolutely eye-watering (those poor dogs) and they weren't getting the level of exercise they were supposed to. 

People would pay $20 or $40 per day extra for their dogs to socialise in 'playtime plus' but if someone called in sick or they didn't have enough staff they just wouldn't run it. Owners had no idea of course, so have paid for 2-4 hours extra exercise for their dogs when they actually only got 2x 15 mins per day if lucky. 

Staff were mostly teenagers with little care factor or training to be able to do their jobs properly. The dogs that could cope in kennels and didn't get sick would be okay, but god help those who weren't coping or had an issue crop up while there. 

 

The owner (who thinks 'any monkey can train a dog') is a sexist pig who tries to sweep major issues under the rug. When one of my training bulldogs got kennel cough and was moved to isolation I didn't see him for about 10 days until the owners came to collect (trainers weren't allowed to deal with isolation dogs for disease control). When they arrived and I went to take him to them he was emaciated with green snot pouring out of his face. He hadn't been looked after at all and when myself and my female supervisors apologised profusely and told them it was unacceptable that this had happened and we would refer it up the chain we were admonished by the owner for admitting fault and were told 'this is what happens when you get three f***ing women involved in anything'. 

 

Disclaimer that I left in 2011 so maybe it's improved but it has the same owner running the show so I very much doubt it. 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2017 by melzawelza

[persephone]

@melzawelza   !!!!!!!!!!    Thanks for telling us  what can happen . 

[Panto]

4 hours ago, melzawelza said:

Their problem is their numbers and the level of training and staff experience. From memory they have capacity for around 600 dogs when full and when I was there over Christmas they'd put makeshift kennels in the training shed so they could board even more dogs. Problem is this wasn't on sealed concrete and had no exercise yard attached or appropriate ventilation, so the smell in there was absolutely eye-watering (those poor dogs) and they weren't getting the level of exercise they were supposed to. 

People would pay $20 or $40 per day extra for their dogs to socialise in 'playtime plus' but if someone called in sick or they didn't have enough staff they just wouldn't run it. Owners had no idea of course, so have paid for 2-4 hours extra exercise for their dogs when they actually only got 2x 15 mins per day if lucky. 

Staff were mostly teenagers with little care factor or training to be able to do their jobs properly. The dogs that could cope in kennels and didn't get sick would be okay, but god help those who weren't coping or had an issue crop up while there. 

 

The owner (who thinks 'any monkey can train a dog') is a sexist pig who tries to sweep major issues under the rug. When one of my training bulldogs got kennel cough and was moved to isolation I didn't see him for about 10 days until the owners came to collect (trainers weren't allowed to deal with isolation dogs for disease control). When they arrived and I went to take him to them he was emaciated with green snot pouring out of his face. He hadn't been looked after at all and when myself and my female supervisors apologised profusely and told them it was unacceptable that this had happened and we would refer it up the chain we were admonished by the owner for admitting fault and were told 'this is what happens when you get three f***ing women involved in anything'. 

 

Disclaimer that I left in 2011 so maybe it's improved but it has the same owner running the show so I very much doubt it. 

 

 

Oh wow, I had no idea it could be that bad. Actually yes I did but not somewhere like hanrob.

 

I have used a 'boutique' doggy daycare before and I suspected similar but that was just a day board. What a croc. They shut down not long after...