Trainer for a dual personality Manchester Terrier (5 months old

[Hannah]

Hello everyone,

we have a delightful 23 week old Manchester Terrier but needing recommendations on dog trainers ( one on one) as COVID has disrupted our progress and also resulted in him developing bad separation anxiety. He Is a smoochy guy but can be very wilful and bark at you when he doesn’t get his way ( in a cheeky way but also defiantly) and is very hard to catch if he senses he is going to be put in his pen. However, he is also a big scaredy cat when we go out on the lead, can even be hard to get him out of the driveway. Loud road noises really scare him. ....when  we are on the walk he is keener but teaching him to heel is a struggle. To burn off his huge energy we sometimes take him to a secure off leash oval which he adores ( he loves other dogs) but has zero recall. He now has huge separation anxiety as has had someone at home since we got him and now everyone at home with COVID Isolation measures and can now leap over toddler gates we have used to keep him zoned so now getting to be a handful. He sleeps separately to us and does sleep through the night but as soon as he wakes up in the morning he barks and howls to get our attention and is beside himself with bouncy excitement when he sees us.
 

We have already tried Kintala puppy school but he got so revved up with the puppy play he wouldn’t settle for the training and to be honest we did not score a trainer familiar with a feisty little terrier, while a lovely woman she was totally overwhelmed by him and kept saying big dogs are calmer which was nt helpful, the other instructors seemed much more on top of things and one actually offered us additional advice on the drop command which worked almost instantly back at home ( so we were a bit unlucky I think with the match up)....Sooo he failed puppy school with our particular trainer declaring he was a challenge....however, he is smart and trainable as we have made some inroads at home but there has to be no distractions. He is quite wilful ( selective hearing) which makes me wonder if the gentle method is right for him....or the Kintala approach perhaps too cookie cutter??? Not sure I want to throw more money at them after our experience even though I think some of the other trainers might be better.

I have since been recommended John at AusDog but a bit wary as have read polarised reviews and after speaking to his wife I get the impression they are very my way or the highway and incredibly expensive for a one off session which they claim the dog is cured of all behavioural issues. I ve also been recommended Alpha Canine group by a petbarn staff member who witnessed our puppy school debacle but they are on other side of town. If what Ausdog claim is true then I don’t mind paying  but I can’t help be a tad cynical and wonder if too coercive from one review I read....he also doesn’t like off leash parks etc either which won’t work with our guy....he is really athletic, needs a gallop and a chance to play with other dogs.
 

So keen to know if anyone can advise on a trainer with a bit of a behavioural bent who can work with the dogs personality but not break his spirit and of course train us too.... If anyone has used John at Ausdog would also be keen to hear views. He is a ripper of a little dog  so want to get on top of this before he gets more set in his terrier ways. Our initial goals are to address the separation anxiety,  nervousness on the lead, defiant tendencies, toddler gate jumping and recall. We live in North Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.....any recommendations welcome. Apologies for the long post.
 

Thanks

Hannah

Edited May 10, 2020 by Hannah

[Tassie]

Hi @Hannah  -  just sent you a PM.

[Two Best Dogs!]

You are near me!

 

I use four trainers across two dogs lol - but I think these two are closest to you:

 

So Canine Clubhouse has a great young dog program on working on both socialising -puppy playing with the training skills: https://www.canineclubhouse.com.au/

- their classes are currently running with social distancing in place. you might like that, because they rotate between puppy playing manners and obedience stuff multiple times in classes. Lots of introducing your young dogs to novel objects and noises. He also has a teenage dog socialising course for those of us who want to help our dogs be dog park dogs (I did this with thyme, it was very helpful!)

((bonus is the daycare service they run as well)

Edit: Link to the puppy classes and the socialisation classes - these particular classes are still running over social iso

 

Next closest is Dog Solutions

https://www.dogsolutions.com.au/

- i haven't seen this one's puppy classes, but their adult classes are really well run for teaching life manners, calmness around other dogs and listening to owners  - i've observed a few group sessions before signing up. Edit: Currently running social iso puppy classes with in person classes organised for transition out of iso

 

For this trainer, I use them for one on one fear behaviroual challenges and they've been really great for that. So training sessions out in the street, where they have demo dogs going past and tell us what to do and help us practice things in a controlled safe environment. You might like something more like that.

 

Both of those above work with quite challenging dogs - so you won't be kicked out of any puppy schools for having a terrier act like a terrier. They're both super nice and understanding people. One of them is doing a social iso separation anxiety course I think, I'll go look over fb to link you. (Edit: they both have social iso things going on, so i've added a link each to their pages above so you can see which one you might like more. Or be a two-timer like me and get both lol)

 

 

 

 

Then I have two obedience trainers, but I don't think that's what you're looking for, from the sounds of it? One is pro dog parks but ANKC run so won't be open for awhile and the other is anti dog parks and does group classes so prob won't be open for awhile.
 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Two Best Dogs!

[Boronia]

I can offer no help training-wise but after reading you opening post I am astounded that your little one failed puppy school

No pup should fail puppy school!  it's tantamount to saying a child who has failed kindy

what a stupid stupid trainer.

And...

good on you for asking here and yay to those of us who get terriers, the best and varmity of dogs

Edited May 10, 2020 by Boronia

[Dogsfevr]

I think the first obvious issue you have is he places more value on other dogs than than humans .The other dogs & the park come with no strings attached & he can do what he wants with no expectations .
Im trying to help an owner whose dog i help show at times who decided when her pup was young to ditch lead walks & go across the road to the offleash park.
Dog is now a feral 30 kg pain in the arse who missed out on crucial lead training manners ,values other dogs more than humans ,is pawing & barking due to frustrations as he has no clue what the humans actually want from him & they blame the breed for "you know those breeds traits " ( i own the same breed)He is insanely bright,loves learning but has been taught the exact behaviour they allowed & at the park he did what he wanted & when home time had to be caught to leave.
When he goes to the dog park how do you get there ?? Walk or car drive ?
You say hes a happy dog at the park & i would suggest that is due to the value he places on the other dogs compared to walks & trust with you or his humans .
He doesn't need to the park to to be athletic he needs some relationship building exercises for humans & him .You say he barks if he doesn't get his way No hes most likely vocalizing at his lack of confidence in what he should be doing

I would take away the mindset terrier,fiesty,stubborn etc etc .These are the words owners use when things arent working it becomes an easy "reason".
This is simply a dog that may require some various techniques to be used that are the right fit for him but above all finding the right techniques for the humans to maybe not miscommuncate or give conflicting expectations