Sending Away For Training

[greentea]

Hello experienced puppy owners! I need some advice about training.

There are training schools in Sydney where you can take your dog for about a week and they board them there and train them for you.

Has anyone ever done this? Would a 3 month pup be traumatised being away from me like that?

I am scared it will scar him for life and he would become a different dog- temperament wise...

I am a hopeless trainer as is my partner, I just can't discipline him everytime he looks at me with his cute little face I melt! My partner heard of this Hanrob place I think it is called, where they train your dog to sit come stay heel etc etc and I though it might be a good idea.

Any thoughts??

EDIT: This idea has been scrapped, it wasn't on the adgenda was just a suggestion I thought I'd put it out here for comments. He is going to puppy school by the way. So no more pm's please!

Edited May 24, 2005 by greentea

[Clyde]

Hanrob has a good reputation, however personally I believe you are better off being trained with your dog. Three months is way too young IMO for a dog to be sent away from home for training. This early period is critical for socialising and bonding with their owners. Depending on where you live in Sydney, there are Delta run courses which are alot better, espcially for the owners!! Did you and your pup go through puppy pre-school? If not, I would phone your local vet and enrol him now! Your puppy pre school class should also be able to recommend good local obedience classes. It's not just the dog who needs training, if you can't discipline your pup, he will turn in to a terror (with or without Hanrob).

Puppy pre school will go through all the basics of grooming, health, socialisation plus also sit, drop, stay, stand, come and heel.

Edited May 22, 2005 by Dru

[Mel774]

I wouldn't bother. I know people who have wasted money on this sorts of training only to be handed a choke chain and say "here, train your dog for 10mins a day with this" at the end of it.

I personally don't trust anyone that wants to train your dog without owner supervision, they could be doing anything to your dog to make it behave (that could cause problems later) and at the end of the day - if you don't keep up the training at home, it's useless.

[MonElite]

I wouldnt do it. Have heard horror stories from way too many people. BTW NOT about Harnob.

Harnob also runs small group classes, where they will teach you, perhaps choose that option.

There is only 1 person that I would trust with my dog to be send away to, but that person doesnt take dogs in for training as he is a believer that an owner should train the dog.

Join your local obiedience club (or go to Harnob) they will teach you how to teach your dog.

[Miranda]

I am totally against this sort of thing. YOU need to be trained how to train your dog. Sending a 12 week old puppy away to one of these establishments is just ridiculous. Take your puppy to puppy pre-school and learn how to do it yourself! Believe me it's the best way!

In a previous thread you say that you can't groom the puppy and now you say that you can't train him!

Sorry that was a bit unkind, but I'm still posting it. I feel VERY strongly on this subject.

[MelodysMum]

A friend of mine sent her labrador puppy away for a week to one of the places that does dog training.

Before he went he was a happy, friendly puppy. When he came back he had turned into a fearful puppy who would not go near anyone but the family who owns him.

He is about three years old now, and is still scared of people. He will not come to anyone. They have tried everything. It is very sad to see this once happy boy like that. He is so scared of people he backs away and shakes. He will hide behind his owners and bark. He does it with males and females, but is worse with males. It makes you wonder what happened to him when he was away.

[trifecta]

Greentea, you obviously have little experience of dog ownership. You need help NOW; you will get lots of good advice on DOL but nothing beats getting out there & doing things with your puppy. It is imperative that you take Dru's advice & enrol in puppy classes or at an obedience club. You & your pup will learn so much by interacting with other owners & dogs, let alone all the training tips you will learn from your instructors. Who knows, you may even meet someone who is proficient in the grooming methods required by your breed. Don't delay.... RING & BOOK IN FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING

[Dogsfevr]

The first thing is you cant train a dog in a week,each breed & individual personality needs to be thhought off when training & even though the dog is trained doesnt mean you can handle it

[luvinshep]

Hello Greentea....I have heard of places where you can leave your dog & have them train your dog...I don't think it is a good idea..it is Your dog & you should train your dog yourself...You say you a not a good dog trainer, but that is why we go to dog obedience is to learn to train our dogs ourselves...the handler has to learn how to get his dog to sit,drop,stand, come & all the other commands that make your dog a good obedient dog..go to a obedience club or personal trainers that have groups & learn how to control your dog...it is better your dog knows that you can take control of him than someone else...go & have some fun for yourself & your dog.

[KitKat]

Now....i have done this type of training with two of my dogs. The reason for it was i was going on holidays and had to put the dogs into boarding...so i put them in one where they would be trained as well...after i checked it out and checked out their dogs.

I was happy with the result, my dogs came back happy and healthy and we went back each weekend where myself as the handler was trained to work with my dog.

I wouldn't recommend such a young dog go into that sort of training..only because these are still formative months and i believe they should be with their owner not some trainer somewhere. I'd not actually suggest this type of training until the dog was 12 months or so.

Check out some of your local dog obedience schools and their puppy classes. The trainers are generally very friendly and helpful....it's also fun for you and your pup...and the socialiastion aspect is great as well.

[greentea]

I am totally against this sort of thing. YOU need to be trained how to train your dog. Sending a 12 week old puppy away to one of these establishments is just ridiculous. Take your puppy to puppy pre-school and learn how to do it yourself! Believe me it's the best way!

In a previous thread you say that you can't groom the puppy and now you say that you can't train him!

Sorry that was a bit unkind, but I'm still posting it. I feel VERY strongly on this subject.

Yes Miranda that is right I am looking for a professional to groom my dog not just because I have no idea how to hand strip his coat but also because at the moment I am not that well. I have a serious health problem. Have just been moved a up a waitlist for a transplant and will be out of action for a little while if I am lucky enough to get my surgery soon.

I'm sure I could probably pluck out all his hair but he would probably end up looking pretty terrible. I would rather have a professional do it. Just like I have my hair done by a hairdresser and I do not cut it myself... perhaps things don't work that way in the dogshow world. Maybe I won't even end up doing the whole show thing, it just seemd like someothing I'd like to look into.

Everyone is different ...

As for the training, if you read my original post you'd see I said I wasn't sure if it was a good idea. I felt it was maybe traumatic for him. Just wanted to make sure experienced people agreed.

What would I know? I mean, to me, feeding a dog raw meat and bones seems wrong but it turns out to be really good. I am glad I asked people 'in the know'. I guess posting this message I wanted advice about training as well, because maybe 'people in the know' might have said it was a good idea. See Miranda, that is the point of these forums, a place where people can consult others with more knowledge than themselves. Your post was unnecessary.

Thanks everyone else though.

[greentea]

Yes he does go to puppy classes once a week already. The suggestion was made to me about the special training in addition.

It is off the adgenda now anyway so no worries.

[luvinshep]

Miranda I thought that was very unfair to Greentea..there are a lot of people out ehre who do not know a lot about dogs...yes your are a breeder & show dog person...I am an obedience instructor & have obedience dogs...you are dividing show dogs & obedience dogs...which has been going on for a long time....Greentea only asked a simple question about sending her little pup away..I am sure she has the answer now..I am new here but I too thought that this was the place to get some answers on things we do not know about...you should be a little more suttle.

[catzatsea]

Now....i have done this type of training with two of my dogs.  The reason for it was i was going on holidays and had to  put the dogs into boarding...so i put them in one where they would be trained as well...after i checked it out and checked out their dogs.

I was happy with the result, my dogs came back happy and healthy and we went back each weekend where myself as the handler was trained to work with my dog. 

I wouldn't recommend such a young dog go into that sort of training..only because these are still formative months and i believe they should be with their owner not some trainer somewhere.  I'd not actually suggest this type of training until the dog was 12 months or so. 

Check out some of your local dog obedience schools and their puppy classes.  The trainers are generally very friendly and helpful....it's also fun for you and your pup...and the socialiastion aspect is great as well.

I too did the same as Kit Kat and for the same reasons. The dogs actually went to Hanrob with one dog being 12 months and the other 4 we at the time had only owned both dogs for 6 months.

Very happy with the results and the dogs definately came back healthy,happy and fit. We go out to hanrob on a regular basis for the sat morn classes and we are very happy with the progress we have made as a team.

Would I do it again?? Depends on cirmcumstances. Would I reccomend them? Yes but not for a pup so young.

[Miranda]

Miranda I thought that was very unfair to Greentea..there are a lot of people out ehre who do not know a lot about dogs...yes your are a breeder & show dog person...I am an obedience instructor & have obedience dogs...you are dividing show dogs & obedience dogs...which has been going on for a long time....Greentea only asked a simple question about sending her little pup away..I am sure she has the answer now..I am new here but I too thought that this was the place to get some answers on things we do not know about...you should be a little more suttle.

Greentea advised in a previous thread that she had bought the dog as a show dog, but then discovered that she was unable to groom it so was looking for someone to do it for her. She then says that she is unable to train it and wants someone to do it for her. I just found this a little odd, usually people who buy a show dog are reasonably well informed about the breed and its grooming and training requirements. Had she bought a dog just as a pet, I wouldn't have found the situation quite so strange.

Greentea I had no idea that you are unwell and awaiting a transplant, obviously this is why you are having difficulties. Perhaps it would have been better to wait until you are better before committing to a dog, especially a breed needing such specialised presentation. I really think that your breeder should have informed you better. I certainly hope that your health improves and that you are feeling better very soon.

[greentea]

*sigh*

I will explain...

Firstly we wanted this puppy as a pet, but the more I researched and spoke with breeders who encouraged me to give the whole show thing a try the more I thought it might be something nice to try. Entering him in a few shows I thought might be something nice to do together. I am not in the market for a new career or anything just something to enjoy doing with my dog!!

It was very hard to get a puppy as this isn't a very common breed, so when I finally got notice from a breeder who was willing to sell me a puppy she said he was intended to be a show dog and would be sold as such. She asked if I would like to get into showing and I though -hey why not?

So we brought our little guy home with the intention of giving the whole show thing a try one day.

My condition worsened very quickly and unexpectedly. Unfortunately these things can't be planned for. Surely people realise that? Gees!

He is being cared for very well as I am home all day with him so I wouldn't want anyone to think he is neglected or anything it is just my corneas are so diseased that I struggle to see well enough to get certain things done.(got special equip for computer etc)

Stripping his coat would be a struggle.

I had thought that for him to do very well in the show ring he would have to have his coat in excellent condition, groomed perfectly. Even if I could competently pluck out all the hairs I do not believe that he would look half as good as a dog groomed professionally.

As I said earlier, I go to a hairdresser for my hair so it looks good. Sure I could cut it myself but it would look pretty cr*appy compared to the result from a pro.

I do not see anything wrong in looking for a pro to groom Henry's hair either.

Everyone is entitled to disagree of course but for me I am sticking to my guns in the hope of having his coat stripped professionally. Just like my house is cleaned by cleaners and the garden is tended to by gardeners because everyone is expert at different things.

How you guys look after you dogs is your thing, if you are physically able and enjoy grooming yourselves then go for it. If I want to pay a professional to groom my dog then I will do that.

As for the training thing, as I have said repeatedly it was just a suggestion and I put it out here for input from others. End of story.

Lighten up life is short.

P.s for those interested in seeing a photo of my boy, see the personal photo under greentea.

[KateH]

Hi Greentea,

Sorry to hear about your condition. I hope you can find a compromise that works -- perhaps you can arrange one-on-one sessions with a trainer in your home, for instance, who you can work with? Dogs are trained to work with people with eyesight problems all the time, I can't see why you can't do the same, with some help, with your dog before you receive treatment for your eyes.

Good luck with finding a groomer too.

Cheers,

Kate

[Alibear]

Greentea,

Good luck with your search for a groomer and training options. Unfortunatley I don't have any options for you as I am only new in the "Dog" world myself.

Everyone on this forum is and has been to me very helpful and knowledgable to me, I'm sure someone here will be able to help you out!

[trifecta]

Hi greentea, don't get despondant, the "written" word does't always come across as well as the "spoken", does it?

What you need is a GB buddy, I don't get into the Breeders forum at all, but maybe there are Griffon people lurking there?

With regards to training, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers has a good website which identifies trainers by area. They advocate positive methods & will come to you. If you want to have a look, click here

Lastly, all the best with little Henry, these are all just teething problems; I can assure you dog ownership becomes easier & less stressful with time

[greentea]

Thanks guys!

Henry is making progress, today he walked happily on his lead for 11 minutes.

We have puppy school again this weekend and for now I am keeping his coat as is. At end of June I should be able to strip it myself if by then I haven't found a pro. All things going well I'll have pretty good vision then!