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Subject: Dog Trainer's Personality Matter?

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NellBell25

Ratastic

08/09/2007 11:22 AM
So I've been wanting to get Yogi to this trainer that has been highly recommended, articles written about her, poeple told me how great she is, so I emailed a couple months a go and did not receive a response. So this past week I finally decided to try again and called and actually got to speak to the trainer herself. She was very short, I could tell she was busy, but I was very turned off by her demeanor. Not friendly at all though not rude, either. I understand being busy but I was expecting her to be a lot more personable... So I'm thinking I should shop around? But maybe she really IS a great trainer just not that great with people or was having a bad day, still with the lack of response to the email and the phone call I feel like I should keep looking...

DaisysMom

Moderator
<b>Moderator</b>

08/09/2007 11:25 AM
Personally, I'd probably try one more time to make a good "connection" and give her the benefit of the doubt in case there are things/issues going on that she just was having an off day. But one more time would be it, and in the meanwhile, I'd continue to research other trainers in case the second conversation and/or meeting just confirms what happened the first time

Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom

Mitzy's Mom

PAWesome

08/09/2007 11:29 AM
By all means give her another chance....maybe it was just a really bad time for her. BUT I will say that as a former horse trainer I am not a "people person" either but get me talking about horses and I become "Miss Personality" so that's not a good excuse! After another try - go with your gut feeling about her. Sometimes a very popular (horse) trainer is not reallly the best - they just win at shows a lot, etc.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org Pics of my current fosters: http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona

rattytatty

Newbie

08/09/2007 11:51 AM
In all fairness and in all honesty.... most of the dog trainers I know are NOT "people persons"... they are "dog persons". My agility trainer is the one of 12 people who is on the USA World Agility Team. She's an ABSOLUTELY AWESOME trainer. She'll talk dogs and methods with you all day long, but at a personal level she's not very talkative at all. In fact, she's quite shy. But she knows her stuff. That having been said, it is important that you click with anyone who is helping you train your animal. This "click" could be in many forms... something as simple as respecting their method and knowledge.. not necessarily that he/she talks easily with you. Be LEARY of trainers who use guilt tactics or that try and convince you that their ways are the only way or it's the highway. (Trust me... one size does NOT fit all !!) It is only a matter of common sense that not all dogs respond to similar methods equally and in some cases a dog may need a special approach to solve an issue. Some dogs will require more or less effort with a particular method or management style and again you will ultimately set the standard and make that decision in the learning/training journey. Five things I would determine that might influence your decision to choose a particular trainer are listed below and it is up to you to assign the priority which you find most appealing, important or influential. 1. What "standard" methods does the trainer use and why? (realizing that the "standard" methods have to be flexible depending on the owner AND the dog and the owner's relationship with the dog!) 2. Can the trainer's method be easily explained? (can YOU understand the trainer's method? If the trainer understands the methods and you don't... you can't teach them to your dog.) 3. Can/will the trainer provide you with an honest explanation of the pros and cons of methods he or she will use if asked? (keeping in mind that any method can have an adverse outcome depending on application) 4. Does the trainer provide any guarantees, include follow-up support, and at what cost? 5. What experience does the trainer have? There are tons more questions you could ask, but I think these are the most important. GOOD LUCK!

NellBell25

Ratastic

08/09/2007 12:11 PM
Thanks for your help and opinions, I've been doing some research on different trainers and I found another one that looks just as good, (and less expensive but without the clout) so I'm going to talk to her and then decide from there which one I will go with. I appreciate your feedback and thanks for the list of questions to ask, Nora. I have some pretty clear views of what I want and don't want from a trainer as I've read a lot of Patricia McConnell books and agree that I want to be a benevolent leader for Yogi instead of an "alpha wannabe" as she calls it. So I need to make sure that the trainer I choose doesn't use methods I'm opposed to. I'm not a people person myself, (shy) honestly so I can understand that, but I still am pleasant to talk to and work in a customer oriented field. But I will take your advice and give it another shot with her, or with this other person who I left a message for depending on who answer my questions best! Yogi is just so shy, I don't want to cause him anymore damage by choosing the wrong environment.

rattytatty

Newbie

08/09/2007 12:18 PM
For sure the more clout the person has... the more it will cost. The professional trainer I worked closely with and who taught me most of what I know for two years charges $150 an hour! But... he deals now only with drug/bomb/police dogs, and farms out his regular "pet obedience" clients. So his area of expertise is highly in demand and specific. For basic obedience, you should be able to find someone to come work with you at your house... and when the time is right at another location too (wise to train in more than one location)... in the $50 an hour range. (That's what I charge, and I'm not a "certified" trainer). But Dave (professional trainer I referred to) recommends me and the people I've trained dogs for recommend me... so I have a pretty long list of recommendations. However, I don't do it much anymore except for friends. To me... and to many people... (especially if you are known...) experience speaks louder than credentials. If you don't have anyone to recommend someone to you ... then I think the credentials are important. (does that make sense at all? LOL) You can tell after talking to someone for a few minutes if they are knowledgeable or not...

NellBell25

Ratastic

08/09/2007 3:10 PM
Yes, that made sense, Nora. I really don't know much about this new trainer except that she is into more compassionate training. She called me back and I really liked her, she was easy to talk to and i felt comfortable asking her questions so we are set up to meet this Saturday with Yogi... Yogi will be going through aggression testing and if he needs the series of sessions after that it will be 265.00 for the testing and then 4 more sessions, otherwise just a charge for the testing. She's going to take me through things to do when we're approached by a strange loose dog in the park (that's when he's snappy) and the aggression testing will help me determine how likely he really would be to bite a child, other animal or adult. Thanks again Nora, I asked her several of your questions and I like the responses I got with this particular trainer.

rattytatty

Newbie

08/10/2007 7:57 PM
That sounds reasonable.. cost-wise. I'm glad you clicked with this person, and I'll be very interested in occasional updates if you don't mind. Aggression testing is pretty specific... If your dog has been showing the signs of aggression (I don't remember if he is or not... sorry), you really need to identify his personality or temperament. It can help prevent a tragedy. In fact, regardless of your dog's behavior, you should know his personality type. It is the only way you can truly communicate. It is the only way problems can really be solved. It is the only way a dog can learn effectively. You don't communicate with a lethargic couch potato the same way you communicate with a high-energy, run-around-the-house rat terrier! There are several different types of aggression that Yogi will be tested for. Good luck to you and Yogi !!

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