Skip to content

Need your opinions - is this training method okay?

Basenji Training
  • That really is such a shame she didn't respond, it would have been nice to at least her from her point of view what she thought she was accomplishing. Certainly, if nothing else she should have responded as a business woman. I don't blame you for telling people about your experience, whenever I find a good lead, whether it be on dog coats or a good vet I can't wait to share it with my dog loving friends; it's the same with bad experiences. Glad to hear you and Kipawa have moved past it!

  • It would have been interesting to talk to the people who owned the poodle mix and ask them what the outcome was…...good or bad......and whether they had continued with the class. I am surprised that the trainer did not get back to you, for the reasons you stated and also because if she has confidence in her abilities and methods I would think she would have wanted to explain to you why she felt such methods would work in this case.

  • I disagree her silence speaks volumes. All it tells me is - she may or may not have received the email. The assumption is, she did. The truth might be, she did not. Only one way to find out, call and discuss your issues with her; until then she really should be given the benefit of the doubt that she was not in reciept of it, no?

  • @CongoMama:

    I disagree her silence speaks volumes. All it tells me is - she may or may not have received the email. The assumption is, she did. The truth might be, she did not. Only one way to find out, call and discuss your issues with her; until then she really should be given the benefit of the doubt that she was not in reciept of it, no?

    Yes, there can always be technical glitches. However, I emailed to her personal email which I used extensively when I was asking her about her classes and finding out when she had availability. We both used each others' email addresses numerous times with no problems.

    You have a beautiful attitude, and I thank you for sharing it. :) The world will always need more people like you!

  • CongoMama, I agree with Fran.
    Your post is very kind.

  • Me too– We could all do with kinder folks around. Lord knows I wish I were more like you.

  • Oh my goodness. That is INSANE. I would have walked out. That is NOT okay.. I know that my boy is very sensitive. I don't know his past as I only adopted him in July and he's been through so many homes. High stress situations make him anxious.. I have had GREAT success just training him myself. He now knows sit, stay, down, no, roll over, high five, low five, back, and spin. Positive reinforcement is key!! And tasty treats haha!

  • I still think about that class, and know that I am lucky Kipawa and I left when we did.

    Kipawa has come along marvelously. I remember that trainer saying that by the end of our classes, our dogs would be walking beside us with our leashes forming a nice loose "J". I wonder what sort of method she would have used for that. A broom? Okay, that is a little catty of me, but probably something like that would not be that out of line for her training methods.

    I found it quite simple to do with Kipawa, using positive reinforcement. I usually carry a few treats in my pocket, but now he thinks I always have treats in there. It works very well.

    It would have been nice to know how things worked out for the couple that had Kato. Perhaps I will see them in a dog park one day. They were really nice, as was their dog. Their dog just needed to be worked with more.

  • I know this is about horses, but I think the same would apply to dogs. I like John Lyons three guidelines for training. 1. The training must be safe for me. 2. The training must be safe for the horse. 3. The horse must be calmer after the lesson than before it started. (which tells you the animal understands and is comfortable with what you are trying to teach him). I also like his "three second rule", and would apply it to any biting dog. ;-)

  • Agree 100% eeeefarm, that this would apply as well to dogs, especially rule #3.

Suggested Topics

  • Training Question

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    elbrantE
    Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*". (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)
  • Alone training

    Basenji Training
    71
    0 Votes
    71 Posts
    36k Views
    AnetteA
    Just curious - have you tested the drug yet? How is it working? I take it you can read norwegian as you live her. If you want to, I can email you som info I got after a session with Gry L?berg regarding my Giants seperation anxiety, it has a training program in it, and some general info.
  • Chet womach training methods

    Basenji Training
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Thanks, they are both quite different approaches to each other but look interesting! I'll give one of them a go. Sheree
  • 0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • Training a puppy

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    Robin_n_JackR
    HA! We did the up& back method at my petsmart class. Jack is so flexible, he would actually follow the treat back with his head, until his head was almost lying on his back. I think what I finally had to do was push his butt down with one hand, while holding the treat in front of his face with the other. He got really good at it…now, he sits when I snap my fingers, when I say sit, or, my favorite, when I salute him. Good luck!
  • Need some advice…

    Basenji Training
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    7k Views
    QuercusQ
    <> He may not find a kong with PB all that important. I am sure there is something out there, that he would find rewarding enough to go into the kitchen when he KNOWS he is going in for the day. Try a raw marrow bone...like a knuckle or femur that you can get from a butcher. Try not feeding him at all, until he goes into the kitchen in the morning...if he wants to eat, he has to go into the kitchen. Other than that, it sounds like you are handling it very well. He may have to wear a lead to get him into the kitchen, then you can remove it. I imagine he was allowed to pretty much do whatever he wanted in his last home...so he is confused with the new restrictions, and boundaries you have put in place (ones that he should have had from the beginning). It is hard when a dog has to start from square one, especially when they have learned that using their mouth can get them what they want. Good for you for hanging in there. He will eventually learn that he has to cooperate. I would definitely use his food for reward for good behavior. Doesn't mean you have to withhold his food if he doesn't cooperate...but you can use his food to help him realize what you want him to do.