I was in Pets Corner in our local Wyevale Garden Centre where there was a puppy socialisation meet up. I have known the girl that works there since she was 2 years old, we chatted about the puppies and she told me the most asked question was how to stop a puppy/dog pulling on a lead, I asked her what she says and to my shock she tells new puppy owners to use a slip lead in a figure of eight. I couldn't help but to let her know how wrong I thought she was and explained the stop, change direction method to which she just shrugged and said "people just won't do that" Her own Springer Spaniel pulls like a freight train and she can only take her for walks where she drives to, opens the boot and out she jumps What chance to puppy owners have when they are given stupid advise like this, I just hope they don't take it x
I appreciate that you have known the girl involved since she was 2, but perhaps you should have a word with the management at the garden centre. That type of advice is totally reprehensible. Is she qualified to be giving advice to new puppy owners?
That's dreadful. Dreadful advice for an adult dog, but a puppy? A tiny puppy with fragile face and neck bones? It's just appalling, and I'm glad you spoke up.
I'm pretty sure she isn't qualified, from what I understand it's purely a socialisation class with NO training. It's natural for owners to ask questions but … I could phone annomously, it would make me feel bad if I don't and bad if I do x
Unfortunately I don't think that's so uncommon. I have a friend who got way out his depth with his german shepsherd. They hired a trainer who was something of a GSD specialist, had something like six of his own - he trains them for TV and Film work. One of his dogs appeared in one of the x-men movies apparently. So unfortunately that impressed them so much, they think he's the mutts nutts and won't listen to a word I tell them. Conversations end with "well he know what he's doing, he trains dogs for TV, so.....". And how did he teach them to stop the pulling and lunge? Yep a horrible, thick, rough rope slip lead wrapped around his face. It breaks my heart to see how stressed and uncomfortable that dog is out on walks. And he still pulls (though not as bad) ensuring he's in plenty of discomfort. I do believe there is a time and a place for a quick equipment-fix just to make breathing space for training, so you can manage things until the training is established. But hey they were like "wow, he's so much more controllable on the lead, job done". It's not right, not at all, but that one anecdote does support was she said, that the average Joe doesn't want to train, they just want quick solutions. ARRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
That's such a sad story, JohnG - and I think you are right that it's not uncommon. I watch dogs, I look at dogs, and try to observed them - and once you look, really look, so much behaviour that owners are pleased with is the result of NO behaviour, not good behaviour, and an unhappy, closed down, uncomfortable dog.
How awful John, poor, poor dog. Out of interest does this dog trainer live in Hampshire, as literally half a mile from where I live is a trainer with GSD's that he trained and appeared in a Batman film, could just be a conicidence? although I haven't heard he treats dogs in that shocking manner
charlie I fully sympathise with you and the situation you find yourself in. Unfortunately most owners taking their puppies to the socialisation session would believe that the person running the session is qualified so what she says is right....... as supported by JohnG s experience with friends
I will ring the garden centre tomorrow and let them know what's going on. I couldn't live with myself if a puppy were injured or worse xx
Batman vs X-Men lol Almost uncanny, but no, we're in the grim north (I wont say too much though just in case the walls have eyes!)
Helen, I'm fairly sure we were at the same place this morning, I've seen owners being recommended to use a figure of eight slip lead on their puppies though I hadn't realised til you said that it was that, I'd just assumed it was a rope headcollar (not that it would be much better...). It's a shame, as the puppy meet up is a brilliant thing other than that, so sad if their giving out advice like that. I know that they pride themselves in being able to advise on their products, but not to that extent. Incidentally, the GSD trainer in Hampshire you're referring to I don't think can be the same one, I've had friends who have been to his classes with a dog that pulls lots and not had a figure of eight recommended.
It wasn't a case of giving out advise on their products this was just the girl running the class that when asked gave out this advise I have never been to the trainer myself but he has a pretty hi tech agility course, boarding kennels, does Kennel Club training, 1 2 1's etc. It's a pretty big outfit in a rural location. His personal dogs are GSD's and I think he trains security dogs too. I get mixed reviews from people that have been and he's pretty expensive. x
I have to say that my Trainer recommended all his dogs/puppies to use a slip lead that you could make a figure-8 right from the set-go, which is what we did. It was just "normal" and no-one queried it. I think as we learn more about positive training and embrace it more, we become almost "shocked" at the use of non-positive training methods. It's such a shame that your friend doesn't really know how to advise people - I am guessing everyone who attends will look to her for advise and example without giving a thought to her credential, expertise or methods. It just keeps negative training as the norm for most people.
I think that's what I was trying to say, that it's beyond just giving product advice and thus not really appropriate. Interesting, I have friends who rave about the training at that place, but the prices were the main reason we didn't go there too. Possibly a good thing! Good luck with phoning the garden centre, if they can't help then I believe the pet shop is part of a chain, so I'm not sure if they had a head office or similar?
I think the problem is that dog training is a unregulated industry. Any one of us could advertise ourselves as a trainer tomorrow. Hey I can teach a dog to Sit, Stay, Down and Heel - I'll set up a puppy class eh?! Plus, it doesn't help with so many accreditation schemes flying around, all adding to the confusion IMHO. . There are more than I can remember, KC certified for one, APDT for another and at least 3 for behaviorists. Even behaviorists in the UK are unregulated. Anyone can call themselves one, and people need the know-how to check their credentials and what they mean. Not easy if you don't devote your life to your dog as we all do A leading training organisation is pushing DEFRA to regulate behaviorists. There are going to be two titles Canine Behaviour Technician (level 5) and Clinical Animal Behaviorist (level 6) both requiring degree level studies. I've seen a few UK dog trainers websites where they call themselves "trainer and behaviorist" yet they have nothing more than a cruddy beginner level diploma making them only about level 2 on the knowledge scale. Not good enough!
