Sending them away for training?

Subject: Sending them away for training? Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:52 am

Just curious if any of you have ever used an outside party to train your pups and what your opinions of them.

Bella has been systematically destroying our house and her obedience is lacking which is my fault. But since the pregnancy started...I have no energy and days when I feel terrible...so we've been lacking. We graduated the first one in Dec, but the last 2 classes were very hard b/c of my energy level or lack of.

Over the past couple of mornings she has began chewing the siding of our house, she has eaten every rug in the house, ripped up her new bed, and pulls up every plant in the backyard. This morning my husband heard what he thought was a squirrel chewing on the eaves of the house...only to find that she has made a whole right under one of our window...caught red-handed with peices in her mouth.

Needless to say, he was p-o'ed. He has suggested we send her to a training facility to see if this helps. I agree she needs training especially with a baby coming. I just don't know about sending her "out" for help. Would it be like sending her to doggie re-hab? Smile

So in his angri-ness, when he came in she sat in front of him wagging her tail. He told her to lay down, but when she refused...he pulled her collar down while giving her the command. With her refusal to do so...he was even more angry. After a couple times of telling her down and pulling on her collar, my great boy Gunner put his little paw on my husband's arm as if to say ok that's enough. Smile

He said if it wasn't for Gunner, I woulda paid someone to take her away today. My Guns saved the day. Every day living with Bel-Bel I realize what a great dog he is.

SO anyways, just curious as to your opinions on training at a boarding facility where the dog stays there while being trained by a professional.

Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:33 am

I've been thinking about this, but for Hunt Test training. It's not bad to send them to a trainer, but really do your research to make sure they are "clean" and do things humanely.
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Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:14 am

Good point. I just can't really see sending her away for 2 weeks or any weeks. The training facilities are just a few miles away and I wouldn't be comfortable unless I could just "pop" in to see how she is doing. It may be better just to get her into some more classes where we go together. We went through 5 or 6 obedience classes with Guns. And he didn't just become a good dog after the first one. Smile

Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:14 pm

I'd say if you can go to more classes then try that first. Don't stress yourself out if you can't, you've got a baby on the way and need to stay healthy while taking care of the pups as well. So, if you can great, if you can't THEN have the backup plan of outside intervention. Perhaps see if someone can come by the house a few times a week for an hour or so a day for "group" training. Explain your situation (baby on the way, training classes on hold, need some more 'in house' training with help if possible) and see what they say. Make sure they aren't abusive or rough and see if they have references and such. If they can't come to the home see if they can do a "day" class type thing. Where you bring her for the day, they do what they do, and you pick her up and learn what they worked on that day so you can do it at home. Next day they do something different while reinforcing the first day.
Just a thought. Smile

Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:00 pm

That's a really good idea. I'd prefer that kind of thing over the leaving her there for the whole day and whole night. I was trying to talk to my husband about it last night and busted out in tears... Smile

It's the pregnancy hormones I know but she's my shadow and I just couldn't imagine her not being here for that long. Of course he and Bel-Bel made up last night and were best friends again. It was funny b/c he was showing me what Gunner would do...so he was kneeling in front of her and pulling her collar and saying down...of course she wouldn't do it...but Guns did the paw thing on his arm again. It was hilarious.

Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:42 am

Well we are supposed to work with her this weekend...we will see how that goes. My mother in law might be coming for Easter and she said she'd work with her. I don't know what kind of training experience she has but she raised 3 boys and multiple dogs...I guess she has a ton of experience with wild ones. Smile

And just a side note...we found out today we're having a girl. Wish us lots of luck...if she's as high maintanence as Bel-Bel we will need lots of help!

Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:03 am

Congrats !!!!
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Subject: Re: Sending them away for training? Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:44 am

Thanks!