Dog Community

Looking for good trainer

Posted : 1/8/2007 2:23:55 PM

I live by the CHINO, CA area (inland empire) and am looking for a good German shepherd trainer if anyone knows any.

I have a white 2 years old German shepherd ([linkhttp://www.photographybykevin.net/index-main.php?url=Our%20Dog%20Fritz]http://www.photographybykevin.net/index-main.php?url=Our%20Dog%20Fritz[/link]) and I think I need to take him to the next level.

He has been in a few courses at Pet's Mart where he learn some basic commands. Most of the time, he was the only dog in class due to other people afraid to continue of his size. He needs a good place where he could interact more with other dogs of his size. He is the biggest baby (whines a lot) you've ever seen.
We#%92ve been taking him to the Dog Park a few times since last year (Sept), at least twice a month. In the past, he has been in excited mode each time we come close to the park area. Always talkative, but not aggressive. Funny thing is once he gets inside the park, he ignore all the other dogs (except for the first few minutes of sniffing around).

About a month ago at the Dog Park, he was bitten by a husky, which since then got him a bit aggressive against other dogs now. Now he will bark and lunge forward any dog (big or small) that gets near him (with 20-40 feet). We#%92ve been trying to get him to laydown each time he sees another dog, but been unsuccessful as even if in laydown state he continue to bark.

He seriously needs a well control environment to socialize again with other dogs. I am afraid to take him back to the dog park (not for him getting attacked) but for him attacking other dogs. Other owners might not be too crazy of the idea having him around because of that.

Other problem of his is separation anxiety. He get emotional attached to my wife and I. So if either one of us are missing during a walk, he get overly focus on the missing person and continue to search. Again, similar to the Pet#%92s Mart issue, due to his size, we are unable to practice separation with another person as they are afraid of his size.

Any help or suggestion is greatly appreciated.

mondayblues

Posted : 1/13/2007 2:07:49 AM

Try the trainer search engine at the APTD website: [linkhttp://www.apdt.com]http://www.apdt.com[/link] . I think you should go for individual consultations rather than obedience classes for now. I also think you shouldn't bring him to the dog park until he gets better around other dogs. Maybe you would benefit most from a behaviorist/trainer. Good luck!

Kevin Nguyen

Posted : 1/17/2007 8:52:34 PM

i contact one off apdt and have schule for this weekend to chat. how do u know if they will not use aggresve fear type correction? i was warn by a few never to trust a place asking to leave you dog overnight

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/18/2007 7:44:27 AM

This site has all positive trainers - you can't list here unless you are +R (I know because they made me provide proof to list there - I needed references that they knew):
[linkhttp://www.peaceablepaws.com]www.peaceablepaws.com[/link]
Also, try [linkhttp://www.clickertraining.com]www.clickertraining.com[/link] - also positive.
You may need help from a behaviorist, but most professional trainers are familiar with GSD's and their usual problems, which include those you describe. I would not try to get a "Shepherd trainer" as those are often the type who will use aversives, which you say you do not want to do. I would not leave my dogs anywhere to be trained - good instinct on your part. [

] Besides, you want to learn how to manage the dog yourself, so you he will respond to you.
There are a couple of good books I would recommend for you, too.
"I'll Be Home Soon - How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety" by Patricia McConnell, and "Scaredy Dog" by Ali Brown. That one addresses leash aggression, which your dog seems to have adopted as a way to keep scary dogs away so he won't be attacked again.
Another great book on that subject is Emma Parsons' "Click to Calm".
BTW, you ask the trainer what equipment they use. If it's "slip collars", otherwise known as choke chains, or prongs, voice rewards, chances are the trainer uses corrections and harsher techniques. If it's buckle collars, Gentle Leaders, clickers, food or toy rewards, etc. then chances are it's positive. If you aren't sure, go visit the facility while a lesson is going on. If the handlers and dogs, in the majority, don't look happy, steer clear. Positive trainers work by rewarding good behavior, withholding reward or ignoring bad behavior, and they seldom use physical correction. Positive trainers do, very occasionally, use prong collars, but if one tries to put one on a leash aggressive dog as the first solution, run for the hills!!!!