mistreated dog in agility class

I think I would e-mail my instructor privately, if I were in your shoes, to say, "I really like training with you but the way x is treating her dog makes me really uncomfortable in class, and I find it distracting."

I don't think I would want to be in that class, but that's just my opinion.

ETA: I have a woman like this in my obedience class, and she is constantly pinning her yorkie to the ground. Granted, he is a bossy handful, but I feel there are much better ways to improve his behavior. People constantly wonder how I get Lexi to be so forward, motivated and happy and I want to say, "well it starts with me not beating the **** out of her if she does something wrong."

I am finding a new obedience instructor.
 

I agree, you should speak with the instructor, but I think I would do it face to face. Ask if he/she has noticed what you have and you are uncomfortable with it.

I have no idea what shutzhund is. Please fill me in.
Thanks

Shutzhund is a sport that was primarily developed for GSD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schutzhund

Golden Tails

I have no idea what shutzhund is. Please fill me in.
Thanks

 

Schutzhund is a protection sport. There are three phases - tracking, obedience, protection.

The way this woman is treating her dog is abusive. I would refuse to take classes from someone who allowed it to occur in her class. I would also speak to the trainer, the owner of the training place and probably the owner of the dog.

Dogs trained for schutzhund are often trained in drive, using positive motivation. Mild, fair corrections are used if necessary.

I am currently starting a SchH club with Kenya's breeder and training for the BH (SchH obedience and temperament test) and let me say that what you describe does NOT describe how everyone involved in SchH trains.  I use positive methods, treats, marking and rewarding, and praise to train my dog.  SchH has three phases - tracking, obedience, and protection, but before you trial in one of the three levels there is the BH and also AD (endurance test, dog has to trot 12 miles).  Too many people assume that it's ONLY about biting and attacking, and people like this woman just solidify the stereotype that the trainers are harsh and physical with their dogs.  SchH is different than AKC obedience because it is about temperament and attitude rather than exact precision.  I see a lot of dogs in the AKC obedience ring that look totally checked out like they are bored out of their gourd; in SchH the dog can be slightly out of position as long as it is engaged and working with intensity.  I've actually seen people at AKC and UKC trials doing what you describe - manhandling dogs and yanking on chokes.  I don't think it's appropriate in ANY venue of dog sport.  This woman should not be excused b/c she trains SchH and I hope people don't think she is a good example of how SchH is trained.  If her club thinks those methods are OK, then that's their business (I disagree), but she should abide by your club/trainer's methods in the agility class.  The trainer should say something to her, you should not have to.

 Depending on how much it bothers you, you could speak to the instructor and either voice your concern or also mention that you might have to drop the class and ask for a refund because it's that upsetting to you.  It would bother me and I'd probably not sign up for another class if that woman was going to be there.

I had a 6 month contract with the place where Woobie did his obedience training.  They were okay but as time went on, there were more and more things done that I didn't like.  They were fine with me using positive methods given Woobie's timidness, etc. and I did end up using a pinch collar to work on his pulling, but when the male primary trainer brought out his pits and his malinois to demo, they all seemed afraid of him and his corrections when they didn't immediately obey were just too harsh for me to watch long term.  they also intentionally bred mutts, trained them and then sold them as "Einstein puppies"     After a while, it just became too much for me and I stopped going before the 6 months expired.  I never spoke to them about why, I doubt it would have changed their minds at all, but in your case, I think the trainer of this class needs to know that even the methods of those attending the class can have a detrimental effect on her business.

That is not a common practice in  Schutzhund and nor should that ever been an excuse to abuse a dog. I'd talk to your trainer privately about it.

No agility instructor worth their salt would allow a choke chain near their equipment, much less allow it to be used in the manner described.  Choke chains are a hazzard in agility, as the dog could easily get hung up and suffocate or otherwise be injured.

The simple fact that your instructor has not stopped this already would make me suggest that you find a new trainer/facility.

KarissaKS

No agility instructor worth their salt would allow a choke chain near their equipment

Well, Kenya wears a nylon "choke" that I rarely take off (she's worn it training, showing, and during agility), but it is not used for corrections.  We do agility off leash and she walks/runs/pulls wearing a harness. You can't even really see it...

But I agree, there's no reason for her to be correcting the dog in any manner in a beginning agility class.  It should be about setting the dog up for success!  If something doesn't go right, it's the handler's fault.  Maybe she should wear the choke chain... The trainer needs to grow some balls and tell this woman to get a grip.

There is absolutely NO need for a choke chain in agility. That training tool  has no place in agility training, nor around agility equipment.

 IMO, I would NOT train with anyone that allowed such abusvie treatment towards dogs in their classes. I was involved in a club that taught harsh methods and did allow abuse for a very long time. No matter how *I* trained, still being in that environment and around such people was not good for me or my dogs.

I do believe you need to speak to this trainer. An dif it were me, I'd give an ultimatum. Either stop the abuse, or she loses a student. That just isn't right to allow it..
 

Liesje

KarissaKS

No agility instructor worth their salt would allow a choke chain near their equipment

 

Well, Kenya wears a nylon "choke" that I rarely take off (she's worn it training, showing, and during agility), but it is not used for corrections.  We do agility off leash and she walks/runs/pulls wearing a harness. You can't even really see it...

 

But I agree, there's no reason for her to be correcting the dog in any manner in a beginning agility class.  It should be about setting the dog up for success!  If something doesn't go right, it's the handler's fault.  Maybe she should wear the choke chain... The trainer needs to grow some balls and tell this woman to get a grip.

Be careful that Kenya never slips, catches that choke on a piece of equipment and hurts herself.   I've seen dogs slip and catch parts of their bodies on weird parts of equipment, which is why we don't allow those types of things to even be *worn* in our classes.

This woman is a trainer and trains pretty "hard" dogs in the way that she sees fit.

jenns

I've heard the owner of the training place once say that the woman in question trains a bit differently because she does schutzhund.

It's true that not all Schutzhund trainers work like this, but many do. Many people are quite rough with their dogs. And if the owner permits it, then I would either go somewhere else or ignore it.

Before you decide to say something about this to anyone, I would make sure you are ready for any repercussions that might happen from basically telling someone how to raise their kid.  

Just my not-so-humble opinion.  

chokers and agility equipment don't belong together. The instructor needs to put a stop to this now.

Sorry, Liesje, but you aren't going to get me to say that it's "okay" for Kenya to be wearing any sort of slip/choke collar while performing on agility equipment.  At our club it is flat collars or collarless (for the trained dogs) ONLY.  Under no circumstances are sliding collars of any type allowed near equipment.

I would also wonder about the dog's comfort in wearing a collar so tight that it disappears into the hair.