Animal Cruelty

There is a crazy case going on right now involving two well known trainers in police K9/Schutzhund and two amazing dogs that were basically neglected to death.  One had a mammary tumor that was totally abcessed and bleeding (I've seen it, I am not easily grossed out and it's shocking) and the other had heartworm and mange severe enough to be put down.  Both dogs were older but kept crated 23 hours a day and could have been easily treated for these conditions early on.  I don't know if there is an formal LE investigation in this case, but any decent persons involved with the sport will not associate with these people or with anyone that chooses to associate with them (not that this is the first time these people have been involved in shady circumstances).  Now I see a breeder/trainer I had once respected working their dogs with this person and the respect-o-meter is going down fast.

I've also known good trainers to be reported by people who have their own agenda or grudge against that person, or just have no idea what they are doing/seeing.

One should do at least as much as they'd do to research a babysitter, day care provider or private school for thier kiddos. Kind of one of those no brainers.

Liesje

I've also known good trainers to be reported by people who have their own agenda or grudge against that person, or just have no idea what they are doing/seeing.

Amen to that

I would like to see every single person that abuses a dog go to jail (and sometimes get done themselves what they did to the animals). On the other side unfortunately there are a lot of bad people out there that will accuse of the same to innocent trainers.

rwbeagles

One should do at least as much as they'd do to research a babysitter, day care provider or private school for thier kiddos. Kind of one of those no brainers.

Totally agree, but funny you should say it b/c I've had people jump on me for my choice of puppy-sitter/walker (because I found a nice college student missing her dog back home who was not licensed, bonded, insured, pet first aid certified, LLC, etc to come play with Nikon during the day while he was 8wks-5months) and the same people have no problem letting their niece or the teenager next door babysit their skin kids.

yep yep....the way some folks's mind works is interesting to say the least LOL.

Like with placing pups referrals and such only go so far...I go so much by feel and vibe and that's seldom let me down...anytime you trust anyone else with those dear to you you take a risk. You minimize it where you can, but nothing is 100%.

rwbeagles

yep yep....the way some folks's mind works is interesting to say the least LOL.

Like with placing pups referrals and such only go so far...I go so much by feel and vibe and that's seldom let me down...anytime you trust anyone else with those dear to you you take a risk. You minimize it where you can, but nothing is 100%.

Agreed.  The license, bond, certification, insurance thing is not always a reliable indicator at all.  I know many people who are certified trainers that I wouldn't trust with a gerbil, and several trainers who have decades of service to dogs and owners, plus a wonderful reputation for kindness, knowledge and skill.  It pays to be observant, and to get to know someone long enough to make sure that the vibe you get is accurate.  Plus, it doesn't hurt to ask around...sooner or later, you get that "look" that tells you something might not be quite right, whether the person you are asking says anything damaging or not;-)

espencer

Liesje

I've also known good trainers to be reported by people who have their own agenda or grudge against that person, or just have no idea what they are doing/seeing.

Yes. I personally have been having a terrible time over two seperate incidents. I guess that i am a strongly posiitve trainer, but not at all permissive. I was doing something that many trainers do which is bascially enforce a recall by guiding my dog back with her collar, and pretty gentle too, and it got reported as something very nasty.

I got straight out accused of doing something that i have never done or  never will do, which is track a dog  in a correction collar. I don't even own one...:(

So i guess that on lookers need to be a little careful about how they report what they see.

poodleOwned

espencer

Liesje

I've also known good trainers to be reported by people who have their own agenda or grudge against that person, or just have no idea what they are doing/seeing.

 

 

Yes. I personally have been having a terrible time over two seperate incidents. I guess that i am a strongly posiitve trainer, but not at all permissive. I was doing something that many trainers do which is bascially enforce a recall by guiding my dog back with her collar, and pretty gentle too, and it got reported as something very nasty.

I got straight out accused of doing something that i have never done or  never will do, which is track a dog  in a correction collar. I don't even own one...:(

So i guess that on lookers need to be a little careful about how they report what they see.

 

 Well, I know you're right about that.  Eyewitness reports are often the *least* reliable evidence of anything.  

http://www.impactlab.com/2009/01/29/how-reliable-are-eyewitness-accounts-of-a-crime/

spiritdogs

The scary thing is that most people, when they call a trainer, do not even ask about how the training will be carried out, and some actually leave their dogs at board and train centers without due diligence in investigating the techniques used behind those closed doors.  They ask how much it costs, or where you are located, way more than they talk about method. 

This is exactly the issue, IMO.  Go to the facility.  Talk to the assistants and the kennel help.  Drop in unannounced.  Being around pro retriever trainers for quite a few years, I know there is a broad spectrum of trainers and just because a trainer wins field trials or can show you ribbons and testimonials from happy clients doesn't always mean that person is a good trainer. Find out for yourself what his methods are and how the dogs are cared for on a day to day basis.  It surprises many people to find out just how little time some trainers spend training the  dogs and how much of the training is done by a minimum wage assistant.  The person cleaning the kennel and feeding the dogs is as important as the trainer in terms of catching health problems early. All good field trainers that I've ever known welcome a prospective client to their facility and gladly let them watch the training methods they use.

 Accidents can and do happen with dogs and good trainers are devastated if a dog suffers an injury or worse while in their care.  I've known pros to leave a field trial and create many unhappy clients in order to get a dog to a Vet when necessary.  I've unfortunately known trainers who don't do the right thing.  Do your legwork and don't let a pro's reputation  be your only guide to how he or she trains and cares for the dog you entrust to him.