Took Simba to puppy class tonight...

 Dogs communicate. Many, MANY dogs dislike dogs jumping in their faces. This is normal, natural dog communication. Don't pull back on the leash, and don't worry about it And maybe keep him playing with less exhuberant friends. Bean is a submissive face paw-er, but she backs off FAST. Part of that... is a learning curve. When she was a little baby, she had to be told repeatedly to back off. Now? If a dog freezes, she backs up immediately. A well socialized dog learnes the nuances of doggy body language.

jennie_c_d

 Dogs communicate. Many, MANY dogs dislike dogs jumping in their faces. This is normal, natural dog communication. Don't pull back on the leash, and don't worry about it And maybe keep him playing with less exhuberant friends. Bean is a submissive face paw-er, but she backs off FAST. Part of that... is a learning curve. When she was a little baby, she had to be told repeatedly to back off. Now? If a dog freezes, she backs up immediately. A well socialized dog learnes the nuances of doggy body language.

I suppose that's true, I just figured since he was a puppy he wouldn't mind it. It's understandable though. Yeah the girl said not to hold them back, but what made me a bit iffy with her is that if Simba started jumping and growling at the dog, to spray him in the face with water. I really don't feel like I want Simba going back there. They also had my mom put lemon juice in his mouth anytime he whined, which is easier said than done. I could be wrong, but their techniques sound so outdated. Am I wrong in thinking we shouldn't bring him back there? :-/ 

 That's a little... hands on. I wouldn't punish a puppy for anxious whining, personally. I also wouldn't spray them in the face for interacting pretty normally. I have a whole laundry list of things I find tolerable in certain situations, though, LOL, and they're all unique to my experiences. If it made YOU uncomfortable, though, no.... you shouldn't go back.

Spraying the dog in the face for interacting with other dogs? Lemon juice if he whined?...doesnt sound like a very good puppy class to me. Instead of being socialized he may actually start disliking other dogs (making the connection from being sprayed in the face and being around other dogs) I hope you didnt actually listen to what that lady said.

I would NOT take him back there.

punkchica321

They also had my mom put lemon juice in his mouth anytime he whined

Well, that's a new one to me....I don't like that at all, personally.  Sounds like a pretty good way to get your hand bitten.

My opinion on trainers is that if you have any reservations about their methods, you need to be looking for a new class.  Trust your gut, and don't let anyone (professional or not) make you uncomfortable when it comes to you and your dog.

jennie_c_d

 That's a little... hands on. I wouldn't punish a puppy for anxious whining, personally. I also wouldn't spray them in the face for interacting pretty normally. I have a whole laundry list of things I find tolerable in certain situations, though, LOL, and they're all unique to my experiences. If it made YOU uncomfortable, though, no.... you shouldn't go back.

My sister had a point, that even if like spraying him in the face or putting lemon juice in his mouth when he's anxious, its still paying attention to him. I'm trying to tell my mom this, because she's the one that set this up and paid for it, but I don't know how well she'll listen. I just don't agree with some of her techniques even though I don't really have any of my own. Oh I didn't say this at one point, the girl that I guess is more the receptionist more so than anything, was walking by when Simba was growling at another dog for getting in his face and hit him on the nose with a toilet paper roll lightly and told him to knock it off. I did NOT like that either. <_<

aerial1313

punkchica321

They also had my mom put lemon juice in his mouth anytime he whined

Well, that's a new one to me....I don't like that at all, personally.  Sounds like a pretty good way to get your hand bitten.

My opinion on trainers is that if you have any reservations about their methods, you need to be looking for a new class.  Trust your gut, and don't let anyone (professional or not) make you uncomfortable when it comes to you and your dog.

Yeah! I never heard of that one until tonight. I agree, I'm going to do my best to get my mom not to have us go back there. 

Spazzy

Spraying the dog in the face for interacting with other dogs? Lemon juice if he whined?...doesnt sound like a very good puppy class to me. Instead of being socialized he may actually start disliking other dogs (making the connection from being sprayed in the face and being around other dogs) I hope you didnt actually listen to what that lady said.

I would NOT take him back there.

I know right? I wasn't the one holding onto the leash tonight, it was my mom and dad, I just watched. I would NEVER do that to my dog. While I don't think it harms them, I don't think it's the right way to correct behavior. 

 I use a spray bottle, here, and I don't have a problem with the use of them, in general. It's mostly only used when there's a change in the pack. I squirt them when they're barking, they turn around, and I say, "Good quiet!" Easier than trying to get them to hear me over the barking, LOL. That particular technique sounds sketchy, though.

punkchica321

jennie_c_d

 That's a little... hands on. I wouldn't punish a puppy for anxious whining, personally. I also wouldn't spray them in the face for interacting pretty normally. I have a whole laundry list of things I find tolerable in certain situations, though, LOL, and they're all unique to my experiences. If it made YOU uncomfortable, though, no.... you shouldn't go back.

 

My sister had a point, that even if like spraying him in the face or putting lemon juice in his mouth when he's anxious, its still paying attention to him. I'm trying to tell my mom this, because she's the one that set this up and paid for it, but I don't know how well she'll listen. I just don't agree with some of her techniques even though I don't really have any of my own. Oh I didn't say this at one point, the girl that I guess is more the receptionist more so than anything, was walking by when Simba was growling at another dog for getting in his face and hit him on the nose with a toilet paper roll lightly and told him to knock it off. I did NOT like that either. <_<

She HIT him on the nose with it?

You really should talk to your mom about this. I would NOT take him back there. I would demand a refund.

Call around other places, ask about their methods, ask if you can go in and just watch a session or talk to the trainer.

If ANYONE did that to Bailey, even for growling at another dog, I'd have a few not so nice words for the "trainer"
And so what if he was growling at another dog? Its communicating. He could have been telling the other dog to back off or stop playing so rough, whatever the case, hitting him on the nose is probably not the best course of action.

jennie_c_d

 I use a spray bottle, here, and I don't have a problem with the use of them, in general. It's mostly only used when there's a change in the pack. I squirt them when they're barking, they turn around, and I say, "Good quiet!" Easier than trying to get them to hear me over the barking, LOL. That particular technique sounds sketchy, though.

Yeah especially when he was just trying to get them to back off and they wouldn't listen. It wasn't his fault for trying to just stand his ground. 

She HIT him on the nose with it?

You really should talk to your mom about this. I would NOT take him back there. I would demand a refund.

Call around other places, ask about their methods, ask if you can go in and just watch a session or talk to the trainer.

If ANYONE did that to Bailey, even for growling at another dog, I'd have a few not so nice words for the "trainer"
And so what if he was growling at another dog? Its communicating. He could have been telling the other dog to back off or stop playing so rough, whatever the case, hitting him on the nose is probably not the best course of action.

Yeah she did and I was not happy. I'm trying my best to convince my mom to find somewhere else, and she said to start looking for another place which I will tonight. It wasn't the trainer, it was the receptionist or something along those lines.  I do not want Simba to become unstable just because of some crappy techniques that this girl has.

I agree that you need to start looking for somewhere else. Maybe see if you can check it out before hand to see if the new place is ok. You should see if APDT.com has any trainers in your area.

Punishing a dog for perfectly normal behaviors, like growling at other dogs to warn them to back off, can become something dangerous. It may teach him to skip the growling, and start with the things that would typically come after the growl, up to and including biting.

 Piper is 9 years old, has completed puppy classes and obedience classes, is polite and well mannered, and has never been hit by anybody.  Nobody hits my dog!.  It is abusive and counterproductive.  All the dog learns is fear of being hit and fear of the person doing the hitting.  I also do not let others work her when we are hunting.  I know what she does, she knows what I expect.  Others trying to work her get her confused and messed up.  You should ask the receptionist and the trainer why the receptionist thinks she can hit your dog, and then explain why they can not and why you are going to another trainer.  You get better results teaching the dog what to do instead of punishing behavior you don't want.  The dog wants to please you, and wants to know how to please you.