Dutch Shepherd Forum

I'd like to start working with a trainer with Zane - we've gotten most of the basics down now but have some lingering issues I haven't been able to address - so I think it's time for some professional help!

Over the past year, he's learned all of his basic obedience and has gotten much braver about a lot of things he used to be scared of (stairs, strange men, boxes on the street) but a few months ago developed a fear of people in the house (thanks to his former dog-walker and me being an idiot who gave her free rein, the whole saga's somewhere on the board). Our first step was to give him a break from the stress of strangers for a few weeks to try to get him to forget about the problem. It helped a little, but he's still not at a point where I would feel comfortable having him loose in the house with anyone but me and my husband and my parents (which is weird because Zane sees them way less than my husband's family but is totally ok with my parents and scared and barky with my husband's family).

So, I want to work on his confidence in general (since he still has some fearful moments) and behavior around guests in particular. If the guests are dog people, he'll hide in his crate but sit quietly and will come out for a cookie if we call him. If he can tell they're scared of him or if they try to touch me, he barks at them to try to scare them off, so that needs to stop. He's either leashed and in a down-stay getting cookies if we have guests (we also take him out for walks to get a break from the guests), or in his crate playing games with me through the bars (if a delivery guy comes in). But, without one person to manage the dog and another to let in the guests and/or delivery guy, it's really tough to keep him calm (if I just put him in the crate and leave to deal with guests, I just get a lot of barking and crying, even though we practice waiting in his crate or sitting quietly by the door while the doorbell rings almost every day - and he does it perfectly when there are no strangers around).

We've used a lot of Patricia McConnell's advice and books, but I don't have a good person for him to practice good guest behavior with (I don't have a lot of dog-experienced local friends) and so the progress we've made has been very, very slow since we have limited opportunities for practicing good behavior and I've limited the number of people we have over to not let him develop bad habits (luckily it's totally normal to not ever see your friends' apartments in NYC!). So, it seems like it's time for a trainer.

I've googled for trainers, but the results are totally overwhelming and often seem useless. I'm seeing testimonials saying things like - "wow, the trainer got my dog to sit at the street corner on walks!" And that's really not informative about the quality of the trainer for issues like Zane's.

I know not many of you are in the area, but do you have tips on how to do identify a trainer who would be good at working on his issues (a mix of lack of confidence and territoriality about me)? I know he needs a purely positive trainer because he's really sensitive, but beyond that, I'm not sure what to look for. If you have referrals, that would be even better!

I wish I knew someone up there to whom to refer you...finding a good trainer and you get along with well is so much of the battle!

In the meantime, go watch a lot of classes. Trainers who teach classes also tend to take privates, and you can get a really good feeling for what you like and dislike about a trainer while watching them teach a class you're not in. You don't have to worry about trying to sponge up everything the trainer is saying to the class, or being concerned about how you look or how you and your dog are doing. You just watch the trainer and the class. (Especially watch for how they treat their students; lots of positive reinforcement, or do they need more experience practicing on giving positive reinforcement to people?)

Also, anything that enables him to feel more secure will increase his confidence. So, it wouldn't hurt you to take a class or two yourself, while you're seeking your trainer. It doesn't matter what the class is, either; just take something that you'll find fun to do with him. He will gain confidence just from attending the class with you, and you'll both have fun together.

Good luck, and what a lucky boy!

Thanks Leih! I was hoping you'd respond.

We'll definitely sign up for some classes - that's a great idea!

alexis wrote: We'll definitely sign up for some classes - that's a great idea!

great! you'll have so much fun...we expect reports!

(see if there is any Rally Obedience around your area; it's fun, and with some luck, the other dogs won't be totally green and out of control; same with freestyle obedience/dancing with dogs. Also, if you have nosework, that's a great class for any dog, since they're each worked separately while the others are in crates.)

Start telling the people he's reacting to the three golden rules. No look, No speak, No touch.
Don't look at him, don't talk to him, and don't touch him. See how he reacts when the scarey people ignore him completely. If he barks, ignore him. If you talk to him, he's going to bark more. When he can be around them without barking, have them throw him a treat. The treat from the scarey people reinforces the no barking. Obviously if it escalates, then proper actions must be taken, and removed from the situation.

It won't take long before he figures out that guests = treats, and if he doesn't bark he gets them that much faster. Just take it slow, and let him figure things out. Present him with the opportunity to learn, and help him succeed.

(You know trainers are for people, not the dogs right? )

Sadly there's no rally obedience - right now our options seem to be basic manners, intro to agility and trick training (this is the problem with not having a car! Our options are limited to classes we can walk to in a reasonable amount of time). So, I think we're going to start with intro to agility when the next class cycle starts unless the trainer makes us do the basic class first.

ugh! Trainers here won't let you watch their classes before committing to a $300+ fee for a 6 week class! And they want you to start in basic obedience even if your dog has the basics down.

We're signing up for a class anyway (just deciding between two trainers now), but I just wanted to share the ridiculousness of life in NYC with all of you.

alexis wrote:ugh! Trainers here won't let you watch their classes before committing to a $300+ fee for a 6 week class! And they want you to start in basic obedience even if your dog has the basics down.

We're signing up for a class anyway (just deciding between two trainers now), but I just wanted to share the ridiculousness of life in NYC with all of you.

That would seriously make me mad and wonder what they were hiding. I routinely have people audit my classes because I know I would be just as cautious before signing my kid up to be under someone's instruction. I think its great that you are taking the class, but just trust your gut and don't assume that you have to do whatever you are told. You know your dog best, and if its a traditional "jerk to train" class then run.

yeah, they claim it's that training spaces here are small and there's no room for gawkers. but we'll see.

the good thing is that most of the trainers here seem to be super positive, so hopefully I won't have to drop a class because of "jerk to train" or anything like that (and I'm only looking at trainers recommended by reputable rescue groups, so I hope that helps narrow it down to someone good).

Wow, Alexis, I've never heard of such a thing!

BTW, it's not so bad to take a class that teaches stuff your dog already knows, since your dog will be doing those things in the presence of a bunch of other dogs who mostly won't know the class content, which is another level of distraction training for him (just working around other dogs and their owners).

Good luck!

Thanks Leih - I know doing a basics class would be good for him, the other stuff seems more fun though (for both of us)!

I'll let you all know how it goes and will post the trainer's name here for other's reference if she turns out to be helpful.

Wow! I tell people all the time to go and watch the exact classes that they are interested so they know if they like the class and gel with the instructor. The best is when people are looking for classes even before they bring their puppies home so they have time to check places out.