Dutch Shepherd Forum

had our first actual training session (in our home) with the new trainer... my dog walked for an hour passed the mail man and several other dogs and was easily corrected (we do use a remote collar) she only had one really good freak out. (woman on the other side of the road walking two small dogs) but was under control. I held one leash he held the other and talked me through everything. Stella is now laying at my feet while I work on some signs for my online shop... we have a long road ahead of us but this is amazing. Pretty much this week's homework is to keep her next to me (litterally on leash) any time she is out of the kennel so that I can correct her as needed. We'll start the shutzhund training in March. I'm still SO irritated that the last trainer was not only worthless, but made my dog worse! He had no business dealing with a dog like this and should of just told us that instead of taking our money and doing shit to make my already anxious dog even more anxious. I think this training process is going to be pretty good for me too! (not to get too personal but I suffer from a general anxiety disorder) and have trouble "slowing down" which is some thing my therapist (poor man must be on some mission from God to put up w/ my hyper ass) has been trying to get me to do for awihle now.... lol I guess I just needed obedience work when I'm training and walking Stella I have to really concentrate and slow down so this is a good thing for both of us!

Sounds great !!! I hope the training will be good for both of you to focus. Working with animals is so great for ones health.

So glad things are going well with the new trainer.

Yippee!

Congrats on the amazing progress!!!

Will this trainer help with transitioning off of the ecollar too? I'm totally fine with them, in the right hands, as a tool, especially for reactive dogs where it is needed as a preventative for accidents. I prefer to see some progress to get the dog to regular loose leash walking once the dog is rehabbed. The main problem with compulsion trainers is they fix the behavior temporarily, but never make it fool proof without the tool, especially since ecollars can die or the remote could get lost or dropped and won't always be there.

Stephanie, he said eventually she won't need it.... he said that about the ecollar and muzzle actually. (We haven't started the muzzle training yet)

I never wanted to have to use an ecollar, but I do believe it's necessary. He had us put it on and off of her for a week before we started using it.... he wants to make sure she doesn't know it's the collar giving corrections.

Way to go! So glad the new trainer is working out for you. Both of you .

I understand what you mean about the dog helping. I have ptsd and adhd so I tend to have a short fuse but working with Harvey has made a huge difference.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one benefiting.