I am really upset w/ pebbles trainer and I need to VENT!!! please give advise
 

OKay so I just got back from pebbles first obedience class at PETCO and I am verry upset. It has been postponed for more than a month, and so far all weve done is socalization with other dogs. So today was the first actual class...It was all puppies but pebbles was the oldest AND smallest there at 3lbs and 7 1/2 months.

I swear I am beginning to hate this trainer and I need to know if I should cancel this class and get my money back because i only have until the 2nd class (next wed) to decide if i want to stay.

FIRSTLY there are two large breed puppies in the class that are around 3 months old, and all the others are small breed dogs, however they are a lot larger than pebbles (the small breed dogs). The large breed puppies are OUT OF CONTROL! I mean, these are great dane puppies. They were pouncing on all the little dogs with their huge paws during meet and greet and the dogs were YELPING in pain!! Pebbles got hit twice and I was cowering in the corner with her soothing her and was so angry. Pebbles was scared. The trainer kept saying, "oh they'll learn. Give them 2 weeks!! They'll all be best friends!" I think everyone was trying to hint at her that she needed to do something asap but it took her a while to get the hint, at least 15 minutes. Eventually she got out a spray bottle and said next time they do it she will spray them. They kept jumping on this baby maltese and the big dogs just tried to drink the water when she sprayed at them. The little maltese baby was crying. This is when I started to get angry.

Later we were learning to sit. Now pebbles is not very food motivated for anything. This is why i was having trouble at home and why i decided to take her to a class with a trainer. She is a picky eater and I brought her favorite peanut butter treat and after 5 minutes she was not having any more. She lost interest and I was giving her verrry tiny portions knowing she could get full. She was so hyper with the people in the store and trying to run to them that she was not paying attention to me. I followed this womans directions and was obviously the person having the most difficult time besides the young maltese puppy but she completely ignored me!!! She said to push pebbles down to sit and and say good sit good girl and eventually she will get it. The whole entire rest of the class pebbles did not listen to anything--she just wanted to run around the store. She didnt want any food/ was full and was like NO im not doing what you say!! If she was a decent dog trainer you would think she would know what to do and would have helped me. But NO!!! she told me to go practice at home. AT HOME! why am i coming to class. I could teach her to sit by myself AT HOME. arghh!!!!! and there are only 6 dogs in the class :(

Was everyone elses obedience class like this?! Do I need to toughen up or is PETCO just below standard?! Was it all different sizes and did you feel you got enough individual attention?? I am upset because she seemed to give me the least attention when i was the one having the most problems. I am considering trying to find some kinda yorkie group around here and see if they have classes. Has anyone else done this? I dont even know if (just) yorkie training classes are available, but pebbles obviously has a different personality and needs to be approached in a different, non food motivated way. If any of this seems normal to you please let me know. I need to know if I should stick with this woman or let this class go and find another!! please help and tell me your experiences. I am sitting here steaming. :mad:

I am SO sorry you had such a terrible experience. First of all, she puts SMALL dogs in DANGER - they could've been killed, and that's just plain true. I would call the store manager about that and have a conversation - totally unacceptable.

I think she was a very poor trainer. My trainer (for Wylie's class) had about 6-8 dogs, all w/ different issues (of course!) and she knew how to deal w/ every issue! She was wonderful and had an idea for everything. We had our classes at our local humane association. I would get your money back and find a different trainer. Plus, being non-food motivated - you have a very special issue here and you need someone who "gets" that. Hang in there! :)

Quit..
 

I am not much of a quitter, but in this case I would find something/someone more to my liking. I have taken a training class with my first Greyhound, and yes we did learn stuff at home, but after she showed how to train in the class setting.

I have also had one on one training..but I really prefered the class setting.

Good luck

i see both sides...yes i don't think she is a good trainer but i also feel you should toughen up a little...you are too leniant and maybe the is why pebbles is not listen...i have taught all my dogs to sit, lay down, paw, beg, roll over, high five and bang! bang! when they are at a young age they tend not to pay attention because they are still curious. so a i do push them down on but not hard...and say sit in either english or vietnamese and when they are in that position i give them tons of praises and treats...within 5 minutes if even they got it...

Sorry, off-topic here... but I thought that was interesting... do you teach your dogs all commands in both languages? Sorry, for the hijack, I just find this really interesting.


To the OP... I would also quit and take some more time at home. Maybe try a reward of a toy instead.

Thanks for responding. :)

You know, now that I think about it, I really should report her for letting the big dogs jump all over the small dogs like that. She made us feel like we were being too overprotective if we complained or said anything or picked up our dogs. But man, I am so not the kind of person to want to "report someone to the manager." I know this is kind of silly but I am afraid she will know it was me that reported her, and I hate to make enemies. :(

The trainer you had sounds like a much better example of what I imagine a trainer to be. Was the class WITH the humane society or was it just held there? I honestly dont know where else to look for training classes around here

I would quit this group and find a professional trainer who works from a training centre and not a pet store. JMO but I don't think trainers who work in the stores are the best. JMHO

I am unsure if I am too leniant. I havent seen many other people train their dogs and everyone was really nice to their dog in the class. I mean, there was little girl in the class with her old grandmother and they were very sweet. The little girl got her puppy to sit with the food treats--i helped her. I was not poo-pooing pebbles and letting her do what she wanted. I was really trying to get her attention at me and what we were doing. I had food AND treats. I had my foot down on her leash and she would just move around and look at everything but me. I had to literally hold her face in my hand and force her to look at me at one point. I was not mean though, just firm. I think it really does work a lot easier when they actually like "the reward/food" you give them.

I had the same problem when I took Murphy to puppy kindergarten at Petsmart last summer. There was a mix of small and big dogs, but the trainer favored the big dogs. I kept telling the trainer I was having trouble with Murphy coming to me and wanted some tips. She kept telling me to wait until it was taught in class. By the time it was taught Murphy had such bad habits with come, I am still dealing with it one year later. The trainer also did not separate the big dogs from the small dogs at socialization. As the weeks went on the bigger dogs kept getting larger. Murphy got hurt once,so I would always make excuses of why we had to leave early each week. The trainer kept telling me I was overprotected- I didn't care- I was not going to put my puppy in danger.
I am now taking Murphy for classes at the daycare he goes to occasionally. There are only four dogs and 2 trainers, and it cost the same as Petsmart. So, I would consider finding something that fits your need.I really think any class that you take depends on the trainer-not the place.

No I think you are right. I am coming to realize this. I kinda thought they would hire "a professional," but now I am thinking they hire just about anyone with certain qualifications. Its probably just like how they hire their horrible, non-listening "groomers--just really inexperienced people doing the job and taking the easiest way out.

I would definitely quit and ask for my money back. That trainer is ill-trained herself! She is not only putting the small dogs at risk, but also Petco for a lawsuit! You should explain why you are quitting and maybe in the future they will be more careful of whom they hire. Do a google search for a dog training club in your county. There is a great one in my neighboring county with many fun things to join and very experienced and seasoned trainers in all aspects of obedience and competition. Good luck

Oh my god, that is JUST what is happening. She totally favors the big dogs--in class and during socalization. At socalization (this is held on a separate day for a hour twice a week) she does not separate the small and big dogs and the big dogs are out there growling, biting and rolling around. She totally acts like pebbles is too fou-fou and does not address the problems that come with having a very tiny dog. Its like she doesnt realize (or sympathize) that they can get really hurt. She totally makes me feel that i am being too overprotective and she makes pebbles run around in the area with the big dogs. I am so afraid something bad will happen and pebbles will be scared of other dogs. This is not what I want!! She also made a comment about pebbles carrier and said something like pebbles needs to learn how to walk. Ugh, pebbles walks very well on a leash thank you very much and I do not take her to most places with a carrier. It was just condescening, and I couldnt put my finger on it until I just read what you wrote. When you wrote that the big dogs got larger... ugh.. i can totally see it now. Chaos and small dogs shivering in the corner. :thumbdown

I know the trainer I had was not a "Professional." The next to the last class she said in front of everyone- In order for the dogs to get playtime Murphy has to do the command we were working on (Can't remember what one) I was soo embarrassed. If graduation wasn't the next week I would not have been back. I didn't complain, but looking back I should have. At Petsmart if you are not satisfied you can take the class again for free. There was no way I was going back

Your pup was in danger. I would not go back.

Maybe my trainer has a twin living in Florida.;) She would always comment on me carrying Murphy in the store. Murphy was still getting his puppy shots.
I was ok with him being around other puppies, but I was not going to let him out and about with the other dogs in the store. Were the other dogs up to date on their vacines?
I started to take Murphy to the daycare by my house. They have small dog playtime every Sat. for 2 hours. I also joined a small breed meet-up. Then, I started to leave him at daycare occassionaly where he came in contact with bigger dogs, but under supervision. I have to say, Murphy now gets along with all sizes of dogs, but always under supervision.

There are reputable organizations you can belong to as a trainer but there is no dog training license. Just like you can go to grooming school but there is also no grooming license. Sometimes I think people assume this because you have to have a license to cut hair, for example.

Anyway, while there are some good trainers at Petsmarts/Petcos (maybe they work there for the benefits or something) there could also be an unqualified person who only attended their two day seminar. I can say that after doing obedience classes with Loki and reading training books, I could teach the basic class at PetCo. Sit/Stay/Down/Come/Leave It are not all that difficult to explain and demonstrate. It's the nuances of working with multiple dogs and learning to read their body language that a true trainer learns.

You should get your money back and find an independent positive reinforcement trainer. Good signs are if she lets you use a harness and doesn't insist on a collar, suggests you bring her favorite treats to class, and suggests you never "punish" your dog.

Lots of places will offer small dog classes, you just have to look around.

yes i do...hehe...

your daycare sounds nice. I wish I could find something like that around here.

I have no idea if these dogs are up to date on shots. On the paper for the class it says to bring in the papers to prove shots on the first class. Well today was the first class, and I did not see her checking papers at all.

To be honest I get the feeling the trainer doesnt like me specifically... I have asked her questions after class and she ignores me/acts like she doesnt hear, and goes to help someone else. I know she heard me. I am talking just as loud as the others. It is frustrating. I hate when people don't treat me well for no good reason.

I'm tellin' ya - that was appalling that she allowed LARGE dogs jump on tiny ones - my jaw was on the floor. You have every right to be angry and frustrated.

For my class, it was held there - but it was also sponsored by the H.A. and she was so incredible. They aren't doing the classes anymore, but I think they will again. So, maybe check out your local agency? In my area, I've also seen ads in little local newspapers, Pet newsapers, Community Class flyers. Also, even check yellow pages, google search your area, ask at a pet boutique maybe?

that is true also...but sometimes all my babies wanted was all the good girl/rub at the end...hehe...i guess every dog is different...I recently had MeiLing in confirmation class and she didn't care about the treats....all she cared about was the dogs in the class...which were huge...so am re-enrolling next time around because by then she will older and her attention span has grown...

Okay, NOW I'm going to kick her A$$.

I had no idea there are no licences to be had for training or grooming :eek: that is scary, and explains a lot of those horror stories about taking dogs to groomers at petsmart/petco.

I also read two books on training and they were positive reinforcement. It said to never push your dog into position. So I have never done that. I was surprised when she told me to push pebbles down to make her sit.

Whats weird is she said those things, bring harness, and bring favorite treats... I think she believes in punishment though

do it! do it! do it! hehe

I felt the same way. You and I seem so much alike. I would get your money back,and find somewhere else to go. Looking back, I wished I did. I paid for the class with giftcards, so I knew i would not get the cash back and needed the cash to pay for another trainer. I also have more time in the summer and knew I didn't have time to find something else. So,overall I wasted my money. I learned a few things, but like you I felt she did not like Murphy or me.

never LIked petco, not even going there. i like pet smart better.

LOL please come fly here and do it. She is a rather large woman and I am small :p

I would go elsewhere and ask for a refund. This "trainer" doesn't seem very knowledgable in dog training. I have always been told you should NEVER force your dog into a sit or any other position. Once they sit on their own, you praise like crazy and treat.

Can I give you some advice you could work on w/your baby that worked w/mine? Mckenzie is very hard to train and I read this in the book "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Gellar, I believe.

You go into a smaller room w/no distractions like a bathroom and just sit there with treats. Once your furbaby sits, lays, or whatever you want them to do on their own w/o any instruction you praise like crazy saying sit sit sit or down down down or whatever the command is and treat.

There's no force and they did the action on their own, and they will connect that sitting, ect = treat.

I really hope you can get your money back. It seems like the trainer isn't addressing the needs of all the dogs in the class and isn't interested in making the owners comfortable.

THATS great advice

how sad is it when you feel your trainer doesnt like you?! youd think theyd have better "bedside manner" :p

I am going to call tomorrow and try and get a refund. Then after I get my money back I will talk to the manager about this woman. I hope they do not give me a hard time because the class was postponed a month, and try to say my two class days have passed :mad: I will be really mad then.

I know she will know it was me who complained though. It will be obvious--she will not see me back in class. But whatever, its not like we were best friends anyway :)

I agree with not going back...it just doesn't sound like a safe and nurturing way to learn.

As far as treats go, Tucker is insanely picky, too. He hates all biscuit type treats. I spent lots and lots of money trying to find treats that were healthy and motivating. What finally worked are Dogswell Chicken Breast strips (they come in duck and liver, too, if your little one is sensitive to chicken). I break them into tiny pieces and he goes NUTS for them!

Good luck!