Originally Posted by yorkieusa (Post 3399734)

Is this where you say, "My yorkie can make it down the driveway in 8 seconds. Can you?":D

Originally Posted by roseylovestosho (Post 3400026)

I thought about it last night and this morning and I've decided to stay in the class for the following reasons:
1) The Tallahassee Dog Obedience Club is a nonprofit organization, so none of the trainers are being paid. The money for the classes goes to materials, etc to keep the place open.
2) Even though the actual trainer (the one that made the comment about the collar) has not behaved in a matter that is completely inappropriate (like the one substitute trainer from last night)
3) I'm not a quitter. Usually, when put in situations like these I work twice as hard to prove everyone wrong, and my training with Teddy will not be an exception. He is going to be the best in that class and she will have to eat her words as she watches from the sidelines.

This woman's comments (or anyone else's for that matter) is not going to stop me from enjoying my time/training with Teddy and his issues with leash walking (dragging) is my fault because he's been walked everyday for the past month and I have not found a way to correct it, and so he has been conditioned to think that pulling is okay. This is different and more challenging to handle than teaching your dog from day one (which is the case with a lot of people there). That is just my opinion of course, it may or may not be true. Point is, I'm there to work with Teddy and if anyone has a problem with it, quite frankly they can kiss Teddy's furry butt!:animal36

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3399877)

You would be surprized the number of people that have problems with Yorkies (and their owners). They think they are coddled little brats and that the owners are responsible for it.

I would stay, but just realize that she's making an a$$ out of herself. How do you think the others in the class felt about her comment? Probably thanking their lucky stars that is was you and not them the trainer singled out, and also think the trainer was rude.

She obviously knows nothing about Yorkies... I would be sure to bring him to class in a fully rhinestone studded halter with matching lead, and booties or sandals (his feet are too precious to even touch the floor!) and a beautiful topnot and bow each week.

Also, this was the first class? Duh, why does she think you were there? And you get to pay for abuse?

I didn't realize abuse was on the schedule... or do you charge extra for that???

If he knew how to walk on a leash, would I even be here?

Oh, he knows all this, I'm just here for a refresher course. Plus, I just love the verbal abuse. They should give you a raise!

Oh, really, I don't care if he gets trained or not... I just have nothing better to do on Wednesday nights.... I thought the socialization would be good for both of us.

I accept the fact that a lot of people don't 'get' Yorkies... do you have to be so obvious?

Bend down and quickly cover Teddy's ears with your hands, and then look up and say (in your most serious tone) Please don't say stuff like that when he can hear you.... it'll hurt his feelings and he'll be depressed all week!

Pick him up and cuddle him then in baby talk say ' Oh Teddy, you poor baby, did you hear what that mean, old trainer said about you?' Then, act like he said something to you...' What did you say? You want me to say what? Okay... he said, 'ruff you!' Come on sweetie, let's go home and we'll have some ice cream and cookies, and I'll fluff up your pillow and we'll go to sleep in the big bed and forget this night ever happened!

I don't really care if he learns how to walk or not... I carry him everywhere anyway!

That should be enough to get you through class.... let me know if you need more! :D

Originally Posted by joeys mom (Post 3399718)

Oh, heck no I wouldn't find another class....I would march myself and my baby right back in there and ask just what was it he wasn't doing correctly...keeping an open mind to what she might say...after all, you are paying for this class....right??? After I listened to her and came to a mutual understanding of what she thought the problems was and what needed to be done to correct it....I would then proceed to explain to her that I was paying for their help in getting my baby to behave correctly not for him to be pointed out as a problem child....because to me, he is just that MY CHILD... and if you want trouble with a proud moma.....just do it again...then I would turn and leave until the class started, to get my point across...I would turn back around and say by the way...we have been working on ATTACK and he does much better at that , you wanta try it out???

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3399877)

You would be surprized the number of people that have problems with Yorkies (and their owners). They think they are coddled little brats and that the owners are responsible for it.

I would stay, but just realize that she's making an a$$ out of herself. How do you think the others in the class felt about her comment? Probably thanking their lucky stars that is was you and not them the trainer singled out, and also think the trainer was rude.

She obviously knows nothing about Yorkies... I would be sure to bring him to class in a fully rhinestone studded halter with matching lead, and booties or sandals (his feet are too precious to even touch the floor!) and a beautiful topnot and bow each week.

Also, this was the first class? Duh, why does she think you were there? And you get to pay for abuse?

I didn't realize abuse was on the schedule... or do you charge extra for that???

If he knew how to walk on a leash, would I even be here?

Oh, he knows all this, I'm just here for a refresher course. Plus, I just love the verbal abuse. They should give you a raise!

Oh, really, I don't care if he gets trained or not... I just have nothing better to do on Wednesday nights.... I thought the socialization would be good for both of us.

I accept the fact that a lot of people don't 'get' Yorkies... do you have to be so obvious?

Bend down and quickly cover Teddy's ears with your hands, and then look up and say (in your most serious tone) Please don't say stuff like that when he can hear you.... it'll hurt his feelings and he'll be depressed all week!

Pick him up and cuddle him then in baby talk say ' Oh Teddy, you poor baby, did you hear what that mean, old trainer said about you?' Then, act like he said something to you...' What did you say? You want me to say what? Okay... he said, 'ruff you!' Come on sweetie, let's go home and we'll have some ice cream and cookies, and I'll fluff up your pillow and we'll go to sleep in the big bed and forget this night ever happened!

I don't really care if he learns how to walk or not... I carry him everywhere anyway!

That should be enough to get you through class.... let me know if you need more! :D

Originally Posted by roseylovestosho (Post 3400026)

I thought about it last night and this morning and I've decided to stay in the class for the following reasons:
1) The Tallahassee Dog Obedience Club is a nonprofit organization, so none of the trainers are being paid. The money for the classes goes to materials, etc to keep the place open.
2) Even though the actual trainer (the one that made the comment about the collar) has not behaved in a matter that is completely inappropriate (like the one substitute trainer from last night)
3) I'm not a quitter. Usually, when put in situations like these I work twice as hard to prove everyone wrong, and my training with Teddy will not be an exception. He is going to be the best in that class and she will have to eat her words as she watches from the sidelines.

This woman's comments (or anyone else's for that matter) is not going to stop me from enjoying my time/training with Teddy and his issues with leash walking (dragging) is my fault because he's been walked everyday for the past month and I have not found a way to correct it, and so he has been conditioned to think that pulling is okay. This is different and more challenging to handle than teaching your dog from day one (which is the case with a lot of people there). That is just my opinion of course, it may or may not be true. Point is, I'm there to work with Teddy and if anyone has a problem with it, quite frankly they can kiss Teddy's furry butt!:animal36

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3400125)

To the OP... I'm glad to see you went back... I hate letting 'people' ruin my plans... the important thing is for you to work with Teddy in a group situation. I know with my dog, half the time if I couldn't get her to do what was expected, she was able to pick up on it from seeing the other dogs doing it. I do remember our trainer being more of a drill sargent...

Also, when I found my class, there were no PetSmarts or Petcos that offered training classes, and I have my doubts with them anyway... one day I was in Petsmart and a guy was trying to teach his English Bulldog puppy to 'sit'. Well, after 5 minutes or so the dog finally sat, and he didn't do anything... no 'good boy', no click or reward, and I kept thinking OMG, how's he ever going to know he did the right thing?

Just tell Teddy for me: This month, Tallahassee, next month Madison Square Gardens!

PS: It may help to tire him out a bit before class, and if you walk faster it won't look like he's pulling as much! Keep him at your left leg, shorten the leasd so he can't get past your leg to start pulling, make a lot of left turns where you have to step in front of him, so complete left circles and figure eights might help him. He should begin to watch your feet for direction, but when they get frustrated they will try to bite your shoe...

I'm sure you'll both do just fine... Good Luck!:D

Originally Posted by deonk1 (Post 3400033)

Just wanted to throw my two sense worth in... if you have a perfect dog, then whats the point of puppy class again? I think it's to learn how to train a perfect dog, not to show off one... :)
I started puppy classes (level 2) last week, and don't get me wrong I love the trainer, but she wasn't asking nearly as much out of Harley and I (we were the only small dog) Like when it came to "down" she said, oh you may have to pick him up and put him on a chair cause his belly may get cold on the floor, so to humor her I grabbed his little bath mat that we use for down, and made him down on that and I took him over a bit and made him down on the rubber mat floor. I dunno but in my opinion I think I had the best down there hehehe. :D