Dog Training.

legallyblonde86

Can anyone tell me if its worth sending my dog away to be trained? My boyfriend and I do shift work so we cant commit to classes on a weekly basis.

Our dog is a male bullmastiff, just turned one, lovely temperament but very big and he scares some people. All he wants to do is play with other dogs but I can't control him on my own because he's so strong so my boyfriend walks him.

He'll sit and give the paw in the house and he'll return to my boyfriend when he's off the lease in the fields behind our house but would it be worth the money, I've heard it can change their personalities. I'd ;ove to be able to walk him on my own.

Would love to hear your experience/opinion.

Thanks

ISDW

My opinion, no, please don't send him away to be trained. Training has to be the owner and the dog. Can you really not fit one hours training in a week, between the pair of you? Its great fun for you and the dog, and helps you to bond.

legallyblonde86

We do have an hour to spare but due to the different hours we work we can't attend the same classes every week cos we might be working. And generally you've to sign up for training courses over so many weeks.
He's walked daily, just back from a walk now and he's panned out on the mat at my feet but he won't do anything for me! Pain in the @ss. I'll have to shoe horn him off the rug later to get him to go to bed!

ISDW

legallyblonde86 wrote: »

We do have an hour to spare but due to the different hours we work we can't attend the same classes every week cos we might be working. And generally you've to sign up for training courses over so many weeks.
He's walked daily, just back from a walk now and he's panned out on the mat at my feet but he won't do anything for me! Pain in the @ss. I'll have to shoe horn him off the rug later to get him to go to bed!

Yeah sorry, when I read it back, it wasn't quite how I meant to say it.

Where are you based, maybe talk to a few places locally and explain your situation, see if they can let you pay on a weekly basis when you turn up. A lot of people have things come up and can't go every week, I'd hope that training classes would take this into account.

Edited because I see you're in Swords, theres Dog Training Ireland, Blanchardstown, or theres actually one based in Swords that a few people on here have recommended, can't remember the name off the top of my head, will go and have a look for it. Dublin Dog Training it is.

john t

Hi, you can go too estuary trainning, show centre at coachmans, or gaa club oppisite old motorola.. Wheir do you walk him? You meet lots of people in jacko and get tips...

TooManyDogs

Dublin Dog Training is where I take my lot, John is great

Eviemay

At training classes, the trainer simply teaches the owner how to train the dog; it's up to the owner to put in the ground work on a daily basis in order for the training classes to work.

Group training is great from a socialisation point of view with the dog, but if you can't commit to these on a weekly basis, perhaps book a few one on one sessions with a good trainer at times that work best for you.

It's great that you are looking to put in the ground work now as he's growing rather than storing up problems for the future. Good luck in finding a suitable trainer.

Whispered

As said, the trainer does not train the dog, but shows you how to train him, so you wont walk out with a trained dog - there is a lot of home time to be put in too. This works out well for you because you could look at getting a trainer into your house for a one on one session. You'll just need to follow their instructions when they've gone.

falabo

legallyblonde86 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if its worth sending my dog away to be trained? My boyfriend and I do shift work so we cant commit to classes on a weekly basis.

Our dog is a male bullmastiff, just turned one, lovely temperament but very big and he scares some people. All he wants to do is play with other dogs but I can't control him on my own because he's so strong so my boyfriend walks him.

He'll sit and give the paw in the house and he'll return to my boyfriend when he's off the lease in the fields behind our house but would it be worth the money, I've heard it can change their personalities. I'd ;ove to be able to walk him on my own.

Would love to hear your experience/opinion.

Thanks

my advice: under NO circumstances do not EVER leave your dog to be "trained"

* you dont know for sure what methods are being used
* bonding between owner and dog is very important
* attending dog classes is part of good dog onership

catherine1984

I sent my dog away for two weeks training and it was great but unless you are able to continue the training at home its a waste. I didint keep it up and my dog did forget some stuff. I than got a woman to come to my house and she spend half a day with me doing some training and it was excellant. She wasnt very expensive and gave me the knowledge to train the dog to do what I wanted.

You really need to have the time to put the work in even if its jsut 20 minutes a day. ITs all about repatation

axle108

Have you tried talking to some of the trainers regarding that you both work shifts and cant commit to the same time every week. What about every second week. There is an abundance of trainers out there willing to accomodate most people. I've heard the IKC in Cloghran have a pay as you go on a weekly basis. As for sending the dog away to be trained, the dog will be trained by someone else. How will you learn. Its not a case of once a dog is trained anyone can just take the dog and he'll do whatever he's told. There is much more for the owner to learn than the dog. I know many trainers that can have the most unruly dog transformed in no time in their hands, only to hand it back to the owner and its back to mayhem.

To summarise, we as owners need to learn so the dog learns.

gud4u

I looked into a few places for our GSD but decided against it as you still have to put in a lot of work regardless of where you send him.

The methods can be questionable, also depending on what type of training you're looking for. If it's basic behaviour, I opted to have a lady come to my house and teach me, as that is essentially what you need, to be taught yourself. It's little and often after that. I have basic commands on my lot and they walk well on lead.

Some of the places you can send them to teach them to be more than just pets, guard dogs etc, and perhaps this is where you heard that there can be personallity changes.

Your dog sounds like a big lovable fool, just like my GSD, but only we know that;), so use it to your advantage. He might look like a guard dog, but the only threat to anyone is drowning in his drool with licks.

RuggieMuffin

Dog Training Ireland are highly recommended. Near the National Aquatic Centre.

I agree with the above - it's important that YOU train your dog. They show you how to but the training with your dog builds a relationship and bond that your dog will forever respect, and you should too.

I hope you can dedicate the hour a week to a class but even more so the deveral hours that week it takes to actually teach your dog the training. It's worth it!

legallyblonde86

We decided to train him ourselves. He's a stubborn little sh*t but our persistence is paying off. Only real problem I have is when walking him and he sees another dog he goes mental wanting to play with them.
He's 8 stone and very strong. We've a custom muzzle ordered so hopefully we'll have more control over him. Thanks for all your advice

Torqay

legallyblonde86 wrote: »

He's a stubborn little sh*t.

He's 8 stone and very strong.

Calling a "very strong 8 stone bull mastiff" a "stubborn little sh*t"??? Damn right you are to have him "custom muzzled"! :pac::pac::pac:

There is nothing more rewarding than training a dog yourself. Nothing wrong with asking advice or getting guidance, but paying someone to sort out your problems with your dog never pays.