K9 security Ireland

dobman88

Hi guys, hoping someone can give me some information from a personal experience of K9 security Ireland.

I have a close friend, whose opinion I would trust, that just collected her German Shepherd after a 3 week stay with them. She has said it was a fantastic experience and highly recommend it. We are thinking about booking our German Shepherd in for a fortnight for some obedience and on the lead training, we have had a few trainers work with him and we have continued things on their advice but he is still aggressive with other dogs when out for walks. He is the most loveable pet at home and plays and everything no problem with our other dog, a Jack Russell collie cross. Ita just out and about is always a huge issue and he looks super stressed any time we bring him to somewhere even remotely busy.

I've also spent the whole evening researching it and have found a few less than favourable videos. I've also read their "clarification" on their Instagram account in which they tried to explain the incident doing the rounds.

I don't want people to start bashing the company with whataboutery, I've seen the most recent video. I'm looking for personal experience if possible, good and bad.

Thanks for any help.

con747

No experience with them but they appear to specialise in working dogs and guard dogs. I know you said you tried other trainers but would you not try them again? A good dog trainer should be able to rectify the aggression and stress he feels.

tk123

How in the name of god are you thinking of sending your dog there after watching that video?

Training is as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog. You build up a bond and trust with the dog, you don’t send it off to be shocked or strangled by a ‘trainer’.

There seems to be this belief that GSD’s need to be trained with a heavy hand..You don’t need to shock or choke or punish dogs to train them - no matter the breed ... or nationality of the trainer.

dobman88

tk123 wrote: »

How in the name of god are you thinking of sending your dog there after watching that video?

Training is as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog. You build up a bond and trust with the dog, you don’t send it off to be shocked or strangled by a ‘trainer’.

There seems to be this belief that GSD’s need to be trained with a heavy hand..You don’t need to shock or choke or punish dogs to train them - no matter the breed ... or nationality of the trainer.

I dont believe GSD need a heavy hand and if I fpind someone doing that to my dog or even touching my dog inappropriately I'd go through them.

As I said, I read their clarification on Instagram and the majority of things I've heard are good so maybe that video was what they said it was and someone trying to tarnish them.

I have no intention of sending him off to be shocked or strangled which is why I was hoping some here might have first hand experience of the company.

dobman88

con747 wrote: »

No experience with them but they appear to specialise in working dogs and guard dogs. I know you said you tried other trainers but would you not try them again? A good dog trainer should be able to rectify the aggression and stress he feels.

Yes but they also specialise in socialising and on the lead training which is what my friends dog was trained for.

Unfortunately I wouldnt try the trainers we have used again, one person gave up on him for being too much work after he came highly recommended from a neightbour with a GSD also, another person did 1 session with him and said they couldnt help him. And another person we have used is never available and seems to work with smaller dogs.

We are doing our best to try and train him, especially the last few months with a lot of free time but we need someone to show us the way also.

I want the best for him and want to do right by the dog so that's why I'm doing my research before thinking about getting any training for him

VonVix

tk123 wrote: »

Training is as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog. You build up a bond and trust with the dog, you don’t send it off to be shocked or strangled by a ‘trainer’.

There seems to be this belief that GSD’s need to be trained with a heavy hand..You don’t need to shock or choke or punish dogs to train them - no matter the breed ... or nationality of the trainer.

This 100%

I have a German Shepherd who would be easily called a handful, his lineage has many working dogs in it. Truth is, they are a sensitive, thoughtful and expressive breed. They need training with understanding, like any dog really, but a GSD needs routine and a job to do. My boy is 5 years old now, he's by no means perfect in behaviour (no dog is), but understanding why a dog does what they do, is half the battle when it comes to training.

Don't let someone else do the work for you, especially training that isn't coming from a science based direction.

I wouldn't let them within a hundred feet of my dog OP.

Anyone who trains your dog for you isn't worth their salt. A proper trainer instructs the owner on how to train their dog which is best all round for a number of reasons such as bonding as pointed out by TK. Not to mention being able to keep an eye on the methods used and have your say in whether its appropriate for your dog. And learning skills for yourself along the way that might help you with any future issues or just with your own training at home. You've been given a good look at what goes on behind closed doors there so I don't know why you're still considering them really.

Maybe you'd like to share your general area with us and someone might be able to recommend a good and reputable trainer to work WITH you. Or have you gone on the apdt website and entered your area to find a properly qualified trainer who will only use positive reinforcement training?

There's a large amount of unqualified trainers in this country using all sorts of questionable methods, to put it lightly or just not up to the task. Using apdt ensures your getting someone with real qualifications and humane methods.

dobman88

You've described exactly what we are looking for, someone to work with us and train us how to train him. Hes a brilliant dog and shows so much potential. But after 2 years and 3 trainers we are losing faith in ourselves tbh. Always second guessing ourselves if we are doing the right thing or not which is why I was looking into getting him trained but after what you've posted, that makes more sense than sending him for training.

We just want someone that wont give up on him cos we think with a bit of work he would be an amazing dog. All we want is him not going mental at other dogs on walks and to be less stressed when out. He went through the ringer before we got him so we want to do everything we can to do right by him.

dobman88

dobman88 wrote: »

You've described exactly what we are looking for, someone to work with us and train us how to train him. Hes a brilliant dog and shows so much potential. But after 2 years and 3 trainers we are losing faith in ourselves tbh. Always second guessing ourselves if we are doing the right thing or not which is why I was looking into getting him trained but after what you've posted, that makes more sense than sending him for training.

We just want someone that wont give up on him cos we think with a bit of work he would be an amazing dog. All we want is him not going mental at other dogs on walks and to be less stressed when out. He went through the ringer before we got him so we want to do everything we can to do right by him.

I think Apdt is your best bet by a long shot. You can search trainers by county on their .ie website. Some areas may only have one trainer and others might have a few. If you have a few and your unsure who to pick I think it would probably be ok to post here for opinions but honestly with those trainers you should be good with whoever you choose. If you need a behaviourist you can find one there or the trainer you choose will refer you to one if they feel that's what's best.

tk123

dobman88 wrote: »

You've described exactly what we are looking for, someone to work with us and train us how to train him. Hes a brilliant dog and shows so much potential. But after 2 years and 3 trainers we are losing faith in ourselves tbh. Always second guessing ourselves if we are doing the right thing or not which is why I was looking into getting him trained but after what you've posted, that makes more sense than sending him for training.

We just want someone that wont give up on him cos we think with a bit of work he would be an amazing dog. All we want is him not going mental at other dogs on walks and to be less stressed when out. He went through the ringer before we got him so we want to do everything we can to do right by him.

The biggest help for me was having somebody come here and look what what we were doing already, how we could improve, come for a walk with us etc etc. The trainer should be working with you, not against you as you've realised.
We grew up with a GSD, it wasn't until 20+ years later when I got my own dog and were at a training workshop that I learned GSDs could make all these different noises lol - I don't think I'd ever heard our guy bark!...:p

dobman88

Ok, we checked out that ADPT site this evening and have loads of options near us so we will use that route. And we've decided to not even consider k9 security place because apart from not knowing how he would be treated, we would bloody miss the goofy fcuker.

Thanks to those that made helpful replies.

If a mod could close this for me now as I feel I've got what I needed. Thanks.

DBB

Thread closed at OP's request

With mod hat off... as an owner and trainer of working GSDs who has also worked with dogs that were mentally scarred coming from this and other similar places, you're making the right choice OP