A few thoughts about dog trainers

Ok - so this blog isn't just about MY Beagles or MY dogs or even dogs. Who knows what all I will write about here. Tonight I am writing about how I feel about certain dog trainers - not just about specific trainers either. I have a problem with one dog trainer bashing another.

First a little background - I am fairly new to training my dogs, especially when I have a certain goal in mind when I am doing it. I have been around dogs most of my life - most were family pets when I was growing up - they were trained to be good, family pets and considering what I know now - we were really lucky they turned out as well as they did. Oh there was no abuse or physical harm but by today's standards, our family method was a bit archaic. Even when I moved out and had my own, I admit that I was somewhat ignorant of just what the dogs could learn and at that time, I felt that there was really no need for formal obedience training.

More background - then, when I got my first Beagle - Shiloh Beaglebrat - a little over 6 years ago, all that changed. Of course by that time the Internet played a role in my life as I started doing some research on the breed. Then I joined a couple of online groups about Beagles as well as a couple of groups for people with any breed - purebred or mixed. The MAJOR theme in raising Beagles I was told, Beagles NEED obedience training - a class or with a trainer 1:1. The class was preferred because of the socialization your Beagle gets and if you can start when the dog is still a fairly young pup, that is even better. So a couple of months after I got Shiloh, we were off to our first obedience class. It was ok but there were only a couple of other members in the class and 1 of those dropped out after a couple of classes - we completed the session and Shiloh learned a handfull of basic commands. Since that time, he has completed 3 additional levels of obedience training, has earned his Canine Good Citizen standing from the American Kennel Club, is now into his 4th year as a Delta Society Pet Partner (we visit places like nursing homes and a hospice as well as he has gone to a shelter for victims of domestic violence) and he is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D.) where we go to our local library where children can read to him. When I heard that the breeder I got Shiloh from was now breeding(responsibly) his sister, I decided at that time I would love to have one of those pups if at all possible. So that is how Shasta Beaglebrat joined our little family in November of 2006. From the very beginning I decided that I wanted Shasta to follow in her uncle's pawprints - we are beginning what I hope will be our final level of obedience training tomorrow and then she will be evaluated for her CGC and therapy dog standing this fall (2009).

Ok - now back to the original theme of this writing - why does one dog trainer feel the need to bash another? So in comparison to many who train dogs especially those professional dog trainers - I am a relative newbie. But I feel like I have learned a lot in those few short years. And it's not just the classes I have been to with Shiloh or Shasta but the research I have done online or in books, seminars I have attended or even watching television shows about training dogs. I don't advocate any one certain trainer. What I do is try anything from ANY trainer that I think will work with the Beaglebratz. If one thing doesn't work then I move on and try something else, whether it be from the trainer I like or not. The one underlying theme I do insist on - that of positive reinforcement. I will not use punishment to get any dog to do what is best for BOTH of us

Ok - this installment in my blog is now way more than I first intended. Besides, it is bedtime for me and the Beaglebratz.

More of my beagles

Have to add a little about my little girl Beagle before we all head for bed. Shasta (Tess's Sparkling Shasta) is my little Beagle girl who turned 17 months old yesterday, 3-8-08. She is on her way to becoming my 2nd therapy dog - Beagles really do make some of the best visiting therapy dogs. Last year, Shasta successfully graduated from basic obedience but due to my finances, we were not able to continue until now - she is quite smart and we are now working on intermediate obedience classes. I hope to be able to complete our evaluation for therapy dog this fall - after she earns her Canine Good Citizen standing.

Back to Shiloh a bit - since he really is the one who started my love affair with the Beagle. Besides being a visiting therapy dog (we are a Pet Partner team through Delta Society), a little over a year ago, I participated in a day-long seminar so that we could qualify as a Reading Education Assistance Dog team or R.E.A.D. Shiloh and I (there are also other Pet Partner's/R.E.A.D.) go in to our city library where young children can take turns reading to the dogs. This method has been proven to aid in a child's reading development. More on this later - time for bed now.

To begin ..............

I'm sorry if I burst anyone's bubble but ANY DOG will bite if there is reason - and that is not your reason or mine but the DOG's reasoning. Have you ever been bitten by a Cocker Spaniel? I have. Have you ever been bitten by a West Highland White Terrier? Again, I have. Have you ever been bitten by a small mixed-breed dog(Yorki-Poo)? And one more time, I have. I have seen with my own eyes a Pekinese attack a woman's husband simply because he wanted to sit beside his own wife on the sofa. I have seen Labrador Retrievers chase their owner simply because the owner wanted to take them for a walk.As anyone who owns a Beagle will tell you - a Beagle is NOT for everyone. I happen to own 2 Beagles and it is HIGHLY unlikely I will ever own any other breed, ever! And, just because someone only READS they aren't trainable - that does NOT make it true. Until you actually own at least one of these magnificent animals - DON'T pass judgement on them. One of my Beagles (which, by the way, are purebreds and registered with the American Kennel Club) visits in nursing homes and at a hospice and goes to the library where children take turns reading to him - you try being a small dog and have to tolerate a small child poking fingers in your ears and climbing on you. This dog has also earned his Canine Good Citizen award from the AKC - a series of tasks that a dog must perform to test behavior/temperament. My other Beagle has successfully completed her basic level of obedience training - will soon enter her intermediate level and continue training for her therapy dog standing. I talk with many who own Beagles and would not own any other breed. Beagles are listed as #5 as the most popular breed in the AKC.I do hope you include this reply in your blog - isolated incidence of what you experienced does not make a viscious dog. And besides, usually if a dog becomes aggressive - it has, in some way, either been provoked by a human or the dog has not been properly trained and/or handled.