2006-09-25 16:22:18 · 5 answers · asked by Mr MOJO123 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Not everyone can afford the Dog Whisperer or a professional trainer. After all, are you training this dog to show at Westminster or appear in movies, or do you just want the little guy to behave while you walk him?
I've found that the Petco/PetSmart trainers vary in skills, just like the so-called professional trainers. If a chain store trainer is lousy and abusive to the dog, they usually don't last too long. Pet stores can't afford bad publicity.
We're in 26 of the stores all the time with our shelter work, and I've only observed one trainer that needed training herself. We also see people who yank and scream at their dogs, but never think of rewarding it when it does behave. We wish they would spend the $100.00 just to get a clue.
I've also seen people bring their totally out-of-control brats to a training session along with a basket-case dog, and the trainer then has to work with this wimpy mom who can't control anything in her life. This isn't an easy job, folks.
Since they run about $99.00 for 8 weeks, that's a good deal. They do not beat or screech at the dogs, and use a reward system. They do recommend harnesses and leashes, however and are firm when a hardheaded dog is determined to be the alpha in the household, instead of the human, or if you have a goofy dog endangering itself by not listening (as in "No, stay in the yard!").
My comments are based on personal observations in many of the stores over a period of time. Good luck to you.
2006-09-25 17:08:26 · answer #1 · answered by Charlotte M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With Petco its kind of a tossup, could be good, could be bad. With Petsmart, the 'trainers' I have seen there has no business trying to teach training classes.
Puppy kindergarten would maybe be ok, as long as you don't need any questions answered, but I would not recommend them for actual obedience. Go to a real training club for that.
2006-09-25 23:29:44 · answer #2 · answered by whpptwmn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, some of the classes are great. However, the first class I went to...the instructor picked my dog up by the scruff of it's neck and yanked her because she was misbehaving. She actually tore some of her fur out...I never went back, and I had to walk out, because I didn't want to get arrested for hitting the instructor.
2006-09-25 23:25:14 · answer #3 · answered by Dorothy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope...I train my dogs myself...it's really easy.
2006-09-25 23:26:55 · answer #4 · answered by Shaun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your dome and probably ugly
2006-09-25 23:29:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋