Would YOU take your dog to this trainer?

Question

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/dogtraining/

The "Chicago Dog Whisperer".

Would you take your dog to this "trainer"?

Answer 1

Unfortunately right now because there is no regulation or licensing of dog trainers in the United States anyone can hang a sign in a store front window and become a dog trainer.

This woman sounds highly uneducated and downright cruel. However it is the responsibility of the dog owner to research the training methods of anyone they hire, get references and observe him or her training other dogs before they pay for these service.

I would say that in the world of dog training "buyer beware" is more important then ever!

Answer 2

I would not but I also do not believe in the boot camp style of training. I always tell people that they should train their own dog because the dog will listen to the person who trained it and maybe to the owner for a while, but the problem is the owner never learns how to train their own dog, to give corrections or to solve the problems they may have with the dog.
However I do believe it is also up to the dog owner to fully research any trainer they are considering to train their dog. I think they should speak to several trainers, visit classes and talk to other customers before making a decision.

I do not disagree with the use of e-collars when they are used correctly but from the description of the dog's behavior that was observed, this person was not using the collar as it is intended. She is despicable, she was abusing the dogs that were put in her care and she deserves what she gets.

There are several heavy handed trainers in Chicago. I know one of the trainers mentioned in the article is very heavy handed, I went to that person many years ago. While I was there I saw a dog get kicked in the mouth for breaking a stay. The trainer explained that was the punishment for the dog moving because the dog knew better. The person sounded very knowledgeable, was very personable, the dog owned was impressive but I said good bye and walked away. The bottom line is people have to research, understand and agree with the training techniques used instead of just looking for a quick fix.

Answer 3

Do not know the woman to whom you are reffering to, never heard of her. I do know Fred Hassan that was mentioned in the article and he is a hell of a good trainer, regardless of what anyone says about him. I am huge advocate of E collars. Having said that, let me also state that most people have no idea what an E collar is or what it can do for a dog. People need to realize that not all dogs are created equal and there are dogs that NEED an E collar in order to be trained. What I do not like about that whole article, what I cannot stand in fact, is the negative feedback that will occur now that people, in their ignorance, will look at a wonderful and very useful training device as something made by the Son of Sam to be used as a torture device. The days of E collars being used as such are long gone, there is an entirely new science behing E collar use now and as trainers we need to accept that and include it as part of our training techniques. In the hands of a good trainer, or a person with common sense, an E collar can be a great training tool. Timing is what seperates the pros from the "pet owners".

Answer 4

(quote from the article)
“I’d never seen someone strap a collar around a dog’s genitals before, and when I confronted her, she said something like, ‘I’m just making sure this Bichon will never run into the street and get hit by a car. A live Bichon is better than a dead Bichon.’ . .

Frankly I'd rather be dead than jolted by some dumbass repeatedly at her own will.
This woman is disgusting and I hope she gets the full extent of the charges against her. This is the kind of person that would strap an "ecollor" on a two year old and say it was a working method. Loser...

Answer 5

Any trainer who trains the dog without the owner is unethical. That's because who really needs to be trained is usually the owner. You can't just "drop off" the dog and come back and everything will be rosy. it's like falling for a Nigerian bank scheme but unfortunately this time, the lazy stupid people who fell for it didn't only hurt themselves, they hurt their dogs.

Answer 6

Absolutely not! Used correctly and in the right circumstances, a 'shock collar' can be a wonderful training tool. Used incorrectly (as the "trainer" in the article is doing) the collar is a source of constant pain, fear, and distress to the dog. That's not training.

The majority of people using shock collars have no business using them.

Answer 7

HELL NO! That lady is not a trainer she is an abuser. i would never take my dog to be trained by anyone unless i was give n a referral and witnessed their training methods with me in their presence.

Answer 8

Just like a backyard breeder...abusing animals for money.

America's Funniest Home Videos showed a guy who put one of those on his own neck. His friend or relative hit the remote control and it showed how he jumped and squealed a few times. Before putting on this shock collar, check to see if you could stand it yourself!!!

Answer 9

I have read that article before and quite frankly, I found it sickening. That barbaric woman should be locked up in a small cell with an electric collar strapped to her genitalia for good measure.

Answer 10

This lady is absolutely sick and should be locked up. The sad thing is she probably won't be and move and open up another so called training place.