WKD dog training

[ginandflorick]

Anyone done the online training program or had a 1-2-1 with WKD trained dogs in Staffs? Have a an adolescent dog with no recall who barks at other dogs when on lead because all he wants to do is play with them but sounds like he wants to eat them! Looking for training options but it's a minefield. Have done puppy class and one session with a 'trainer' but didn't make a lot of difference. Thank you in advance for any advice.

[ginandflorick]

Ps. He's great around the house just a challenge on walks. Pretty certain WE need training as much as him!

[BiteyShark]

Recall takes practice practice and more practice over months in a teenage dog.

One training session won't transform recall. Did you just have one because you weren't happy with them?

What breed is your dog? Asking as it helps to understand what motivated them.

[ginandflorick]

Thank you for your message. We have been working on recall for the last few months but he's very good at choosing when to comply! We had 1 session with a trainer (recommended by a friend) and after 2 weeks of following that trainer's advice and techniques have still seen no improvement at all which is why I'm continuing to work with him but also exploring other options. DDog is a terrier so we know that they have strong characters and we are willing to put the work in but we also need some guidance. Am exploring lots of options and just wondered if anyone had experience of WKD.

[ThinkingIsAllowed]

They don't look great. Look at Dog Training Support and Advice group on Facebook instead.

[fivedogstofeed]

There was a thread on here a few years back- it may have been deleted after complaints from the owners of WKD. AFAIK there was one poster with an apparently positive experience and several with fairly awful ones.

My concerns are that WKD will not answer any questions about what kind of training methods they use, and also that the dogs in their photographs all look very frightened. They're also very cagey about where the dogs they are selling actually come from.

Also, there is honestly no such thing as a 'pre-trained dog' - training is as much about the owner.

[ginandflorick]

Thank you for your responses. We are not looking to get a trained dog, more I am looking for training for us and our DDog as we definitely need it too. I have thought it strange that you can only find good reviews for them anywhere online which is why I thought I'd ask here. I'll check out the mentioned Facebook group too, thank you.

[pigsDOfly]

With an adolescent dog you need to keep on training and training with recall and hold your breath until adolescence has passed.

Even puppies with great recall will go off the rails when they become teenagers. One session with a trainer and two weeks of training is not going to cut it.

My dog was on a long trailing training lead for months around her adolescence as I didn't trust her not to ignore my instructions and she had a brilliant recall before adolescence hit.

If you feel you need training yourself, find yourself a good local trainer who can teach you what you what you need to be doing and do some reading around the subject, a book titled 'Total Recall by Pippa Mattinson is often recommended on here - it's generally about training the owner - get yourself a good long training lead, not an extending lead, be patient and be prepared to work hard.

A good strong recall doesn't happen overnight you need to put the work in, especially with a teenage terrier.

[fivedogstofeed]

Also, this is interesting about WKD.
one of their dogs that apparently didn't make the standard...

[vanillandhoney]

Best thing to do for now is pop him in a harness and use a long line - that way he can run and exercise but he can't run off and practise the wrong behaviour iyswim.

However some dogs will always struggle with recall - around here they all tend to be terriers I'm afraid to sayI walk a 3yo terrier who has no concept of recall at all, even with high value treats or toys. She's good in the house but as soon as you go out of the house, there's no chance! She's kept on a long lead on all her walks.

[ginandflorick]

Thank you all for your input. We are already working with a harness and training line and I am actively looking for training help so keep your fingers crossed for us and our DDog, I will NOT give up!

[pigsDOfly]

Would just add, find your dog's highest value treats, for my dog it was dried chicken liver, and use those for recall and only recall.

Also don't be afraid of making a spectacle of yourself in the park in order to make your dog think you're good fun to come back to: use your most excited upbeat voice and lot's of exciting games and running around.

Good luck.

[RhaegalsRaven]

Yeah I’ve bought the lifelong membership and they know what they’re doing, I totally recommend Matt and the team, you notice a difference within 20 mins of starting his techniques 😊

[Hotchocolatewithcream]

I remember the thread from years ago, it very much came across that the one positive owner, think they had a Vizla from memory was an employee or family member or similar.
Much like the poster above..

I have read a few articles/posts by Matt and I will admit he does come across knowledgeable and friendly to me.

That said, I do agree that many of the photographs of featured dogs don’t look terribly happy, they are mostly all closed mouths, tense eyes, not engaging etc.
I agree that the sourcing of the dogs seems a little suspicious.

I think Matt is what would be termed a ‘balanced’ trainer if I remember rightly, as in he uses both praise and correction, I am happy to be corrected if I’m remembering wrong though!

I’m not necessarily against balanced training but the appearance of the dogs is enough for me to say I’d personally avoid.

[Toomanycases]

Have you looked at Absolute Dogs? They train through playing games. We did the Sexier than a Squirrel program through lockdown and did see some improvement. We then went on to do the 21 days to stress free walks. Have a look, it’s run by a vet behaviourist and a lady who runs a dog training centre. She won crufts with her little spaniel blink.

[Hotchocolatewithcream]

For example, this is a screenshot of two family dogs currently for sale.
Maybe I’m misinterpreting, I’m just an owner after all, but I see tension in both dogs, angled back ears and possibly a body angled back in the Jack, dilated pupils, eyes that don’t look relaxed, they just seem to have a ‘worried’ look about them.

[Hotchocolatewithcream]

More examples.
They just don’t look like happy dogs to me.
They look (to my amateur eye) like dogs that are a bit shut down, I would assume, from overly negative/corrections based training.

[Hotchocolatewithcream]

This one especially I find really upsetting, perhaps because I have a collie myself.
Everything about this dog’s body language screams frightened to me.

I think no matter how well and professional the owner may come across, no matter how fancy the webpage, no matter how good the reviews may seem, the images of the dogs, imo, do not come across well.

[Hotchocolatewithcream]

Just realised this is from July

[somethinginthewater]

Those photos look like the ones you see of dogs that have just been admitted to the pound/picked up as strays. Upsetting.

[Violet9]

I wonder what the recent deleted comments were about??