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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This puppy class is fucking ridiculous

93 replies

PuppyChoos · 17/03/2020 15:52

I’ve paid £100 up front for a 6 week course. It seems that everyone else in my class is redoing the same class for the 2nd time as they all know each other and know the trainer. I get there and find a seat. Everyone else does the same. All of a sudden the trainer bursts into the room and screams “puppy party!” And everyone stands up and starts running around around the room screaming. The puppies all start going crazy and a few of them almost get trampled on by the over excited humans. It was fucking bizarre. I remained seated, mouth gaping trying to protect my dog from the madness. All of a sudden the trainer screeches “STOP” and everyone stands dead still, the puppies either look totally confused or carry on attacking each other. She then looks at me and says something about “awww no puppy party??” Confused so I actually said “I’m sorry, I’m confused as to what is happening ... “ and she replies “oh that’s ok! You get used to us!” And they all laugh.

Now after that the first part of the class involved Q&A game such as “where would you take a puppy when it’s po po??” There was a little boy in the group so he had fun answering all the ridiculous questions.

The shenanigans went on. Then the boy was asked to demonstrate something which his lab pup. He literally got a handful of treats and threw them across the class. I thought he was being naughty but no, this is what he’s been told to do. The pup then runs off searching for them the trainer runs around in circles screaming “hungry hippos”

I came out with a headache. I have obviously questioned it all and they tell me they use the most recent science based training methods and there are no refunds. I simply cannot do another class of that shit.

My dog is a working breed. He needs proper training and now I’ve wasted £100 on this shite. AIBU to take it further and maybe even take to social media to make people aware of what they’re paying for?

OP posts:
hennaoj · 17/03/2020 18:45

The dogs trust, dog school is actually useful, and cheaper. Get a refund.

IfYoureNotIntoYoga · 17/03/2020 19:08

Hungry Hippos GrinGrin

Ahh this has actually got me laughing out loud!

IfYoureNotIntoYoga · 17/03/2020 19:09

I might try the Hungry Hippos things with some popcorn and my kids GrinHalo

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2020 19:11

Okkkkayyyy...

I sometimes run a science based, modern methods puppy class...

This does not sound like anything I do.

Were you sent pre-class start up emails detailing what you'd cover, what to expect?

If not, what was the description of the class, the course content, rules/expectations etc?

This really does sound utterly bizarre and dangerous - I might include some off lead work, some fast whizzing about work even... mid course, after everyones settled, with plenty of prior warning, but this doesn't sound remotely like that.

To get a refund however you are likely to need to demonstrate it was not as advertised, so check the description and any emails you were sent prior to attending.

This really is NOT how puppy classes should be run, and certainly isn't how any I've run, or indeed any modern, positive reinforcement based class I have attended has been run!

altiara · 17/03/2020 19:17

That sounds awful and really frightening for a small puppy.
I found puppy training mostly involved training the owner to be consistent, calm and to mean what you say. When you watch dog training programmes, it’s always the owner doing something wrong (same with super nanny training up parents to parent their children).

RedRiverHog · 17/03/2020 20:25

My dog would excel at 'Hungry Hippos'!

Fr0g · 17/03/2020 20:29

why on earth do people go back?

Fr0g · 17/03/2020 20:38

how about asking your vet for recommendations of local classes?

Alsohuman · 17/03/2020 20:42

Your poor puppy, it must be traumatised.

Parkandride · 17/03/2020 20:55

This has made my day Grin

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/03/2020 20:56

Can we see photo of that traumatised little puppy?

Purely so we can judge the extent of her suffering?

forrestgreen · 17/03/2020 21:16

I'd ask her what exactly she thought your pup had learnt in this lesson. That you'd discussed your breed, the expectations you had and that she could meet them. She spectacularly failed.

Quirrelsotherface · 17/03/2020 21:24

YANBU, it's batshit. But that's the first time I've laughed today, so thank you.

Flowersmakemyday · 17/03/2020 21:25

Many years ago I made the mistake of going to a group where they advised owners to let there dogs off the lead as soon as we got there. It was to prove that you don't have recall over your dog until it is trained (I already knew that). Unfortunately my very small cocker was immediately set upon by a group of much larger dogs and was never the same again. He hated other dogs after that. And I thought I was doing the responsible thing by taking him to classes!

Lovebug06 · 17/03/2020 21:32

This sounds insane, i wish I could take my pup just for fun he would have a ballGrin live to know what to dogs are like at the end of this 'training' 😂

Macca84 · 17/03/2020 21:32

OP, I'm so sorry to take pleasure from your pain, but I'm actually laughing out load at this Grin and that's after a number of very bleak and dreary days.

I just keep picturing the chaos Grin

bluebell94 · 17/03/2020 21:36

What on earth!! 😂
We took ours to a kennel club puppy foundation course. At the start of each session, 2 dogs were let off at a time to have a little run around for a minute or so to let off stream and then practice recall and putting back on a leader. Then went into the training exercises. Your trainer sounds batshit crazy

pinkprosseco · 17/03/2020 21:38

*Well, after a couple of days worrying about doom and gloom, thank you for making me laugh. I can absolutely visualise it and I do hope someone comes along to tell us this how we should be training our dogs.

If she only has to go crazy with other pups and chase treats mine is clearly already highly-trained*

This Smile

Grobagsforever · 17/03/2020 21:38

Are you aware we are supposed to be social distancing?

FFS. Selfish.

Alsohuman · 17/03/2020 21:46

*Are you aware we are supposed to be social distancing?

FFS. Selfish*

You’re a lot more than two metres apart at most puppy classes. Is anyone else sick to death of seeing the word “selfish” on MN?

Fluffybutter · 17/03/2020 21:47

@Alsohuman Completely.
Like a broken record

MitziK · 17/03/2020 21:48

My dog would excel at 'Hungry Hippos'!

So would my DTwatCat. Doesn't mean I'd pay somebody a hundred quid to chuck Dreamies for the greedy little bastard, though.

Cherrysoup · 17/03/2020 21:52

Sounds mental. I’d be beyond horrified. She’s encouraging dangerous behaviour in the dogs and owners. Can you imagine those dogs as big adults, the ruffians of the park that every sensible owner avoids? Horrendous.

Star81 · 17/03/2020 21:56

I did a puppy training class last year and it was nothing like that !!!

BitOfFun · 17/03/2020 22:43

Doesn't mean I'd pay somebody a hundred quid to chuck Dreamies for the greedy little bastard, though GrinGrin

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