1st puppy class and we've already been put in time out [sad]

[amazonianwoman]

We had our 1st puppy training class on Friday night. There were 4 other dogs, including one terrier which was completely wired and a spaniel which was jumping so high it kept knocking over its owner.

Max (mini schnauzer, 13 wks old) was barking a little - not aggressive at all, just getting a bit excited. He sometimes (not always) barks when he sees someone on a walk but will stop if I go to talk to them. Also usually stops barking once he has a sniff/play with another dog on a walk. I've been trying to anticipate eg joggers/walkers etc and distract him before the event then treat, otherwise if he barks I turn in the opposite direction.

Anyway, we were practising recall in the class and Max was yapping, and the trainer said (in distinctly cold tone) "oh we have a typical schnauzer here" and put us in a separate room for the duration of the task

I accept that a yapping dog is a distraction, but would have appreciated some constructive help from the trainer - isn't that what classes are for? She spent ages discussing house training with one owner but dismissively said "just walk away from target" when I asked about training Max not to bark.

So, slap me if I'm being over paranoid/sensitive/plain wrong, or should a trainer offer more support, esp given that it is such a small class!

And how do I try to keep him quiet next time - am now paranoid!

Any training tips appreciated.

Find another class,how ridiculous,I have an 8 month old spaniel who can jump for britain(!)but was also quite noisy in our first few classes,the trainer took it in her stride,gave me tips on how to deal with it nad now he hardly makes any noise in class ...still jumping though!

Look for a APDT trainer,they have a website and ask locally for recommendations

One of the tips she gave me was not to reward the barking with attention,also to try to read him before he starts to bark eg by using the watch command and making him concentrate on me and not the other dogs,to get there first so he is not walking in on a roomful of dogs which can make them a bit panicky.

That does sound a bit OTT. We squirt the noisy dogs in our class with a little water pistol. (doesn't work very well with spaniels!) Makes the owners a bit wet though!
I think I'd find somewhere else.

Thanks.

Trainer is a PAACT trainer - found via link on the Stan Rawlinson dog listener website, so thought would be v reputable. I might struggle to find any availability til after Xmas now and really want to get stuck into classes while he's still young.

whereabouts in the country are you?

Good tip about attention when barking. We were also a couple of minutes late - no-one else had to get two hyper young kids to bed first!!!

Wouldn't mind having a bucket of water tipped over me if it kept him quiet...

Just south of Manchester, in Cheshire.

oh bit far away from me...don't know anywhere up that way!
Was about to recommend my trainer but she's near Stansted Airport, rather a long way to come for a puppy class!

Just take him for the socialising while you look for somewhere else.
I don't know how she can expect a 13 week old puppy to be completely behaved on its first lesson. He may well settle down after a couple of weeks anyway and not be so noisy.

Stansted is pushing it a bit, but cheers anyway

I spoke to one very nice sounding trainer (APDT) who does a rolling class on a Sunday afternoon (many classes start too early in the evening, Sundays would be fine) - so not a "complete" 8 week course with a start & finish, you just turn up and start from there, paying an annual membership fee.

Does that sound like a bad idea?

Personally not sure about of Stan Rawlinson. There was a lot in the press recently about his methods although always hard to work out the truth in this situations.

Definately go for an APDT class. There will be no squirting of water or loud noises to control the barking just hopefully good calm advice.

Many dogs bark and the trainer should give you ways of dealing with this.

We are also trying to stop barking on command ,trainer reckons the best way is to train to bark on comand first but I am not keen!He has definately got better though and is now 8 months

I share your naughty step pain.

Our basset hound puppy rarely barks at home, but picks up on the manic energy of some of the smaller uncontrolled more exuberant dogs at our class when we're sitting listening to the trainer in a circle. He only barks once or twice, and it's more of a 'joining in' than anything else, but it's LOUD. I was mortified the first few times, but the trainer was totally calm about it, and suggested I walk him round inside the hall to distract him for a moment or two, then bring him straight back. He's getting much better - he's learning that if he barks, he gets removed from the interesting goings-on.

Not sure if you are any where near urmston? Dog training classes are held every Sunday on the meadows (can get a bit wet!) but the trainers are lovely. There are 3 classes, puppy, intermediate and advanced and it seems to work really well with all the dogs having fun together during the break(and owners get a cup of tea and biscuit).

Work on the watch me command at home. You say watch me the dog has to look at your face if he does click and treat.

If you were at my class I would get you to
do the watch me command during the lesson and really get the pup to concentrate on you.

You can train the dog to bark on command and then be able to say stop to stop the barking however when the dog is highly excited or stressed this is less likely to work well.

The one good thing about training classes is teaching you dog to be calm and concentrating on you despite what is going on around you. That won't happen if you are in the naughty room!!!

Thanks for all the fab advice, I'm glad it wasn't just me being paranoid I did feel as if she just didn't even give us a chance...

Yes, I'm not too far from Urmston hamsterlover - will look into that one - you don't have a contact number/name do you? Please!

And thanks again minimu - you are a star and deserve a I've started working on the watch me command but never thought to use it in that context.