So why does the dog always do it perfectly for the trainer?

[Lizcat]

Now we have moved into Bronze at classes, much harder than puppy, particularly when he is going through his teenage phase. So even a request to sit is met with insolence.

When the trainer takes him he does it perfectly, back to me and if he could 'flip the bird' at me he would. Comment from trainer ' You have a smashing little dog , who learns fast. I just have to keep on your case!'

lizcat the same thing happened to me last night, we are in puppy class and madam is behaving like a prize bitch, not surprising as there are 3 pups in class, brother and sister to mine, so they want to play, but mine is the feistier of the 3. (why oh why)

Anyway, trainer is also a friend and she could see me losing patience and came to my puppy rescue. She did it perfectly for her!

Sending DH next week I think to see if she works better for him, which she obviously will.

ooh yes lizcat, so annoying. Lola (5 months) has started to avoid my eye if she's not in the mood. Just looks away. Or blanks me while paying extreme attention to other dogs in class (reasonable in the circs so my expectations are lowered).

Trainer comes up (Supernanny type) and L is suddenly in quivering wish to please mode, oh yes miss, pls miss, I love you.

Infuriating. Quite funny though.

I hate to say it but generally the trainer gives clearer signals to the dog

minimu . No offence taken - I have no doubt you are quite right!

Ha - we are moving into the bronze class next week. In the puppy class some weeks have been good - some dreadful!

... but we definitely have the friendliest, waggiest, most enthusiastic dog in the class....

The trainer thinks that being with older dogs may help his concentration! I will keep my fingers crossed. [And will make sure we take an exciting array of smelly treats with us on Tuesday. ]

It's probably an association thing - your dog associates the trainer with discipline then a reward - they associate you with love and cuddles and dinner as well as discipline and rewards but he knows that if he ignores you he'll still get treats and love and cuddles - He'll get it eventually.

Our dog behaves like a crazy before walks and pulls on the lead (we now use a harness to avoid any damage). When she goes to Doggie Day Care (yes such things exist and it's very useful on the rare occasion i have to go away for business) they say how fabulous she is on her walks. grrrr