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.

Jeez, that sounds horrendous.

I'm unusual on this board in that I don't think ecollars are the work of the devil. I've felt one against my own skin on moderate and high settings and neither was painful at all (though I am sure that there are other, stronger, versions) and I knew the dog who was worked in it and who got happy and excited when it went on as she knew it meant fun times. However I do think that they need to be used very carefully and appropriately.

Have you considered contacting trading standards at your local council? They are usually very helpful.

If you research you will find a lot of negative reviews for WKD which may help you case.

I have been concerned re their training methods for a long time and signed onto a free webinar they gave last month.

It confirmed what I had heard and seen in their videos. They promote the use of choke collars and jerking the dog. They did mention some positive training terms but used them incorrectly. They also realised that the methods would be hard for people to accept and the language they used tried to dismiss peoples concerns. eg giving food to lessen the impact of the pain inflicted.

Grumpy and I disagree about the use of ecollars and I will never ever accept there is a need for them in training. Equally they are about to be made illegal in England (already happened in other parts of the UK) People are going to have to start using brains to train rather than pain.

@PollyRoulson @ronnieboy88 @grumpy

Thank you all for your comments. Trying really hard to work out what is best for doggo. 🙏

I watched the webinar last week and although I disagree with some of the training methods, some of them I found reasonable. HOWEVER, his whole business ethos is so strange and confused. He speaks about not training dogs but training people..but he sells trained dogs? Where do the dogs come from? It makes me feel so uneasy I wouldn't give them my money for a training programme because I have a horrible feeling about the welfare of the pups they take in and 'train' to sell on.

I got a trained dog from WKD in 2016. She’s been an utter joy from day one. The posts here talk of feeling this company is all wrong making assumptions about the training or motivations of the people who go to WKD for their dog. The dogs are temperament tested as well as trained. That’s the key point get the temperament right and that needs people with specialist knowledge. My dog has to go to my office, go on trains etc for my work and it was vital to me that I got a dog that would be comfortable and happy to go along with me wherever I went. Matt and his team at WKD are amazing Matt even did a little training refresher for my dog some years after I got her for free personally. Longer term the training works, WKD are there for you for the life of your dog if you need anything and everyone comments on how beautifully behaved my dog is. She’s my pride and joy I love her dearly. I would recommend WKD dogs 100%

And you joined just to post that positive review?
How helpful

I decided to add my experiences to this thread because I have something to add hopefully of value to people who are struggling as I did to ensure they did their best for their dog.

Are we really so intolerant and suspicious of different perspectives that this kind of question has to be asked of new members and their contribution?

Either you are unbelievably naive and have no idea that it’s not uncommon for a business owner to join a site like this under a different name to post a fake positive review OR there’s another reason for your post.
Matt must be aware of the thread as he has posted here before and been deleted
Sometimes people on the internet may not be who they seem to be so I think it’s entirely fair and reasonable to be suspicious of a new poster who posts such a “helpful” review of a facility that has had nothing but negative reviews on here from other people.
You may be genuine but what a coincidence that you just happened to find this thread and had a completely different experience/view to everyone else.

I would recommend asking your vet if there is a local force-free trainer that they refer people to. I have had 1:1 sessions with a well qualified trainer and my understanding is that the most qualified trainers only work on vet referral (it's a requirement to be in their industry group). As you say, we've found that the training sessions we have with her are more about training us as owners than her actually training the dog. We have had great success but from our experience I am very sceptical of anyone who offers a quick fix

Is WKD dog training the ones with the Facebook ad where a woman jerks the neck of her spaniel to the point it lifts the poor things legs off the floor?

Wow what a welcome! How intolerant people are here when there are views contrary to your own. I don’t actually think it is fair and reasonable to make automatic assumptions and unfounded accusations about someone just because they haven’t posted before. I stand by my comments and my experience. It comes to something when a view that happens to be contrary to others is automatically faces accusations of being the business owner or posting a fake review. I have had experience of this company that has been positive. Surely not a terribly outlandish claim given the company has been trading for a number of years and to that end quite a large probability that they may actually have a satisfied customer or two in order to do that?

I have a perfectly well behaved well adjusted dog supplied and trained by WKD in 2016. I’m proud of my dog she’s brought me a lot of joy through some difficult times and I wouldn’t change a thing about my decision to have WKD support my search and training for a dog that would be able to thrive at home and in a professional office setting during my working hours. I wanted to share the experience I have had. That’s my motivation.

I’m not here to welcome people.
I’m really glad you have such a wonderful dog from WKD, you seem to be in the minority (of one)

In regards to the dog training, my dog has been for training and their methods are something to be desired. Their money back guarantee is a con!!!

Their methods of training a residential dog is appalling!! It's not all praise and rewards, they physical with the dogs. I've never smacked or hit a dog, but they have told me to even get a longer lead when he's misbehaving on a walk hit him with the longer part of the lead as this was by Matt the owner of the business . My dog has come back withdrawn from family life, I've tried asking for my money bad trust me that guarantee doesn't exist!!

@Charley20

Their methods of training a residential dog is appalling!! It's not all praise and rewards, they physical with the dogs. I've never smacked or hit a dog, but they have told me to even get a longer lead when he's misbehaving on a walk hit him with the longer part of the lead as this was by Matt the owner of the business . My dog has come back withdrawn from family life, I've tried asking for my money bad trust me that guarantee doesn't exist!!

Is that what they told you in so many words 'hit him'

Just wait for Charley20 post to be removed after getting legal threats from WKD like the others that have posted their disapproval of WKD.

Watch WKD free training videos and webinars. They recommend the use of choke collars and jerking and aversive correction. It really is training from the 70's

Yes for mouthing also yesterday the bloke that runs it came out to my dog as I told him it was worse than before he went to residential. His walking and jumping at his lead is terrible, the trainer was snapping the lead so sharply I felt physically sick. Then he was dangling the lead in front of my dog so he would rag it, my dog must of thought this is a new game and ragged the lead and as soon as he did he smacked him across his face. I was fuming, they say they offer a money back guarantee but he's refusing too.

Jesus Christ, that’s awful if it’s accurate
It would be very interesting to hear What wes1984 has to say about that?

It's very accurate to the extent one of my neighbors has not long asked me who the man was, why he smacked my dogs face and then asked why I'd let him. God knows what happens behind closed doors.

@Charley20

Yes for mouthing also yesterday the bloke that runs it came out to my dog as I told him it was worse than before he went to residential. His walking and jumping at his lead is terrible, the trainer was snapping the lead so sharply I felt physically sick. Then he was dangling the lead in front of my dog so he would rag it, my dog must of thought this is a new game and ragged the lead and as soon as he did he smacked him across his face. I was fuming, they say they offer a money back guarantee but he's refusing too.

That is awful I'm so sorry your poor dog please get a different trainer!

I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are still letting them near your dog.