Is this genuinely a right way to train a dog?

[sarral]

just need to start off saying... I've never had any experience with dogs at all, ever!

so after years of DH wanting a dog(he grew up with dogs) and me being not being massively keen (ie: kids, life admin, home responsibilities, work ect ect to deal with, just always thought a dog would be added pressure) I finally agreed a few years after Dc's had grown up and left home.

so we've had our little cockerpoo for 2 and half years now and tbh I absolutely love him to absolute bits, but it's not the picnic DH convinced me it would be 🤦

He can't be left alone, not even for 5 mins, follows us (me mainly) EVERYWHERE I can't even nip the loo without him crying outside bathroom door. Walks are a nightmare, he's not too bad with DH but when I go, which isn't often now because I just can't deal with his behaviour (the picture of us getting out more, leisurely walking him, having lots of exercise and enjoying leisure time with him are non existent) he goes mad if anyone comes near me, human or other dogs, barks his head off, even if someone just says "hello" to me he kicks off. So we decided to get a trainer in. Now this trainer I found local to us has 5 star reviews, with over 200+ reviews. So went with her as seemed to be the best reviewed trainer for Miles.

So had her out a few times now and it's just not sitting right with me what we've been told to do but as I've never had a dog I'm not sure if I'm being naive or just totally un-informed.
We've been taught to spray water at any barking,moaning, anytime someone knocks at door or visits (this is a massive trigger for him) on walks we've been told and taught how to use a training lead (from my limited knowledge I think this might be called a choke lead??? I'm not 100% sure??)

it just doesn't all sit right me, he's scared of the water spray, It works but it stops working when we stop using it, which is often cos I just don't like making him scared, the training lead worked for DH, but not me, but then I'm too afraid to pull it incase it chokes him😭😭 DH wants to get trainer out again as we literally have no life in we can't leave him or go anywhere without him, I'm reluctant as I'm not sure this is best way to train him but as Ive said I've no experience so don't know if this is the way we should be training. Trainer is fully qualified for 10+ years so not sure if it's just me or not? Any advice would be appreciated.
thank you.

You don't train a dog by terrifying them (spraying water at them, choking them). You train a dog by working with them. If you have to terrify your dog into being your partner, you're not fit to own a dog. Edit- Just to say that's not aimed at you, but the 'advice' your trainer has given.

Your trainer is a twat, and the 200+ reviews are just 200+ people who shouldn't own a goldfish let alone a dog.

Ditch the trainer. Find someone who doesn't use those sorts of methods.

thank you.
it's definitely not sitting right with me at all. Tbf DH has never actually pulled the training lead as our dog is great with him walking so he doesn't use the training lead. Admittedly we have both sprayed him initially after being told that's what we should do, but it's massively upset me and I won't allow any spraying now. I'm thinking we need a more calming, therapeutic trainer, just wanted to know if others thought this trainer was training wrong?

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks is right. You don't train a dog through these methods. You are training your dog to stop trusting you. You train a dog by being calm and consistent. Firm low voice. No shouting

keeping to a small range of commands. Lots of praise and rewards for getting things right. Gradually making him more confident about being left for short spaces of time. I don't know where you found your 'trainer' op but you need to get rid and start again before you have an exceptionally highly strung nervous dog on your hands.

thank you.
like I've said I had no idea how to train a dog but even me as a previous none dog owner has thought this surely isn't the way to go😭
we absolutely love our dog, he loves us it's plain to see. We dote on him and genuinely want the best for him and to learn the best way to make sure he has the best life but my gut is telling me this isn't the best way to go about it. I'm actually aghast now I've stopped to think and post on here how this trainer has such amazing reviews and constant praise on their SM, website ect...

Trust your instincts, get rid of this trainer. Look for one that uses positive techniques, you want a good relationship with your dog not one that does things because he's scared of what might happen.

I’m a trainer. The absolute moron you’ve had over so far is quite frankly a dangerous charlatan who has no business anywhere near a dog

Awful way to train a dog.
Ditch that so called trainer and find a positive reinforcement trainer. Also buy the book easy peasy puppy squeezy to get some ideas

Trainers who use methods like this and the old ‘pack mentality’ are to be avoided.

Well said

this was the lead we were told to get🤷🤷🤷
just want to point out, yes we did buy it😭 DH has used it but to be fair didn't ever pull it as our dog is great on walks with DH, we no longer use it as I just feel it isn't right either way, we use a very long extendable lead. He can't be let off lead as it stands as he's not trained to come back and knowing him and we'd never see him again if we let him off!! we do regularly take him to private dog fields multiple times a week for off lead running/freedom.
we took him to a public dog field(not off lead safe as many gaps to get out onto road) other week where we kept him on this extending lead for a walk and we were berated by another dog walker for not allowing him the freedom to run around, can't seem to do right for wrong 😭😭

another trainer here. This is Not the way to train a dog. Whereabouts are you?

Trust your instincts and ditch the trainer.

First, Train the ‘look’ command. Ie. Hold a treat up, say ‘look’ and when he’s looking at you, reward. Keep practising (you can do it sitting on the sofa , in the garden etc).

Then on walks, when you see another dog or person, get him to sit and ‘look’at you. Don’t give him the treat until the danger has past (or have a few treats at hand). Don’t let other dogs or humans approach him until you have this stage nailed. In fact, you never have to let other dogs or humans approach him if you don’t want. Just say ‘in training’ and walk away.

Takes practise but you will get there.

Also look online - Mcann videos, Kikipup etc are very good.

Not the way to train a dog. Your dog sees you as someone they need to protect. Do you find she meets his commands but not yours? If so, you need to be the boss of her too.

If they are pulling on the lead, stop walking. Don’t start again this they stop pulling. This takes a while til they get used to it. You first walk will take ages, but you’ll get there. If there are other dogs/people, stand in front of the dog so they don’t seem to be a threat.

I found teaching “place” quite useful for stopping them barking when the door goes. But also, practice ringing the doorbell / knocking, and giving them a treat when they eventually stop barking at it. Again this takes time and patience but it should help. No advice for stopping them following you everywhere, O have a Labrador and no a,point of training helps with that, she’s always ready for an adventure when we stand up. 😆

We used this guy to train our pup when we got him 10 years ago. He's very well behaved, and the training worked really well on him.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOnlineDogTrainer-DoggyDan

Many moons ago our rottweiler was a bit of a twat. Normal teen ddog behaviour.. I rang a so called reputable woman who detailed to me how she would actually be sitting on my ddog to establish dominance and she would no longer be a twat.
Oddly I never took her up on her offer...
She had many many good reviews..
Maybe you need to consider rehoming such a twat.

• I don't mean the ddog...

They are archaic methods and now well widely considered cruel - the govt is trying to chock leads

you train a dog by building the relationship and rewarding behaviour that you want

I’m not sure this is a genuine post as those methods are even pre Barbara woodhouse is likely net

In my opinion from the small amount of information here, this may well turn out to be a behaviour case. In which event, we need to look at what is causing the problem at source not just tackle the symptoms
Your dog sounds very stressed and anxious. Just teaching a few commands is not going to cut it. I’d advise a full behaviour assessment with a qualified behaviour consultant. But be careful, it’s an unregulated field. Anyone can call themselves a trainer or even a behaviourist. Even the qualifications don’t always mean much. For example one of the
most reputed certification schemes requires the sum total of 6 DAYS input, with only 4 of them being study days

Ask your vets, or in local Facebook pages first and foremost. Then go and watch a group lesson before committing. If they won’t let you watch, keep looking

”make choke leads illegal”

is the lead I posted above a choke lead?? I've no experience but I instantly thought...nahh that's a bloody choke lead surely? ffs I'm sure I'm right, can someone advise that I'm correct please

It’s a slip lead.
used properly on a trained dog who does not pull it has very limited uses. Eg- a gundog when working will use one that can be slid off when the dog needs to do a retrieve

It has zero place in the life of an untrained dog with behaviour challenges. It will act as a strangulation and very easily will make matters much much worse. Not only is the dog worried by whatever it is lunging/barking at, it’s now associating that scary thing (or even worse you,the owner) as a source of pain

We’ve never done any sort of negative training with our dog, but we do use a slip lead (like you’ve pictured) for short walks. She used to pull at a harness and I didn’t like her pulling at a collar in case it broke, so the slip lead was a good solution hand has stopped 99% of the pulling. We don’t pull it, but if she pulls it’s unpleasant I imagine so she just learnt to walk to heel. She wears a harness on a long or off road work.

I would not be squirting water though. We taught the dog by giving lots of treats when she got into her bed when the door went. It was a long slog but now she knows she gets a treat when those trigger things happens so she gets in bed and waits for it.

Choke leads are metal in the collar bit usually and choke the dog when it pulls

Thank you soooo much already to everyone who has given advice🙏
I knew deep down my instincts were correct!!
reading and taking it all in, thank you🙏
to the person who said we should rehome our dog! thank you for your concern but that isn't happening, ever!! if we we didn't care about him and just thought yeah let's rehome him, I wouldn't have bothered posting here for a advice in first place 😊

Sorry yours is a slip lead

imv only to be used with dogs who are very well trained - like working dogs

try treats,
positive reinforcement
even clicker trainer.
and keep at it

leave the house in longer and longer periods, dont fuss when you return.
you can do it op