SuperDog Training Program?

[HobNob]

Has anyone heard of this program? Apparently there are many locations throughout the states. We are in San Antonio and there happens to be a SuperDog program here.

Here is the website: SUPERDOG San Antonio Dog Trainers Trainers in Texas.

I want to get your opinions about their program and philosophy.

Thanks!

[Cassidy's Mom]

Ugh. Did you notice that in all that verbiage about their "method" there's not a single thing to tell you exactly what that method IS? That alone would have me giving it a pass.

[HobNob]

I did notice that. SuperDog is a program based out of California and I guess trainers can become certified or qualified to offer the program. Once such trainer is in San Antonio. But really her business is called "A Better Dog Training" and here is the website: San Antonio Texas Dog Obedience Training San Antonio TX Dog Training School San Antonio Texas Dog Training Classes

I spoke with the owner today and I felt really good about what she had to say. WAY better than the last trainer I talked to. This lady's approach reminds me a little of the Leerburg guy.

[szariksdad]

I think the only small nit is they have the dog heeling behind them and not shoulder at side of leg which could be a problem if you want to later do competition ob or something like that. Which is where I have learned to have the dog. When you spoke to the trained what was there style of obedience training? was it marker training or was it using collar corrections or other methods.

[gsdraven]

I'm always wary about training franchises. The ones that I have seen around here (which is not the one you listed) are usually people who have some experience training their pets and use the franchise name as a quick way to make a buck doing what they think is fun and just fall back on the "theory" provided to them as part of the franchise. My question would be do they have the freedom (and experience) to train how they want or are they required to follow protocol (like PetSmart trainers)?

Originally Posted by HobNob

I spoke with the owner today and I felt really good about what she had to say. WAY better than the last trainer I talked to.

Your comfort level with the trainer and their methods is going to be the determining factor. Remember to always follow your instincts and if a method doesn't seem right for you or your dog, it probably isn't. You have to be willing to stick up for your dog if something doesn't feel right.

Originally Posted by HobNob

This lady's approach reminds me a little of the Leerburg guy.

Which one? The Leerburg website has videos of different trainers on there. Knowing some of the issues you are having, I'm not sure that some of his methods are ones that I'd want to use but it's not my dog.

What is your goal with training and how do you want to go about doing it? Do you believe in alpha training and dominating your dog? Or do you want to take a mostly positive approach? These are all things you need to know before settling on a trainer. Have you talked with past students and their experiences? I'd want to see if I could find ones other then the references the place gives because obviously they aren't going to provide you with a bad reference. Can you post on your local Craigslists to see if students that have used the training facility will tell you their experiences?

[Amtrak Conductor]

Yes I have and I find it a very good program. I cant speak for anywhere else as I have herd mixed reviews. I have been using SuperDog here in Roseville with Dave, the owner of the whole franchise. Dave considers himself a behaviorlist more than a trainer and for Maxx, it was much needed. His method was to use physocoligy, collor correctoin and lots of praise. Doesn't belive in treats and clickers or other bribes. At first I thought it was a little harsh, but Maxx has responded well and really is a much happier dog as a result. Again, I can't speak for other franchises, but I would HIGHLY recomend Dave, the owner of SuperDog when other methods have failed.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Treats and clickers are not bribes.

[HobNob]

Originally Posted by gsdraven

I'm always wary about training franchises. The ones that I have seen around here (which is not the one you listed) are usually people who have some experience training their pets and use the franchise name as a quick way to make a buck doing what they think is fun and just fall back on the "theory" provided to them as part of the franchise. My question would be do they have the freedom (and experience) to train how they want or are they required to follow protocol (like PetSmart trainers)?

I don't think that is the case here. When she answered the phone she actually gave the name of her personal business, A Better Dog Training. I think the two share the same philosophy and use similar methods.

Originally Posted by gsdraven

Which one? The Leerburg website has videos of different trainers on there. Knowing some of the issues you are having, I'm not sure that some of his methods are ones that I'd want to use but it's not my dog.)

I asked her how she would classify her training methods in regards to "old school" methods and the newer "motivational" methods. She said she falls right in the middle of those two. She said she uses some corrections, I think mainly leash corrections, but says hands are for petting and affections and doesn't advise to do a lot of physical correcting with the hands. At the same time, she does not over use treats. She does not overlook the bad and just keep rewarding the good. She wants to dog to understand what it shouldn't do as well as what it should do. She emphasizes relationship with the dog and using that as a means to train the dog.

Originally Posted by gsdraven

What is your goal with training and how do you want to go about doing it? Do you believe in alpha training and dominating your dog? Or do you want to take a mostly positive approach? These are all things you need to know before settling on a trainer. Have you talked with past students and their experiences? I'd want to see if I could find ones other then the references the place gives because obviously they aren't going to provide you with a bad reference. Can you post on your local Craigslists to see if students that have used the training facility will tell you their experiences?

Our primary goal is to build a much better relationship with Duke, for him to trust us and recognize us as his leaders, and for him to follow our direction inside and outside our home. I personally believe in pack structure and leadership (or some might call it "alpha"). I do think a positive approach is preferable to old school "I'm in charge" methods. But I think some trainers who use a positive, motivational method tend to ignore the things dogs do incorrectly and just try to reinforce the good and hope the bad will work itself out. I like that this trainer says her methods fall in the middle of the spectrum...that's actually what I was hoping for.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by HobNob

But I think some trainers who use a positive, motivational method tend to ignore the things dogs do incorrectly and just try to reinforce the good and hope the bad will work itself out.

Some may do that, but the way it SHOULD be done is not to simply ignore the bad stuff and hope it goes away, but to set your dog up for success by managing their environment to minimize their opportunities to practice bad behavior in the first place. If they're not practicing the bad stuff so much, they're also not going to be reinforced for it and it's not going to become ingrained behavior. And if they are being consistently reinforced for the good stuff, the bad will eventually extinguish. But that's not the same as simply ignoring your dog when they're being bad and letting them get away with it.

[HobNob]

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

Some may do that, but the way it SHOULD be done is not to simply ignore the bad stuff and hope it goes away, but to set your dog up for success by managing their environment to minimize their opportunities to practice bad behavior in the first place. If they're not practicing the bad stuff so much, they're also not going to be reinforced for it and it's not going to become ingrained behavior. And if they are being consistently reinforced for the good stuff, the bad will eventually extinguish. But that's not the same as simply ignoring your dog when they're being bad and letting them get away with it.

But wouldn't you say this does not teach the dog not to do what it shouldn't do? When I say "ignore" the bad I don't mean letting the dog get away with it. I mean centering the training around what the dog should do and not using any training methods to work with the dog on not doing what it shouldn't do. Do you think simply not reinforcing the "bad" teaches the dog that it shouldn't do the "bad"?