BH Training - with a lunatic

[armauro]

Started training my now 15 month old gsd about a month and a half ago for his BH- the trainer who is European is well known was once a judge and does work for some popular kennels for quick titling- we used him in 08 and had some of the same issues.
He uses very harsh methods on the dogs he is training by my standards and probably the ASPCA- shock collars are ok within reason but not to cripple the dog to its feet. Problem is I am the handler of my showline and am a perfectionist in most issues in life but my 2 gsds are a HOBBY and as such are supposed to be fun.
On the training field he becomes totally verbally abusive in a derogatory way to me- no constructive criticsm just nasty remarks-on and on- ironically off the field he is quite pleasant- FINALLY Tuesday with the trials a week away on his field I emailed him to the effect that he must curtail this abusive treatment of me the paying client or we must stop training.
His response was thanks for the email.

If this is the standard in the sport world leave me out- imagine a tennis coach or golf instructor screaming at you everytime you miss a shot!

[JakodaCD OA]

sounds like it's time to find a new trainer...Are you in Florida training or here in CT?

[armauro]

Training here in Mansfield Ct.- very frustrating since we put all this time/effort/$ into getting this done here in Ct.- another club in Pomfret thas a trial 9/25 but can not membership into DVG in time to get it done.
Thsi has been one PIA. T
he head of the club in Pomfret knows him well and says what do you expect he is European but admits that is changing even there. She is his friend but would never train with him.

I get my black wl pup from Drache Feld when I get back to Fla.- he is almost 3 months old already.

[wolfstraum]

Old style training - with a German.....why are you surprised ??? Get your BH and move on!

So you are getting one of the Nick pups???

Lee

[armauro]

Yes- I bought/ paid for him back in august and one of Charlie Starrs trainers is boarding/housebreaking/training him until I get to Florida when I can receive him in two weeks-his trainer is getting very attached to him- she also has 2 other dogs-then the fun will begin with my other 2 gsds in Fla.- luckily my 15 month old male is still very dog friendly- very good temperment as the above Romanian trainer says.
I will have to do BH in Florida this fall it would seem. this set back my whole schedule for him.

[Tammy GSD]

I feel your pain. I had 4 bad trainer experiences in a row...which is why we gave up on "formal training", completely. I don't think I'd even try it, again, which really stinks since the training was one of the main reasons I got Sheva.

[Lyz]

My trainer and close friend is a bit like that as well. He's extremely competitive and he's aware that I'm a perfectionist in handling. Unfortunately, because of this combination, even small mistakes I make (like moving my hand when I say "bring" - the dumbbell) is met with derogatory remarks akin to "You know better."

That said, I really don't mind and it doesn't phase me anymore. My horseback riding trainer is the same way - brutally critical, especially before a competition, where her name is "on the line" so to speak.


Anyway, if it's too much or you can't tolerate it, have you thought of traveling or seeking out a different trainer? Abusive trainers do not good dogs make. Most of the best trainers I've met are incredibly personable and friendly, this transfers over to their training methods as well. It's one thing to get a Schutzhund III. It's another thing to get your III with a 280!

I'm in Las Vegas and I travel to California to train almost every weekend. It's $150 in gas, but a 2-3 day trip to California has paid for itself by the caliber of training alone. Something I could never recieve locally.

[Hunther's Dad]

There is nothing more satisfying than meeting with that trainer, looking him right in the eye, and saying "You're fired."

As the old Alka-Selzter commercial used to say, "Try it; you'll like it."

[Vandal]

I have trained with some outstanding trainers who literally wiped the floor with me. Didn't like it much but I will say, I learned more from those people than anyone else. People say the same thing about me at times. Many people involved in SchH now simply want to" have fun". They are not as interested in really learning. I know, everyone will now say " Oh I want to learn!" but most only want to learn a certain way. Sometimes, the best knowledge is not delivered in a way we all like. It can be "uncomfortable". There is a personality type that goes hand in hand with successful people or people who are really good at something and who have spent their life learning it. Most of those people can't stand to see it done "wrong" and I personally, feel for the dogs when I watch people making one mistake after the other.

Also, the best helpers I have ever worked with all had a certain type of personality. They play the part when they are working dogs and therefore, you might just get yelled at. Unless you are someone who does helper work well, you might not understand what I am saying. It is simply not possible to be "in character" and then come out of it for those few seconds to instruct the handler. I will say this. When I am not all over what you are doing, it is because I don't care. I always tell people, worry when I stop talking....or yelling for that matter.

[Catu]

The TD in my SAR team is also a lot like that. I really feel sorry for those poor applicants when they just join the team... He is an ex Air Force officer and tends to forget it is a team and not a regiment.

Recently we talked about how he treats handlers, not that I matter that much how the crew feels either, but all that pressure he puts into them goes down the leash and you end up with stressed dogs. That I do care. Just like with your e-mail, his answer was "I don't think so" and walked away. But later I remembered him the subject with a serie of nasty jokes, we had a serious talk and, if he has not changed, at least walks away when he feels he is about to explode, LOL!

But he is also the kind of guy you have to earn his respect. It had been years from the last time he yelled at me, but on the contrary, he asks for my opinion more and more often. Knowing him, it by itself makes me more proud than the compliments of a hundred of people.