OK, here's the deal...when we first got Malone I was (and still am!) very committed to taking him to training school and learning with him. I did a bunch of research, and there are only two places that are remotely close. We signed up for 4 weeks of puppy training that ended mid-August as I recall. Our trainer knows so much, and is phenominal(sp???) with dogs. They respond really well to him, but we aren't having the same success that he has (probably due to lack of experience). His big thing is training WITHOUT treats. He says that in the long run, our dog will listen to us and want to please "his master" rather than react to the bribe of the treat.
Anyway, to make a long story short, he told us there would be follow-up training starting in the end of September. Here it is almost mid-November, and he still is not coming thru with a follow up class. We have started his method of training, and I am really hesitant to switch to somebody else's method, especially as anywhere else I go, they will use treats, and I'm afraid of mixed messages. Besides that, we are getting to the end of our rope...Malone *hates* training sessions, and lays down on his back and won't listen. Errrgh. Though if we aren't "formally training" he listens pretty well. I have followed up with the trainer several times, and he keeps saying that it will be a few more weeks.
Do you think that we should keep holding out, or is it time to move on to another trainer that will actually be there for us??? Please any advice would be so appreciated.
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