Is this GSD prejudice?

Tedsmum · #1 23-08-11, 09:44 AM

I will try and keep this brief.

I want Ted to do the KC Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and the club I go to doesnt do it.
I contacted another club who do, she told me when to start. So far so good....
Then she asks if he has any dog aggression, I tell her definately not but he does occasionally bark at other dogs through insecurity when he is on the lead and for the first five mins when entering a confined space with other dogs like at dog training. It is also a bit of frustration I think as he want to be let off to play with them too.
I could hear the intake of breath on the other end of the phone and she then explained that she cannot have that kind of behaviour as it upsets other dogs and owners and she would need to assess him before he would be allow to attend. For that we will need a one to one with her and she will charge me £35 as she is a registered dog trainer.
Now I don't mind getting some advice about how to stop his insecure behaviour but I can't help thinking that if her were a Labrador, we would not be doing this.
The club I currently go to just ignore Ted's gobbyness as they realise he will shut up very quickly.
I have decided to go alone and shell out the dosh for the first time but I don't think we have enough of a problem to warrant any more sessions. I am always willing to learn but I am not convinced there is a terrible problem here.
I will let you all know how we get on. x

#2 23-08-11, 10:00 AM

Sounds like prejudice to me! I'm sure she'll change her mind when she sees you both though

x

sami · #3 23-08-11, 10:16 AM

Well me being me I would tell her to get stuffed and go somewhere else, however I am not known for my diplomacy!!!

Maddie · #4 23-08-11, 10:30 AM

i would be thinking along sami's lines. She must have come across gsd's before, or even other dogs with issues, thats why we go to training.

At my training class, owners of new dogs or dogs suspected of having issues (we were in the rescue group) were asked to keep the dogs well away from the others, and everyone in the class was asked to respect the new dog might not like other dogs etc, to see how they reacted. A one to one wont tell the trainer this will it?

LOVEGSD · #5 23-08-11, 11:11 AM

I can see that she'd need to assess you before coming into class but would she have the same approach for all dogs, who knows but I'm sure once she meets you and the lovely Ted all will be fine.

Can't wait to hear how it goes.
x

Mazz · #6 23-08-11, 11:20 AM

If she was a good trainer, she would be able to 'read' a dogs behaviour,
There's nowt up with our Ted, go for it Gill.

Mazz

nisbreagha · #7 23-08-11, 11:38 AM

sounds like a great way to make dosh!!!! We assess all new dogs coming inot class that are not in puppy class as in general they are cominig because they ahve soem isssues but this is part of the membership fee and standard [ractoce for all dogs regardless of breed or behaviour as it lets us know the handler and dogs ability so they are placed in the correct class. I get the need for assesment but i don't ghet the need for a seperate session and fee if they require dogs to be assesed before attedning a class then they should make a standard practice and included it in memebrship fees or make it the same fee as a class.

zetstaff · #8 23-08-11, 12:12 PM

I think they're ripping you off GW, where I used to go would spend loads of time one on one if a dog was gobby to see how it settled + didn't charge anything extra xxx

zetstaff · #9 23-08-11, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sami

Well me being me I would tell her to get stuffed and go somewhere else, however I am not known for my diplomacy!!!

he he he x

Chrystie22 · #10 23-08-11, 12:43 PM

Sounds like prejudice to me too!! Im not sure you'd have to go through a one-to-one if you had ie a Lab even if he was a gobby Lab! The trick is to find a class whose trainer also owns GSDs, like the classes we used to attend with Diva (trainer had 5 GSDs!)and you wont get faced with this sort of behaviour...but yes easier said than done

Diva used to bark the class down when we got there as she wanted to be let off leash to play with the other dogs and nobody minded.

Having met Ted, I cant believe he wouldnt be suitable for any class, he's such a good dog. Hope you find the right class soon xx