re Vislor Dog Training Centre

fimckenzie · #1 22-01-12, 11:29 AM

Maybe I am having a bad few days but for some reason I watched a few of the training videos and they really got me down.
Kenzie is still not very good at walking on the lead, and still lunges and acts badly when other dogs approach (on the lead). Although I have tried and tried with her, nothing seems to work. I have her on a gencon now as I did my neck in last year and cannot risk it again. I don't like having it on her but it does give me a bit of control (though she almost strangles herself at times!!).
I would love to take her to Vislor and learn how to get things right but there is no way I could afford it. When I read that Vislor trainers cannot understand people using haltis etc, it does get me down and make me feel guilty. It also makes me feel like a very poor dog owner/leader who cannot even get her dog to heel.
I love Kenzie to bits and we do training every day, albeit away from distractions. She is great in the house and fine with all people.
Is it too late for us???

lauraburns · #2 22-01-12, 11:42 AM

Don't feel down because you use a training aid!! That is what the gencon is, an aid to help you and your dog! I use one, I hurt my back and shoulder a few years ago, and have to be careful now, so if that means putting Ozzie (who is 45kg) on the gencon then so be it!! Keep training Kenzie and she will keep improving! Once you get her sound when there are no distraction around, then you can slowly start to introduce distractions! With training, it can seem like one step forward and two steps back, but with time and your obvious dedication to Kenzie she will get there!! Chin up sweetie, we all have times where we wish we could have the perfect dog, but rarely do we ever get it!!!

Lutgard 1 · #3 22-01-12, 01:16 PM

Aww Hunni
Try not to feel upset, you havnt let anyone down.
You need to start from day one and go from there.
Something I do even now when the dogs are given a certain task they get sloppy so I go back to basics.
Start to feel better in yourself and Kenzie will pick it up and things will improve im sure.

Hugs
Linda x

Bet · #4 22-01-12, 01:52 PM

Quote:

I would love to take her to Vislor and learn how to get things right but there is no way I could afford it. When I read that Vislor trainers cannot understand people using haltis etc, it does get me down and make me feel guilty.

Don't feel bad, you're doing your best. Just remember that the guys at Vislor have had years to hone their skills as its their job

You can't compare training your dog at home to a specialised setting...they can give their full attention to the dogs that are there for hours on end. How many dog owners are lucky enough to have the time to spare to do that? I dare bet most of us have to juggle our time between work and home life.
Both of mine have gencons now, they walk well with them and I feel that I have much more control of them when out, I dont feel guilty using them and nothing anyone can write will make me do so.
Take plenty of no notice

xxx

Stuart · #5 22-01-12, 02:24 PM

German Shepherds are not easy dogs to train, they have minds of their own and will push every boundry possible, so no-one should feel particulay bad about not getting it right,..you have not failed yet because you are here still trying to solve it,... bad owners are ones who cant do something and give up and leave the dog to its own unruly behaviour,.. the owner who dont care

Maybe you cant afford to go to Vislor, many people couldnt, but I am sure that if you talked to Ash, he would be able to at least give you some ideas

LindaM · #6 22-01-12, 02:59 PM

[QUOTE=Stuart;260825]German Shepherds are not easy dogs to train, they have minds of their own and will push every boundry possible

Ah, so it is not my imagination

fimckenzie · #7 22-01-12, 03:27 PM

Thanks for all the support.
I will not give up but it does feel like I have not got anywhere with her and as she is now 18 months old, it worries me that her behaviour is now instilled and cannot be changed.

lauraburns · #8 22-01-12, 03:29 PM

At 18 months she is still going through that terrible teen stage!! Keep up with the training and try not to let her get away with any unwanted behaviour!! They do get better!!!

Stuart · #9 22-01-12, 03:29 PM

18 months is a rebelous time anyway, many people have trouble during their dogs teenage years, he may well settle into better behaviour soon

Vislor · #10 22-01-12, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fimckenzie

Maybe I am having a bad few days but for some reason I watched a few of the training videos and they really got me down.
Kenzie is still not very good at walking on the lead, and still lunges and acts badly when other dogs approach (on the lead). Although I have tried and tried with her, nothing seems to work. I have her on a gencon now as I did my neck in last year and cannot risk it again. I don't like having it on her but it does give me a bit of control (though she almost strangles herself at times!!).
I would love to take her to Vislor and learn how to get things right but there is no way I could afford it. When I read that Vislor trainers cannot understand people using haltis etc, it does get me down and make me feel guilty. It also makes me feel like a very poor dog owner/leader who cannot even get her dog to heel.
I love Kenzie to bits and we do training every day, albeit away from distractions. She is great in the house and fine with all people.
Is it too late for us???

Oh no! I'm really sorry I never meant to make anyone feel bad

I can honestly say that I'm very aware that my views and opinions are quite extreme and my background in dogs, particularly Working GSD's, is very unusual and privileged! I grew up with a dad who's trained several of the highest scoring Schutzhund dogs the UK has ever seen, worked as a show ring handler, worked in French Ring Sport, worked as a civilian Dog Training consultant for UK Police dog units, worked as a dog trainer/handler on several big budget Hollywood films and broke the record for highest ever obedience score at the UK National Championships!

There is absolutely no reason to feel bad because of what I think. I know everyone on this forum absolutely loves their dogs and everyone does the best they can for them. Whenever someone comes to train with us we always try to help them work towards what they want. If all they want is a dog that will walk nicely on the lead, and they achieve that, we feel just as satisfied as we would helping someone to pass a Schutzhund 3! We don't expect everyone to have super snazzy fancy dogs!

The only reason I do have an occasional frustrated outburst is because of the general aversion to any suggestion of using negative reinforcement in any discussion. There are lots of topics I'd like to give advice on (particularly regarding bad behaviour such as pulling on the lead that, to me, is easily fixed with balanced training methods), but I feel a bit of pressure from the people who believe 'positive only' is the only way to train so I tend to keep my thoughts to myself which comes out in a negative or despondent way when it does spill out

I believe all dogs need a balanced life, and with a little education on the use of negative AND positive reinforcement applied in a balanced, responsible and thoughtful way, all dogs would positively benefit.

Instead of bashing my ideology over peoples heads I try to lead by example by showing the results of our training in videos or in competitions, but unfortunately I do fall prey to occasional head bashing for which I deeply apologise!!!!