Did anyone else come away from their first puppy class feeling like everything they've done everything so far is wrong?

We had our first one tonight and was almost an hours lecture about hierarchy, and the homework is putting into practise a lot of what she told us we need to do to establish ourselves as being in charge so that the practical side of training will be much easier when we next go back, but it certainly left me and my OH feeling a bit as though we're terrible parents!

I must admit I have never fully bought into the whole pack leader/hierarchy training method but I'm open to finding out what works best for Izzy so we'll keep at it for the 6 weeks and see how she does!

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I'd find another puppy class.

You're braver than me.

I'd have summat to say to that trainer about heirarachy nonsense.



Not even wild wolves live in packs that are based on heirarchy. It's bullwhip.

You shouldn't come away from your first class feeling deflated, as said I'd look for someone else. Yes you are in 'charge' of your pup, but you don't need to be seen to to be the big boss by him ! It's about working together. My first puppy class with Fern last year, consisited of Wendy, the trainer, telling us what kind of pup we had, nature wise, ie confident pup, not so confident and worked the training round this. We did sit and down, all training reward based, being firm but fair and allowing for short concentration spans in the pups and lots of other info such as right way to handle your pup etc. if you have a problem, it's discussed and a way shown and observed tomake sure, you got it. No gettin a people just very positive. I'd look for something more on those lines, if you can

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"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us."
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Both of mine a around 2, Lexi has been going to training classes since she was 12 weeks old and we have never been told to adopt the 'i am boss' approach all the classes I have attended have been postivie reinforcement all the way and that what works best for me. I actually have a story about 'i am boss' an (ex) friend on ours like to think he was the British Ceaser Milan (no training) and took it upon himself (without our permission) to 'teach leaxi a lesson' and pinned her to the ground for a period of time until I walked in the room and screamed at him to get off my dog....Lexi was terrifed wee'd everywhere and hid under the kitchen table until said 'friend' left. For the next 3 days if we made a sudden movement she jumped if there was a loud noise she jumped if we went to touch her she flinched......i think I'll stick to postiive reinforcement thanks.

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.....and Bosley too!

That's dreadful. But which are these good training classes? I've phoned around ones in Bradford and Huddersfield and everywheres full

We're a bit more Wakefield Leeds way. I used to use My Pet Stop at Tingley and had no issues with them but VERY expensive. I now use a company called clever dogs training school. It's very informal and we do something different every week from basic agility to competative obedience. My two have the basic training already but I like to keep them going as it keeps them thinking and they do learn things like Lexi (my staffie) is learning heel work to music at the mo, but she can't master 'dance' (Standing on her back two legs) so we are working on that.
I can have a word and see if the trainer there knows of anywhere your way out?

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.....and Bosley too!

I chose mine based on them being certified and their philosophy of 'Stop saying no' and teaching positive reinforcement like LexiLou2.

Change classes-did you pay for a set upfront cos I'd be asking for my money back!

You should be feeling like you're making progress: I am thrilled at how social Zak has become (the reason I went).

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Transplanted Geordie
RIP Jake, my best dog. 10.8.10
RIP Boomerang, beautiful horse. 27.5.08

Aaah that's who we're using for Louie's adult socialisation. Had a consultation with them last week and they're going to be coming over to Brighouse with a few different dogs each week to get him a bit more relaxed when meeting other dogs. I must say I've been very impressed with them. Very nice people. Except for the raw thing

It's funny actually, cos they mentioned that Louie would do well at agility cos of the staffie in him. They mentioned that some of the staffies they do agility with are really good at it so must be reffering to yours

I would love to take Florence over there for some more training, like what your doing, but it's a bit too far from here

Ditto, ditto & thrice ditto!

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