Dog training clubs: A massive let-down

G
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Hi everyone.

I’m writing this post to share an experience I’ve just had with my puppy at a dog training club, and to chat about it with you and all the other lucky new owners of these little balls of fluff :)

First off, I picked up my American Bulldog puppy on the 13th of February (one day off being the love of my life... though mind you, she probably is anyway!).

I’ve always loved dogs, and I’ve really enjoyed scouring websites, videos and training tutorials about "positive reinforcement".

I gave my little Sana two or three days to settle in and get used to her new home, and then I slowly started the first "commands" using either a bit of kibble or a big cuddle as a reward. Everything is going well; she understands what I want quite quickly. But just for fun, I’d already decided to take her to a dog training club for some proper training and, above all, to have her around plenty of "well-behaved" dogs. To date, I’ve visited two dog clubs in my area and the disappointment has been quite hard to take... "Positive reinforcement" was replaced by shouting, leads being yanked in every direction and constant jerking... The trainer even took it upon himself to explain to a woman with a little Shiba: "You know, this breed bites a lot; if he bites you, do this" (he then grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck and shook it, which made it yelp).

I was genuinely shocked to see that—forced "downs" where they’re held on the floor with hand pressure on their backs, accompanied by more shouting if the dog tries to get back up.

Please reassure me, am I just being too soft, or can dog training be done differently? :)

I really have no desire to train my dog through force; I’d much rather have a dog that wants a cuddle than one that’s just trying to avoid a lead jerk.

Anyway, I’m going to keep visiting other clubs in my region. I just wanted to share this experience which has left a really bitter taste in my mouth, especially coming from "dog training professionals".

Have a great day, everyone.

Translated from French
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14 answers
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    • Emla
    Emla Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m with Flip cockwood on this.

    Puppy classes – I’ve never really seen the point of them, other than teaching the basics to novice owners.

    During the teenage phase, however, it can be more useful for providing some structure and discipline.

    Then again, there are clubs that focus on positive reinforcement. The dog training club I went to for several years, and which I’m still in touch with, is about 90% positive-based. Admittedly, sometimes they use a bit more pressure, though never anything violent, and occasionally certain owners or dogs are even kicked out.

    This mainly positive approach also means they can’t take on some of the more "stubborn" dogs, which leaves their owners feeling quite at a loss.

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    Flip-Cockwood
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    Personally, I don't see any point in taking a puppy to puppy classes unless it’s to get them socialising with well-balanced adult dogs. And that’s assuming there are even any adults in the puppy class!!

    When you’re looking after your dog, you teach them the basics on a daily basis. If you do run into any difficulties, they’ll be specific to you and your dog, so group classes won’t be particularly helpful.

    I think puppy school is really more about educating owners who’ve never had a dog before...

    On the other hand, I think training schools can be great partners for activities like canicross, herding, truffle hunting, and so on.

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    Marcovalou
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    I honestly believe that the secret to successful training and a balanced group dynamic is trust without fear, combined with plenty of patience. I’m more convinced than ever of this, and my own experience with my pooches leaves me in no doubt. Every time we cause a dog even the slightest bit of pain or distress, we chip away at their trust and the joy they feel just being with us.
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    Tania28
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    Yes, exactly, Docline and Caroline are right; forget about those so-called pros!

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    Docline
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    As Caroline says, the best thing is going on walks with other dogs. Try to get a little local network together as soon as possible, and head to the dog parks at the right times. The main thing is to train your dog properly, not just drill them!
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    "The relevance of the messages doesn't matter, provided their form maintains this charade: the more categorically they are asserted, the more we trust their reliability; the more they are justified by cryptic remarks using medico-scientific jargon, the more we see proof of an expertise superior to our own, to which it seems only right that we submit. — Béatrice Kammerer" And? It’s just a secret code for saying he doesn't know what to write, but that no matter what we write, it’ll inevitably be hypocritical rubbish... Shush! 🥷
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    ?
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    It matters little how relevant the messages actually are, provided the way they are delivered maintains this charade: the more categorically they are asserted, the more we trust in their reliability; the more they are justified by cryptic remarks using medical and scientific jargon, the more we see proof of an expertise superior to our own, to which it seems only right that we defer. — Béatrice Kammerer And?
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Puppy classes at these clubs... To be honest, they’re not exactly the best idea if there aren't any stable adult "nanny" dogs there to interact with the pups and keep them in check.

    Plenty of owners have ended up disappointed when their pups, after attending these "schools", turn into little terrors or become hard to handle. Without an adult dog present, no one is teaching these little hooligans proper boundaries or healthy social cues with their own kind.

    As for the methods used at that club, they’re really outdated. Using force just makes dogs unstable and fearful of their owners and people in general—it’s closer to animal cruelty than actual training. Honestly, run for the hills; there are much better options out there!

    You can also find clubs that are "100% positive" (constant treats, zero boundaries, etc.), but it’s usually better to find a middle ground. You’re not going to traumatise your dog by using a firm voice or a quick lead correction, and you don’t need to rely on treats for every single step they take in the right direction.

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    C
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    Enclosed spaces aren't always the best place to meet socialised dogs. I’d recommend group dog walks; people stay on the move, the dogs follow their owners, and there’s much less chance of any tension brewing.

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    G
    Gregobe Icon representing the flag French
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    That’s exactly what I thought about the little Shiba; he’ll end up getting aggressive in a few years and they’ll come out with that same old line: "I told you so, you weren't dominant enough with him." To answer @Matrubuetmoi, I really pictured puppy classes as a bit of a playground for them—a chance to play with other pups their age and well-trained adult dogs to develop and reinforce their social cues. I try to make sure my puppy meets as many dogs as possible, but I suppose I naively thought a dog’s well-being would be the top priority at a training club :s Thanks for your replies, I’m still holding out a bit of hope and I’ll keep up the search for a decent club, if such a thing still exists! :)
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