Herr Rottweiler

Good saying. It's amazing how many people will whinge about the cost or one of the many other factors that I spoke of earlier yet I've lost track of the amount of calls I've had over the years where people are begging me to come over for a private lesson and will pay anything because the dog is either costing them a small fortune or one of the partners has given an, "or else" direction. The problem which I try and explian to people is that the longer it's left, the more the problem with fester. People have to understand that even when you're not training your dog, it's still learning.

Good attitude

The bottom line is, which i'm trying to make is; 1. If you buy a dog, be prepared for expenses and budget for them 2. You need to set aside at least an hour a day for them

Yes I agree CC, I've met some quality people over the past 16 years and some of those people have become close friends.

When I was working as an electrician, people used to think that if you stuck a power point on a wall it would fill up with electricy and start working. They were actually shocked when they discovered that some work is involved to get it to that point. The same can be said about dog training. People turn up, want 2 years of behaviour stopped in one lesson and then lose faith when they discover there are no quick fixes in training. They expect the dog to be tuned like a car which is totally unrealistic. Those of us who have been involved in training know that although we can deliver great results in a short amount of time, there are still variables that need to be adhered to in order to complete the big picture. Without sounding arrogant, I can take a dog off anyone and make it look great within 5 minutes, it's not difficult for those of us who know what we're doing. The real defining art in any trainer is to impart that on to the client. The big issue is, which started my rant in the first place, is how bone lazy and selfish people can be to their dog and the rest of their family. There have been may times over the past few years where I have been brutaly honest with people and told them that they shouldn't have a dog. Some of these idiots would have difficulty in keeping a Tamogochi alive, (a little digital pet that kids play with... no I don't have one )

Thanks for the positive feedback Tim m99. You're very right, it's a long hard road with plenty of crossroads and forks . One of our trainers the other day were giving some asian clients a bit of a hard time as they were just not interested in much about the dog. In the end she convinced them to give the dog to someone who was going to care about it as the father said, "it's just a nuisance to me". When anyone grizzles about the price of training I ask them why they went and bought a dog for in the first freaking place?? Why O Why don't people understand that there is a expense bracket in owning an animal? You are right tim m99, it's all about education but some folks think they're too cool for school.

Lablover, one thing that I might add there too is that many perspective buyers will lie through their teeth to get a puppy off you if they are determined to get what you have. I see most of them comming, however I was initially fooled by 2. You can't expect everyone on the planet to have the values that people like us have either. That's relying on perfect world syndrome which we know is totally unrealistic.

If we agreed on terms up front, I would sign them into the contract but I don't see how any social class would not benefit a puppy unless it was performed by a group of idiots. I witnessed a group of vet nurses doing a social puppy class once and it was by far the most disgraceful class I have seen to date. No talent and arrogance is a potent combination :D Puppies should be enrolling at around 10 weeks. I tell my puppy owners that they need to spend 2 weeks bonding and social work around the home then off to puppy class with an approved trainer. Any idiot that allows puppies to run riot and dominate each other once again just goes to show how ignorant and stupid they really are. Sigh, so many dog trainers, so few good ones. Funnily enough, not much happens in the greater dog training community that doesn't cross my desk. The owners of the two pups that I took back both thought they were far enough away from me to pull the wool over my eyes. They got a shock when I turned up on the door steps with a crate. When I started training it was so cold that frost would settle in around us. I know that we're all different and prepared to tolerate different elements but I figure if i have the pets, I'm responsible to give them the best oportunity possible. I expect no less from my puppy buyers especially considering that I breed Rottweilers. Yep, amazing how lazy people always have a scape goat! They desrve to have the dog taken off them and a size ten boot up their ass :rolleyes:

I have something very similar in my purchase contract for a Rottweiler puppy that states that they must enrol in a social class and train there pup to at least a Basic level. If this has not been done by the time the dog is 3 months old I take it off them at their expense. Before any money changes hands, before they even look at the puppy, this clause is explained in detail. From 45 pups that I have bred, 2 have been collected by me and rehomed. Hell hath no fury like a Herr Rottweiler scorned

Even if the Government introduced this and told people that the revenue raised would go back into better ammenities for dog owners etc would be great. The only problem is that when the government get involved with regulating anything they tend to create more problems and take things to extreme levels by only getting advice from the idiots that run the RSPCA.

At ADT we have hundreds of those "make a difference" moments where owners get shown techniques to get their dogs under control. Unfortunately, the issue that is annoying me at the moment is, Pure ugly laziness! Just couldn't be bothered, interrupts with my life schedule bone laziness. My favourite saying is, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". I always give full marks to a person I see train their dog to an Advanced level with any trainer as they have proven their resposibility. Hell, I even give marks to people who just stick with training but the percentage of people who look into training, decide that it's to much, to hard, to cold, to hot, to crowded, to few, to far, to many dogs etc etc. These people should own a cat or better still, a slug

I did say "Abaracadabara" But you're right Steve, No wand

This is one issue that I find very annoying. People that cancel their dog training after only a month or less with the excuse, "We love the dog and all but he's just too much for us right now so we had to rehome him because he's just too much dog". I'm not an advocate of strict pet ownership laws but excuses like this sometimes make me wish for licensing to own a dog like they do for wildlife and mandatory obedience. I understand that some dogs are villians and it takes great effort for people to learn to control them but I see to much evidence of quick disposals that it makes my head spin. My rant!

It was Heavens to mergatroid, said by snagglepuss Snagglepuss <--click it

Thanks Erny and Jaybeece for your understanding It's against my nature to hurt or taunt animals as I see no joy or benefit to it. I love my dogs and many of the dogs that my clients have and I would never condone anything that portrayed cruelty to them. Erny, you have my word

Jaybeece, even though you interpreted my post as condescending that was not the vein it was intended. I understand your point of view and I'm not being emotional about anything I'm posting rather I'm attempting to be practical and i'm genuinely against anthropomorphism as I see it filling dog pounds. To be clear to anyone reading this, striking an animal in frustration with anything, (chains, halti's, leads etc.) is absurd. Even though I have smacked my dogs before I have had no adverse side effects from it as it was justified as a correction and it was never through frustration or anger as that is most definately bond deminishing. Please be aware that 3 out of 4 of my dogs are working breeds but even my pug is stronger in standing up to me than my 60 kg Rottweiler and is definately a candidtae for a good smacked bottom . None of my posts are about condoning belting dogs, they are merely pointing out that; a corection, is a correction, is a correction! Saying never ever ever under any circumstances is ignorant and unrealistic. I understand that some people on here have strong feelings against this and that's their prerogative but don't bully people into thinking like you do as i find many folks to be hypercritical when it suits them.

I would rather finiliase the situation with my flesh attached rather than experiment with ways to get the dog off. Who carries a break stick in their pocket? While I agree there are methods that you have mentioned that may work, I witnessed a dog rip the whole ear off another dog when one bright spark grabbed it by the back of the legs and pulled! As far as being violent towards a dog I think your statement is being rediculous as you are reading into my comments exactly what you want to make your point which other have done to Scope. I'm discussing a defensive action in a hypathetical situation where striking the dog may be neccesary. My point Jaybeece in case you missed it was, ONLY AS A LAST RESORT & if the punishment fits the crime.

Speeding in a car is not OK, drink driving is not OK, black mail is not OK, adultry is not OK but people still do it and regret the consequences afterwards which Scope did when she punched her dog. She realised that what she did was wrong, had the courage to face her conviction and asked for help. How many people hit their dogs and never own up to it? Scope, you did the wrong thing in that situation but you know that allready and I admire that you can front up to the firing squad. If you need help, you know how to contact me.

I know Scope quite well and have had her come to the Rotty club with Husdson for some training. Considering what a strong minded and powerful dog Hudson is, Scope takes all care and resposibility with how he conducts himself at training AND does a great job of it where many other people would give up on him or recommend him to a security home. With what Steve has said above, I agree with him 100%! Scope does not need your angered scorn for something she is fully aware is wrong and had the guts to post it on the list. I'm not recommending that anyone needs to admire her for doing this rather they should be aware that this is a cry for help not to be chastised. As for people hitting their dogs, 80% of the people that I have dealt with over the years have admitted to hitting their dogs at one stage or another. 19% out of the other 20% probably did too. Whether it's open or closed hand, it's still a hit and where most times it unjustifiable or unreasonable there have been situations where people have explained their motive and I agreed that they were in a difficult circumstance. Have I smacked my own dogs? Yes! Did it dimish the relationship? NO! Did it improve the sitaution? Yes! Did the punishment fit the crime? Yes! Was there an altenative at the time? No! Now don't be stupid and read this thinking that I condone brutality to dogs or animals, as I have regularly made it clear that I despise cruelty to animals as it is an indication of a coward. To say to some one that you should never ever hit a dog in ANY circumstance is rediculous! What would you advise someone to do if a dog was hanging off them or a family member? Yes this situation is extreme, but ask yourself this and be resonable, Would you stand there and negotiate with the dog or would you defend yourself? I know this is a public forum guys and everyone has the right to post their responses but try and be a little analytical about what is being said before the daggers are produced. HR

My method has always been, read what's before you and train accordingly. There is no one way to train a dog and for those that think there are, I genuinely pitty the dogs and owners as this is a sure way to keep filling up the shelters. I frown on fashion training and those that milk money out of people by selling what people want to hear rather than want they must know and do. The owner and dog team need careful scrutiny before training as our job generally involves teaching the handler the skills to correctly manage their dog for the next 10 to 15 years. There are thousands of people ready to give advise on how something should be done and probably 5% are capable of doing it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a crack at anyone in particular but when you've mentored under one of the greatest dog minded people in Australia it opens your eyes wide to who's a doer and who's a talker.

I remember the bandages on your hand Erny! I also remeber the pain you were in because of it and the fact that it took ages to heal. I think you're right about the 9m lengths but they will custom make them to peoples requirements too

nylon will burn the skin off your hands if the dogs pulls it and it gets heavy when it gets damp. Good luck though

You can buy them from ADT. 5 metre or 7 metre. made from a water and weather proof lightweight material, life time guarentee on the manufacturing and comes in red, blue or black. Best range of leads available. You can call Fotina on 9761 2772 if you wish to order one

Erny, all I can say is that there should be a gag clause in the freedom of speech constitution

Sorry! I don't agree with that. If it's a critical period issue then you may have the good fortune of improving the situation to a resonable state, however if you don't remain consistant in your training schedual you may find that the behaviour returns rather quickly. A very technical but brilliant book that will support what I'm telling you is called; Genetics and the Social Behaviour od Dogs by John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller