Has anyone here ever used a dog trainer?

**bribella** · 06-15-2005, 05:19 AM

We have a 3 month old American Bulldog named brutus. And he is going to be a very big dog when he grows up as his dad was about 130lbs and his mom was around 100 or so.

We have 3 kids 6-3-2 years old and we want him to be protective of them and the houese ect. but we dont want him to be aggressive when he is with the kids KWIM?

Anyway I had him at the vet yesterday for a check up and shots and she reccommended that we us a trainer for him since he is going to be a large dog.

He is already bigger than my 2 yr old Bella LOL

So has anyone here used one or taken their dog to obideince(sp) school?

Is it expensive?

He is good dog so far he does like to chew things but he is a puppy after all and his milk teeth are getting ready to come out. soo

TIA

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**chanbe** · 06-15-2005, 06:37 AM

If you're worried about aggressiveness,I would suggest an actual "trainer" over obedience training "classes".Classes are generally held in a group;and teach basic commands,which you can then practice at home.I know someone that had an agressive German Shepherd and they had a trainer come to their home.Because the dog was actually the most aggressive at their home because he considered it "his" territory.The trainer was excellent,and that dog turned out to be the most obedient dog I have ever seen.Much more obedient than dogs that had just went through "classes".I would also suggest starting while the dog is young,before he gets too "set in his ways".We used to have an English Mastiff that wieghed 185 lbs.We had to find him a new home (with room to run & no kids) because when he was 2 yrs old,he was hit by a farm tractor and by the time he was 3,his hip bothered him with arthritis-so his "tolerence" level was very low around children.He had always been just a big, goofy,stubborn dog that we never worried about.He knew "basic" commands-just didn't listen real well-LOL.When he finally started showing agressiveness,it was kind of too late for training because he out-wieghed me and was very set in his ways.I know the "classes" are pretty inexpensive,but I don't know about a trainer coming to your home.From what I've seen though,the extra expense would be worth it.

**delSol** · 06-15-2005, 06:53 AM

my mother got a puppy a few years ago that was about 3 months old (stray) and he is a lab/pit/whatever else mix - he was psycho!!! you could not control him, bull in the china shop kind of stuff. We are all suckers for animals so she wanted to keep him so she got a trainer (paid like $550 for many lessons) and he turned out to be the sweetest cutest best behaved thing. he is now full grown and 85 pounds of love. nutering him slowed him down quite a bit too. he's my buddy Buster. money well spent I think

**Shann** · 06-15-2005, 10:41 AM

I agree on a personal trainer, and one with a good reputation. I went through a puppy class and my dog learned squat. She's a barker (still us..ugh) and their thoughts on how to control this was to yank the leash up on her, at one point her little paws wern't even touching the floor!

Yes I want an obidient dog, but I'll be darned if my dog is going to be choked to get that way. I think it will help if the person comes to your house and is on the dog's territory. Good luck!

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