Dog training in Edinburgh

Michelle · Master

Dog training in Edinburgh

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Michelle, I'm in a similar boat and haven't found a suitable one yet, but I'm hopeful Viv, who runs the classes in the west, will hold a one-day workshop for us East coasters soon

Marie

PS Was it yourself and Jet Mason and I met in the Links the other week??

-- Edited by tootsmazza at 11:00, 2007-02-19

Michelle · Master

I think I maight have found one or two in the area so I can let you know how I get on!

Yeah I think it was yourselves that I met in the links, I didn't realize till a day or two after that you were the same people! you'll probably see us again in a cloud of black and bright blue muzzle as we jump after another dog although I was quite proud of him today as we walked past two big sheepdog types quietly at the fourth attempt!

Jet seems to be responding well if we give him a lot of reassurance before we go past other dogs and if allowed to stand and look at them a bit. He's still doesn't like it when they get close but he's improved a bit on what he was before.

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Mason was v. unsure of other types of dogs when I first started taking him down the Links. He would freeze and stare at each new breed we encountered with a lot of distrust. Thankfully he didn't react aggressively, apart form the odd growl, and over time he has begun to accept these strange creatures. He still gets a little freaked when coming across something new, a Basset Hound completely stumped him last week. Generally now he tends to ignore most other dogs, he certainly doesn't want to play with them.
It just takes patience and a lot of reassurance and caution. Stick with it, I'm sure Jet will get the message eventually

On the subject of classes check sizes before going along. I tried the Midlothian Dog Training Club in Gorebridge recently and there were more than 30 dogs in the session

It was far too much for Mason who buried his tail right between his legs and was clearly distressed. I left halfway through, especially when the first thing they wanted him to do was sit

yeah, right!
GL
Marie

max · Enlightened One

I took Cas to the East Lothian training classes and because of the high numbers they split the class in two. Cas did learn to sit and now does it with a just a finger gesture, she passed her bronze and I am going to phone them to ask when the next classes start as I want to enrol Rag. If you like I can PM you when they start.

Nora

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

max wrote:

I took Cas to the East Lothian training classes and because of the high numbers they split the class in two. Cas did learn to sit and now does it with a just a finger gesture, she passed her bronze and I am going to phone them to ask when the next classes start as I want to enrol Rag. If you like I can PM you when they start. Nora

Nora, where are the East Lothian classes held, I'd love to be able to get Mason to sit or at least go into a down on command. He will lie down if asked - eventually - but its more a collapse onto his side than an alert down on his haunches

Marie

max · Enlightened One

Hi Marie the classes are held in Aberlady on a Wednesday evening. The first class is just the basics for the bronze good citizen and you can go on to silver and gold, they also do agility classes and the trainer owns a whippet and lurcher so she knows sighthounds well and thier capabilities. I have phoned and left a message so someone should get back to me and I will let you know when I hear something. I always took a vet rug with me for the lie down as Cas did not like the wooden floor which caused bit of amusement in the class. LOL.Nora

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Great Nora, thanks. The rug is not so daft, part of Mason's problem in Midlothian was his refusal to lie on the wooden floor and settle down. He clearly doesn't like a cold tummy, I'll be taking a blanket along next time as well

Marie

max · Enlightened One

Kathleen got in touch today and the next bronze class starts on the 18th of April, I have booked a place for Rag and she says that there are another four bookings in already. I have asked her to pencil you and Mason in and I will PM you her phone number as she will need more details from you or if you decide not to take the class you could let her know.

Nora

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

max wrote:

Kathleen got in touch today and the next bronze class starts on the 18th of April, I have booked a place for Rag and she says that there are another four bookings in already. I have asked her to pencil you and Mason in and I will PM you her phone number as she will need more details from you or if you decide not to take the class you could let her know. Nora

I've spoken to Kathleen and signed myself and Mason up for the April course

She sounds v. positive and I'm quite excited to see what potential my boy has.
Thanks Nora

Sunny girl · Master

Good luck with the classes Marie,

Mason will surprise you. Him and Sunny are very similar and i thought Sunny was untrainable, but after going to Vivs one day training class Sunny just amazed me, she now does lots of commands including Bowing and lying down flat out playing dead and just loves her clicker training.

Sunny will never sit to command, you can see it is just to uncomfortable for her and this is what i liked about Vivs training she had an understanding of greyhounds and knows a lot of them just don't sit, so its not something she even tries, choosing to teach other things (much to the relief of all us with non-sitters out there).

I hope the class goes well, Nora seems to have been lucky enough to find a good one, I wish there was more of them in Edinburgh.

Landess