Any training classes in East Lothian?

Rosie Hair · Rookie

Any training classes in East Lothian?

Amanda · Master

Hi welcome to the forum. We stay in East Lothian (Longniddry). I dont know of any specialised greyhound training classes in the east but if you look at the Gal shop there is a training book for Greys and Lurchers by Viv who does a lot of work with sight hounds her advice is fantastic it might be worth a read? Also if there is any particular questions or areas you would like advice in souxie is Gal's resident follow up co - ordinator and is very used to any teething problems you may have.

look forwards to hearing more from you. Norah (known by max on here) organises quite a few East Lothian walks it would be great if you could attend one)

max · Enlightened One

There are pet dog training classes starting on the 20th of September in Aberlady Village Hall. They are run by the East Lothian Dog Training club and I have just enroled Cas my Grey and Sasha my whippet if you want more details send me a PM and I will be happy to give you more details and contact numbers. Nora

The course lasts 8 weeks .

-- Edited by max at 19:11, 2006-09-01

-- Edited by max at 19:12, 2006-09-01

Sunny girl · Master

Hi Rosie, GAL hold monthly dog walks in Holyrood park on the last Sunday of every month, these are great for meeting and talking to other Greyhound owners, a problem shared and all that. Also Siouxsie, GALs follow up co-ordinator that Amanda mentioned is there to give advice. She might be able to point you in the direction of some Greyhound friendly dog training classes. Sadly alot of Dog training classes are not really that helpful for Greyhounds as the trainers just don't have a lot of experience with this breed. I visited two different classes and all they focused on was "sit" and "walking nice on the lead" they were really aimed at puppies. ( sorry Nora fingers crossed you've found a good one)

Viv runs greyhound and lurcher training classes for GAL at her center in Cambuslang. I know this is to far to travel every week but she has started running one day classes for us in the east, we went on one yesterday and it was really helpful.

If you contact Dave or Siouxsie at GAL im sure they can offer you some help and advice.

Landess

max · Enlightened One

I hope so to Landess, I have heard they are good and there has been greys and lurchers in their classes before, though I will still be playing it by ear and will know, I hope by the end of the night if the classes will be of any use. Nora

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Nora

I took Pearly to these classes last year. TBH, she didn't get very much out of them. There was a lot of emphasis on teaching the dogs to walk nicely on the lead, which most greys do as second nature. Also, quite a lot of time was spent on teaching "sit", so me and wee Pearly were standing around like numpties during these sessions. We were told to bring a raggy toy for one of the lessons - I think it was recall - but these were and still are absolutely meaningless to Pearly.

I dropped out half-way through the course. I didn't like that they queried my use of a harness of Pearly, despite me explaining the complexity of a greyhound's neck and the possible impact of sudden speed on it if she decides to lunge at something that takes her interest. TBH, I'd primarily taken Pearly for socialisation, but she was overwhelmed at being in a strange room with loads of strange dogs. She might get more out of it now, seeing as she's more confident in herself these days.

From what I recall, the people were very nice (particularly the woman I spoke to when I booked the course) and were thrilled to see a greyhound in their class so Pearly was quite the star!

Let us know how you get on.

Fiona

Steve · Master

Nora - think the most annoying thing about the classes for me was the trainer's screechy voice over yapping dogs in a hall that echoed. Drove me bonkers.

The folk were nice and the trainer has a lurcher but as Fiona said the classes were doing little for Pearly. That isn't to say that it won't work for your two as Cas and Sasha are much more further on than Pearly was at the time. Harry wasn't an option and still wouldn't be - they had too many wee doggies. When we were there there were two Yorkie pups that never appeared to have legs - just seemed to glide over the slippy floor being pulled by their owner. I'm sure it was a dog as it had two beedy eyes and a funny wee tongue that kept going in and out.

There were plenty of labs etc which loved every game - Pearly just stood and wondered what the fuss was about - greyhounds eh!

Good luck anyway - I'm sure Cas and especially Sash will love it.

max · Enlightened One

Sasha was far too advanced for the training and was completed bored with the repitition, so I have started taking Cas myself. She is doing very well and behaves with no barking, has learned sit, down, stay, stand, wait and come. Her recall has always been her biggest problem but I have been working on "come" at every opportunity in the house,down the beach etc and it is working well. We did not make it last week as my back was playing up but we will be back on Wednesday and probably have a lot of catching up to do. I will let you know if we get our bronze !

Nora