Pompous Trainers

I've been searching for a gundog trainer that has experience with HPR's and are within reasonable driving distance so I can continue with Flynn's training.

I spoke to a very well known trainer in person a couple of weeks ago when I attended her seminar and she simply wasnt interested. She politely took my details but i've heard nothing back. I was then given the details of another respected trainer and spoke to him this morning. Before we even got down to details I didnt like his tone, he was condescending and self important.

Now, i've come to realise that Flynn will not make a true working gundog. If I was a roughshooter then he would do the job for me well, but when it comes to organised shoots where money, reputation, integrity and manners are involved then he wouldnt make the grade. He has 2 behaviours which would be seriously frowned upon and they are a hard mouth and a noisy disposition (he was a noisy pup in the litter, it's something i've never managed to get to grips with and at his age, its too ingrained for me to change dramatically).

Anyway, as soon as the trainer discovered that I didnt want to work Flynn, my aim was working tests and scurries and a highly trained pet, he lost interest. His reply was "wirehairs arent pets" and then he proceeded to tell me that they need lots of exercise, lots of free running at distance and assumed that Flynn got none of that and that I had no control over what my dog did. He also said that at 4 years old there was nothing more that he could be taught

Ok, I know this guy trains dogs to a high standard but is my money not good enough? Just because Flynn is a pet doesnt mean (in my eyes at least) that he doesnt deserved to be trained to a similar degree and that he cannot fulfill his potential within the limits that exist. I'm trying to do what is right by my dogs breeding, trying (unlike many other owners) to give my dog a full life and i'm banging my head against a brick wall. Jed will never compete in agility or obedience so does that mean I shouldnt take him to the classes?

I had a bit of a rant about this on a gundog forum and the replies so far have proved my theory right. Basically, the consensus is if a gundog isnt destined for work then there is no point doing any gundog training with it and that it isnt worth a trainer taking on. I'm getting a bit disillusioned with the whole gundog scene. I love what the dogs do but I find the people a problem. They turn up in their Windsor tweed looking down their noses at you because your dog doesnt have FTCh after it's name (ok, mass stereotype but thats the mood i'm in today!) There is so much "my dog is better than yours" and general snobbery that it irks me, but I guess you get that in all disciplines. Anyway, i've got an appointment with this bloke in April but i'm not expecting much, looks like i'll be trying to muddle along by myself.

I also remember taking Jed along to a Schutzhund class. Before the trainer even clapped eyes on Jed he remarked "you want to do schutzhund with a collie?" in a really stuck up way despite their website stating it was open to all breeds. I was going to give Flynn a try but decided they could shove it where the sun doesnt shine.

The phone conversation this morning has been playing on my mind all day and it's really got me down tbh. I guess it's my own fault for purchasing dogs without any real aims in mind and dabbling in various things without deciding what I want. I would try switching from gundog work to my original plan of working trials but i'm wondering if this is too late to start with a 4 year old dog.

I'm just having a rant because i'm feeling really p***ed off and i'm at the point of giving up really because the whole thing has deflated my enthusiasm. If anybody has got any stories about pompous trainers then feel free to share them

I took Shamus GSP to a working trials club. I hadn`t had him long. He was very willing but had never done anything before. I suspect he`s spent all his life in kennels before being dumped.
Anyway we had to try a little jump. Shamus had no idea what was wanted so fell over it. The trainer sneered at us and made fun of Shamus and everyone laughed. We left and never went back.

On the other side, I did meet 2 gundog trainers at a tracking workshop. There were all sorts of dogs there, including non gundogs - and Daisy who was still a bit reactive. They were lovely. Really encouraging and nice. Husband and wife team. One worked with a clicker, the other used lures & play rewards.

BTW I started WT with my 5yo rescue Laddie and we had a brilliant time. We had to stop when he developed spondylosis but we really enjoyed it. But I`m not competitive - I just enjoy learning new things.

s*d em!!!!

i remember years ago walking into an obedience class with a lovely wee sibe pup... they sneered at me ..''that will never retrieve''.....needless to say... she learned to retrieve,passed her kcgc(so proved them wrong)...got a collie(which they were exited about) and left and started agility lol.

Pompous trainers are asses to be sure
Who do they think they are?

Not sure where you live, but it may be better to try something like an APDT trainer who also does gundog work, I believe there are a few around.

Also Helen Phillips at Learning about Dogs does gundog stuff, and I am pretty certain that they will accept other breeds.

Wys
x

Agree, s*d 'em!!!

Don't let the attitude get you down. I think what you're trying to do is wonderful and more owners should be like it. So many people get working dogs for pets and give no thoughts to their nature and what they were bred to do. There should definately be more opportunities for pet dogs of working breeds to have an outlet for their instincts. I'm planning to get a Toller as my next dog (many years in the future!) and had considered doing gundog work with it as it's a working breed, but maybe not now!!! I wouldn't want to go on actual shoots but would want to participate in trials with dummies....I'm sure that would be frowned on!

Chin up, hopefully you'll find a nice trainer soon and of not keep training him yourself

Btw I haven't read it but have you read "The Pet Gundog", it might be of interest?
http://www.thepetgundog.co.uk/links.aspx

I hate that sort of snooty attitude, there is just no need for it, but unfortunately I can imagine it being fairly prevalent in the shooting/working gundog fraternity

How about trying to find a friendly gamekeeper with well trained dogs, and seeing if he/she would be willing to help? Do you have any working shooting estates near you?

That is a real shame, Leanne. The 'trainers' you have experienced sound like real idiots.

Shame you are not down my way because the trainer I haved used on-off for years now is excellent...experienced in all breeds (including HPR's) and very encouraging to pet owners.

I've actually had the opposite experience and found the gundog fraternity here to be very nice and welcoming. Maybe it is a bit different 'up North' (Nottingham is up North to me )?

Snobs seldom look in any direction other than down.

Some good suggestions here already, eg: getting someone whos got a trained HPR dog & ask if they'll help you.

Or phone a 'normal' personal dog trainer & explane your prediciment, the 'normal' trainer may rellish the oppertunity to increse his/her knowlage & do some reserch to help you.

Don't let it get you down. Some people's attitudes aren't very helpful.

I wanted to join a clicker training class with Cherry just to keep her exposed to new dogs but the trainer/behaviorist just said that I had missed the "critical socialisation period" during puppyhood ( I never even had her then!) and it was too late. Left me feeling very depressed.

The obedience class I used to go to had a very rude trainer who was like a sergeant major and she said my dog had a stupid haircut! What has his hair got to do with anything?

Wow Leanne, you ran into some real winners there. I'm sorry you had to deal with that! It sucks when you want to give your dog a fulfilling life and jerks give you such an attitude.

I've heard of some of that happening in agility, where trainers won't train anything but BCs or Aussies. It was part of the reason I chose my trainer. Her personal dogs are Vizslas and Siberian Huskies.