FirstBarkThe training methods used for the AKC competition obedience classes are old fashioned, at best, abusive at worst. When I visited and talked to the Director of Training she skirted my questions regarding the training philosophy and said simply that "everyone is responsible for the…Read full reviewClose full review
The training methods used for the AKC competition obedience classes are old fashioned, at best, abusive at worst. When I visited and talked to the Director of Training she skirted my questions regarding the training philosophy and said simply that "everyone is responsible for their own dog" and said that a "training collar or harness" was required. She said a martingale collar or Easy Walk type harness was sufficient, but that a prong collar would be recommended for some dogs. Well, on the first day of the Basics class the instructor heavily pressures EVERY student to put a prong collar on their dog. During classes, the "training" strategy is to simply pull your dog around and force them to do things until they comply out of fear, the instructor actually discouraging use of treats for training. I hear other dogs whimpering and whining in class, which is not where I want to be with my dog. The training methods and instructions given are based on old wives tales, not on science. My understanding is that the puppy class, some of the higher level obedience classes, and some of the sport classes might have teachers who use more positive methods. My additional understanding is that most of the instructors are not certified trainers. This is just people who have been "doing it a long time" passing along old fashioned advice and methods, which are considered very very out of date in the year 2020 when we have a much better understanding of how to teach and motivate animals. I hope that with new generations, the club and those who teach the training classes will be open to new science-based positive training methods that don't risk the dogs' mental and physical health.