January 2010.
So I called the highly recommended trainer, lucky me he was starting a class that Saturday. The classes would be once a week for six weeks. I suggested to Mr. Aloha he attend the classes also, this way, we are on the same page with training Sophie.
The first day of class, I'm fussing with Sophie cause she won't listen, Ted, the trainer walks up to us introduces himself then says "Do you mind if I show you something" Me: "Uh, no" He then grabs the leash, yanks on it twice, lo and behold Sophie is not tugging on the leash. He hands her back to me and says "You try it." Which of course I do and nothing amazing happens, I think she actually yanked me a couple of feet.
Ted is by far the best dog trainer I have ever met. Looking back on that day and a few other which you will hear about later on, I feel sorry for him. He has put up with a lot of resistance from me. His approach is great, he doesn't push you to do things, he just suggest you try it.
The Pinch Collar:
Being an animal lover, the pinch collar was not an option I would have previously considered, until Sophie.
Ted asked me if I was willing to try the pinch collar, my immediate answer was no. He told me he could see Sophie was too strong for me, a regular choke chain would not be sufficient. I was very hesitant to use what seemed to me to be such a cruel devise. Ted then went on to explain to me how strong the dogs neck is, especially German Shepherds. The pinch collar really doesn't hurt them, he said. I unwillingly gave it a try. To my surprise, I was able to correct Sophie much easier with the pinch collar than the choke chain. I went home with the pinch collar.
During this class Ted was teaching us how to heal our dogs. He asked if he could use Sophie as the example, this by the way, will be a weekly occurrence. By the end of the class Sophie was walking nicely by my side. We were to go home and practice healing each day for at least fifteen minutes.
Ted is by far the best dog trainer I have ever met. Looking back on that day and a few other which you will hear about later on, I feel sorry for him. He has put up with a lot of resistance from me. His approach is great, he doesn't push you to do things, he just suggest you try it.
The Pinch Collar:
Being an animal lover, the pinch collar was not an option I would have previously considered, until Sophie.
Ted asked me if I was willing to try the pinch collar, my immediate answer was no. He told me he could see Sophie was too strong for me, a regular choke chain would not be sufficient. I was very hesitant to use what seemed to me to be such a cruel devise. Ted then went on to explain to me how strong the dogs neck is, especially German Shepherds. The pinch collar really doesn't hurt them, he said. I unwillingly gave it a try. To my surprise, I was able to correct Sophie much easier with the pinch collar than the choke chain. I went home with the pinch collar.
During this class Ted was teaching us how to heal our dogs. He asked if he could use Sophie as the example, this by the way, will be a weekly occurrence. By the end of the class Sophie was walking nicely by my side. We were to go home and practice healing each day for at least fifteen minutes.
