[DotPoppins]

Joffy and I signed up for Basic Obedience at PetSmart. We start Friday. I am very excited! It's not like he is bad, I just value the socialization and want to keep is puppy brain active. PetSmart was not my first choice, but I called an independent trainer and actually got attitude from the trainer about people "who pay outrageous sums of money for a mutt when shelters are full. Yada yada yada." The nerve of some people!! Has anyone encountered this attitude before?
Hopefully PetSmart is ok- They welcomed us and don't use chock or pinch collars, so that's a bonus.
Dot & Joffy

 

[annieG]

No, I can't say that I have found that attitude. Our trainer holds classes at the Salt Lake Human Society and so she must see how many dogs need rescuing but she is not judgmental. Neither have our previous 2 trainers been.

Sorry that you had that experience and good luck with your puppy class. One of our Petsmarts teach a clicker class and from what I saw it was quite good. The socialization in puppy classes is so important.

 

[FloridaMama]

I think in our obediance class we are one of the only ones that have a rescue dog so havent heard any comments like that HOWEVER she does a GREAT job talking down to the adults :twisted: we are looking for another trainer

michele

 

[lmtoth2]

We took 2 Petsmart classes with Dex (2 different trainers)...one trainer was a lot better than the other, but we enjoyed both classes.

 

[SadieFern]

Joffy and I signed up for Basic Obedience at PetSmart. We start Friday. I am very excited! It's not like he is bad, I just value the socialization and want to keep is puppy brain active. PetSmart was not my first choice, but I called an independent trainer and actually got attitude from the trainer about people "who pay outrageous sums of money for a mutt when shelters are full. Yada yada yada." The nerve of some people!! Has anyone encountered this attitude before?
Hopefully PetSmart is ok- They welcomed us and don't use chock or pinch collars, so that's a bonus.
Dot & Joffy

Are you going to Petsmart in Noblesville? What's the name of your trainer? We had Rick there when Sadie was 3-5 months old. He was fine. We learned some. He does tend to repeat himself a lot but he did teach us some valuable stuff. I don't know the other guy but I think he may be a little better :?

 

[DotPoppins]

Yes, we are going to Noblesville- The trainers name is Dennis. I hope the experience is good. Eight weeks could be a long time! It's nice to hear from a local doodle owner. Do you have a groomer you recommend?

 

[SadieFern]

Yes, we are going to Noblesville- The trainers name is Dennis. I hope the experience is good. Eight weeks could be a long time! It's nice to hear from a local doodle owner. Do you have a groomer you recommend?

Oh good, you probably got the better trainer!! I use Petsmart for grooming. They're experienced with doodles. I once saw them groom a HUGE labradoodle...he was chocolate and probably 90 lbs.! The girl with dreadlocks (I think she's the manger) is very good.
I've also used a place on 10th St. in N-ville. It was fine too.

 

[sdrudge]

I liked Petsmart. I am thinking of getting Cacao into the next class. We liked the puppy class a lot. Cacao did so well they would use her to show everyone how to do things.

 

[Guest]

Petsmart was ok but there was a lot of things they don't teach that Maya's trainer now is teaching. I feel like by going to Petsmart it is making it harder for Maya to re-learn some things. She did learn the basics though.

 

[doodleallday]

YES! I've heard the same thing a few times now. Comments about how Labradoodles aren't "a real breed" or "a backyard breeder's dream come true" and our doodles are just mutts and we we're all dumb enough to get suckered into paying hundreds of dollars for a mixed breed.
Also Libby and I just started obedience class, too. We have a class with the humane society and I don't like the trainer at all. I left our first session feeling like a bad owner with a bad dog. I skipped our last session just so i wouldn't have to endure the trainer again!

 

[deepnite10]

doodles are just mutts and we we're all dumb enough to get suckered into paying hundreds of dollars for a mixed breed.

that attitude came from my brother-in-law..and that they re ugly :?
he want s to get a yellow lab from a breeder and show us all his pedigree
paper s..

he had a dog when he was a kid..so he think s he s going to be able to
handle his new lab..and he s not about to listen to anything i have to say. :lol: ..so im sorta waiting to see what good those pedigree paper s
are going to be when it s house training time..

my wife s guess is that by mid 09 we ll have another dog in our home..

he s an avid golfer and so i told him to google *Tiger Woods Labradoodle*
..and that shut his mouth up real quick..

 

[L's Mom]

We took Lucas to Petsmart for Puppy Class, when we did this, it was not our first choice, but the time of the class fit our schedule... we were quite pleased with the class, since I think in Puppy Class, the BIG thing is the socialization... turns out, we had a great teacher (she has 6 dogs, and trains/competes agility and frisbee) and now Della's in her class. Funny thing is, I think she originally was secretly put off by the doodle thing, but after 8 weeks with Lucas, even she was in LOVE!!!

 

[windex]

training

You may talk to Kendra at Noble Vestal Labradoodles up in Hamilton Co. She has a breeder and a groomer who she swears by and they are doodle-friendly for sure since she approves them.
As for trainers giving you a hard time.... I already started a thread somewhere about Indy poodle people driving me nuts in my obedience school and I have decided to try to take my business elsewhere for now.
I have had a good experience getting my foster doodle groomed at Shirley's Doggie Spa on the east side of town at 30th and Franklin Rd. She was super reasonable on price and gives a discount for multiple pet families. shirleycooley.com I think is the website.

 

[DotPoppins]

Thanks for the advice all! I'll probably stick with Petsmart for basic obedience and then if we choose to go on, I'll look around.

 

[Fudzy]

How unfortunate that people really act that way. We are taking Sherlock to a local school that teaches not only obedience but breed handling, agility and many other classes. Not only was he welcome but everyone has fallen in love with him, including the teachers. I'm happy to say they treat him no differently than any other dog.