[Dailydrool] Trainers

[dpmcquade at verizon.net]

<<I went on line and found dog trainers here in the south Florida area. One
of them will take her for 2 weeks and work with her numerous times during
the day and return her a better behaved animal, who will listen to commands.
He swears he does not hurt the animals, but he does prefer an electric
collar with very low voltage, but that is up to us to include or not. We
have used the invisible collar here in the house in the past to keep them
out of certain areas. Has anyone had any experience with this type of
training? It is costly, but if it will work, I will try just about anything,>>

You might do better with a behaviorist than a trainer, since the behaviorist should focus more on why the dog does what it does than simply  getting compliance. Knowing why a hound does it will enable the behaviorist to develop a gentle method of training that will really work because it will really get into the dog's head. And though such training may be gentle, do not discount how quickly it may begin to work, if you are willing to work with the dog.

Also remember that someone who takes the dog away from you and trains the dog sets the dog up to obey him. But when you get the dog back, you may find that the behavior doesn't change at all in your home because the dog has built up the behavior there and assumes it can still act that way at home. You need to be part of the training in order  to have control of the dog. No one can hand you back a perfect dog that will do all you please (as if a basset ever does everything a person wants anyway!)

I would also worry that if the off-site trainer did not have quick results that the shock collar would go on. After all, you will not be there to stop it.
When we first got involved with rescue, I was told that bassets generally do not react well to negative methods of training. They are a gentle breed that just does not accept that kind of thing lightly and can react with aggression. When our Abner's aggression was at its worst, following back surgery, I know I would have destroyed him if I had tried any harsh method, because he is a sensitive dog. It would be like taking a sensitive, fearful person and shocking them with eletricity whenever they got nervous.

Often dogs who engage in the kind of destructive behavior you describe have separation anxiety. These are nervous, insecure dogs that are superattached to their humans, who are their security blankets. They get very upset when their humans leave and take out their fear on the house. Using any negative form of behavior redirection will not work and will probably make the dog worse. Such a dog needs security. There are methods that can provide that security, if you are willing to take the time and effort.

A behaviorist may be pricier than a trainer, but your results are likely to be better. If you cannot afford a behaviorist, go online and Google "canine separation anxiety." You will find several sites that have the directions for dealing with separation anxiety. Commit to rigorously using these methods. I would also visit the vet and discuss the possibility of putting your dog on an antianxiety medication that will allow the dog to calm down enough to attend to the training.

I do not believe you really do not want to keep this hound, but if you cannot commit to being part of the training, he needs to find a home where someone can be there for him. It will probably not be a short-term problem, but success may be had with the proper intervention.
Pam, food slave to the Dashing Bassets
who has gone through some separation anxiety problems with her Belvedere