west coast trainer? - Page 2

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well spoken, Blizten. Now, can we get back to the topic?

I'm far from an expert. Infact I'm a total novice to this sport of Schutzhund. I watched an Ivan Balabanov video and really liked the training philosophy. Anyone know a trainer that trains in a similiar style?

This is an energetic, fun, sometimes zanny, in- love-with-life kind of dog that greets me every morning at 5am sharp with his face in my face, and his tug toy in his mouth,  urging me to get up and greet the day and start the play. It's important to me that he not loose  his wonderful fresh attitude. Any comment?

If I could afford it, I'd send the dog to Dean Calderon in OK. You might find someone at Stanislaus S.C. with room for an extra dog to train, Patty Garcia or Jenifer Hayes,  but I wouldn't count on it.

Good luck,

SS

Thank you, Shelley!!

I can vouch for kerri Mendoza.  She takes really nice care of her dogs, has access to good training and has trained extensively with Ivan, so is very familiar with his training methodogy and uses it wisely.  She is in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ajay Singh

www.ajaysingh.com

I would  take the recommendation of Ajay Singh (the USA Regional Breed Warden) as a very reliable source. However, I don't know if Kari Mendoza trains and titles dogs for other people. I suspect that she does have a "job" in the real world. However, she has given you her email address above. She is the USA Assistant Regional Director, I believe.

Choices for truly trustworhy people to train/title dogs on the West Coast are slim. It seems that the really good trainers devote their time to working with their own personal dogs. Make up your mind whether you expect your dog to really be trained or just titled at a club essentially "owned" by the trainer for his own "midnight trials".

Ranchinglady, I assume that you wish to have a dog from show lines trained and titled. I have seen trainers with working line dogs in Northern California (where I live) take dogs from show lines for titling, go to hard-core working line clubs, and riducule the hell out of their client dogs. While in the care of one such trainer, a very nice bitch was run over and killed.

Even worse, with one Southern California trainer, an owner began to wonder why his dog was taking so long to be titled. Upon paying the trainer a surprise visit, he found the dog's body in the trainer's freezer.

Whatever you do, visit the trainer's faciltiy and watch him as he works and titles dogs owned by clients. Get a feel for the trainer and get references from people you personally know and trust.

I believe that you live in the State of Washington. Find our where some of the people in the PNW send their show line dogs for titling. I know that Mary Bryant has sent dogs to Bogdan Sergo in Connecticut. Thomas Schoder often trains dogs for Tracy Bullinger in Canada--sometimes, trials dogs in Germany.

In other parts of the USA, I've heard good reports about Ken White in Texas and Lora Helgreth in Pennsylvania. Bascially, avoid like the plague trainers whose claims to fame are their podium achievements with working line dogs. Anne Kent is another highly respected trainer in Southern California--if she takes on "client dogs".

If you consider sending a dog to Europe for training/titling, get personal references. I made the mistake of sending a male of mine to a German trainer who had quit his regular job, built a large kennel, and taken on some 40 dogs for training. Do the math!

I have had better luck sending my dogs to trainers (or recommending trainers in Europe) who take on perhaps 2-3 "client dogs"--while continuing to work with their own dogs. Also, be aware that most clubs do no allow professional trainers to train "client dogs" on club training time unless they are preparing dogs for a coming club trial.

Thank you, Louise, for sharing so much information. I truly appreciate your input and will follow those leads!