Good trainer's in Michigan? - Page 1

Hi all, I have been searching for a GOOD trainer in Michigan. I was looking for some good trainers by word of mouth, as I will be purchasing a DDR/CZR puppy soon, and wanted to explore all options. Please, if you plan on responding, lets keep this nice, no bashing, no names of bad breeders, only good ones. Lets give the good ones credit! Thank you!

Sorry, I should've been specific, I want first a good Obediance trainer, and then, if all goes well, a good bite work trainer. Nothing too extream, not going for Schh titles, just looking to have a good manored dog, with SOME personal protection.

Which part of MI are you in? I'm on the west side and not a trainer but may be able to recommend a couple to you.

I am in Lower Central, Michigan. By Fenton, and Holly.

i would never ever recc. a trainer for personal protection on the internet -- especially not knowing you as a person and / or your ability to handle such a dog !! most people have not an inckling of what they are tuely ask for -- i will tell you .. a personal protection dog : .. once a dog walked down that path it is no longer a pet ... it shall sustains a suspicion level much higher than the average dog [ i could elaborate more but won't ] -- and i say .. you will never let that dog off a leash in public -- i don't think you 100% know what you ask for , IMO -- also --especially if you are somewhat an experienced K9 handler and if you need protection -- i would advice taking a pistol course -- remember dogs don't stop bullets and cannot be beside you every single second in life -- this request is very serious -- why do you need personal protection ?? BTW in my opinion there is no SOME personaL protection -- either your dog is trained to defend and protect person and property or not --

Well said, Alphapup. For the vast number of GSD owners, a dog who will merely stand his ground and bark is all of the "personal protection" dog they will ever need. A personal protection is a tremendous personal liability for the entirety of the dog's life. Bob-O

Thank you for your responce Alphapup, well put. I can admit when better advice comes along, thank you for your comments

However, you're right, you don't know me. I want to do partial training with my dog, to simply heighten the drives, not push her over the edge. I want to do this because I currently breed Golden Retrievers, and I have "too friendly" clients coming into my yard without my permission. My Goldens don't bark, or defend, so excuse me for wanting a dog that will let me know when intruders come into my yard. When I said SOME personal protection, I meant of the most minor kind, I don't want to turn my dog into a vicious animal. None of my dogs are kennel dogs, they live in the home with me, eat with me, sleep in the bed with me, and drive with me. There, now you know what kind of person I am. Satisfied?

I tend to agree with ALPHAPUP. However, the key is to acquire a GSD with "NORMAL" temperament. This means temperament that fits the FCI standard and is totally sound, afraid of nothing, curious, proud, confident, demands respect, devoted to its master over everything else, wants to please its master and will defend his master if the need ever arises. I have seen many GSDs with this temperament who only need obediance training to make great family pets and who will fight 100% to defend their master and family if the need ever really arises (a GSD with normal temperament knows the difference between possible threat, probable threat and actual threat and can respond accordingly in increasingly measured aggression as needed. I have also seen a number of Schutzhund trained dogs who are completely trustworthy when leashed in public. I have slso seen unsound GSDs, Sch and not, which are a liability. The Sch and specially trained personal protection dogs tend alert much easier and quicker at any sound or persons coming & going and require more supervision in most cases. Don't ever underestimate the ability of a normally tempered GSD that is obediance trained and properly socialized (around people and other dogs as a puppy)to protect and defend its master if ever called in in serious fashion. The GSD's ability to know what the situation is and respond appropriately is what makes the breed superior to every other breed (and there are many other very good breeds of dogs)!

As a former trainer for American K9 (I trained dogs for Personal Protection and quit that, due to the mistakes the owners made, not the dogs), I will give you some free advice :) Have your dog obedience trained, but as your dog is growing up, always praise him/her when it barks at strangers then instruct it to be quite and praise it then also. All dogs are protective instinctively and will become what you are looking for with just praising it at the right times. It quickly will become a companion that alerts when strangers are approaching, instill a fear in the stranger, and if done as I have instructed you, will quite down when told to. If you are a normal person with a normal life, you don't need a man stopper, you just need something to make strangers think twice. If your dog is a GSD, you will be ahead of the game as no one really wants to mess with one of those if they don't have to. Your dog does not need to attack someone, you just need others to think that your dog MIGHT attack. That is almost always enough. To have your dog attack trained is just too dangerous because of mistakes you or family members might make, the child from next door who does something stupid, and the insurance considerations are also a factor (lawsuits included). If you are not a normal person with a normal life, put 911 on speed dial on your cell phone and live in a state where you are allowed to carry a handgun. The chances that you will accidently shoot a child are way less than the chances your trained attack dog will chew the hell out of an innocent child or emergency worker (police or ambulance worker, etc). To put it simply, get a GSD and praise it when it barks at unwanted or unexpected "guests" and all will be fine. You will have your "minor" protection and more. Take care.