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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Link (MuttManners.com)
My Mom's dog needs some training. Her dog is a Shituz mix. ETA: are they good or bad? Helpful? Well known? Thank you. 
Message edited 2/23/2010 3:02:31 PM.
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Posted 2/23/10 3:01 PM  |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
We used them and there is a good amount of ppl on this site who have. I think their speciality is really out of control/hyper/agressive dogs. (thats just my opinion) I think for basic training other trainers will do. I only say that b/c they use a bark collar and I hate the way it looks on my dog. It almost looks cruel and when I take him out with it on I get looks sometimes and people are always asking me what it is. Its a big bulky collar.
My dog has agression issues so thats why we used them.
With that being said, they are EXCELLENT. Really, really good and the training works!!!! I loved going to the lifetime classes and every year they have a bbq get together where you can bring your dog.
Message edited 2/23/2010 3:58:47 PM.
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| Posted 2/23/10 3:58 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
what is a bark collar?
my mom's dog isn't that aggresive, so maybe this isn't the right training for him then. she is having problems when my SIL drops off/picks up our nephew to babysit. Some times he nips at her, but no one else. He hasn't broken any skin with anyone.
Can anyone recommend a trainer?
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| Posted 2/23/10 4:45 PM |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
i meant to say shock collar. (Which sounds even worse) it looks similar to a bark collar.
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Message edited 2/23/2010 4:53:01 PM.
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| Posted 2/23/10 4:52 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
oh, ok. thank you.
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| Posted 2/24/10 9:18 PM |
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MrsSpring
I'm a lucky mama
Member since 1/10 7585 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
one of the trainers is actually a recent liw bride.
if you watch the videos they do amazing work.
they are more money than i can spend though.
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| Posted 2/25/10 7:52 PM |
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MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
All of My Dreams Came True
Member since 2/09 1989 total posts
Name:
Kimmie
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
What trainer just got married?? Best friends is absolutely amazing. Theyve helped sooo much with my dog Jameson. She's a special case and always helped when I needed it. Yes, they're a little pricey but you get what you pay for and its lifetime classes
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| Posted 2/25/10 9:00 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
The "e-collar", "bark collar" is really a collar that can deliver an electric shock to the dog whenever they vocalize. To anyone thinking of using it, I would say to put it on your own neck first to experience what is going to happen to your dog.
There are collars that are shock collars but which also have a vibrate feature. I've seen them in use, and it is merely to get a dog's attention and snap them out of the state of mind they're in when they're barking so you can follow up with a correction.
I would never resort to delivering shocks to my dog without exhausting all other training options first. Everyone can do what they want and it's not my business, but for me personally - I think it's the easy way out, and cruel to intentionally cause pain during training.
Message edited 2/26/2010 8:05:26 AM.
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| Posted 2/26/10 8:04 AM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
i used them and would recommend them to anyone.
i have a maltese who liked to try to "chase" every car while we would take a walk and would bark insessantly and sometimes try to nip strangers when they came in the house, thus causing our king charles cavalier spaniel to also bark when someone came in the house.
the spaniel also had a big problem with pulling when we would take walks.
not "major" problems but annoying in their own way and i had had enough. i hired best friends last summer and truly, it was the best thing i did, best $$ i spent.
ava still pulls some when we walk, mostly because of me - i don't stay on her to behave. but quinn doesn't even think of trying to chase a car and they are perfect angels, sitting on their place when anyone comes to the house, until i tell them otherwise.
if you're looking for a trainer, i wouldn't recommend anyone else.
eta - my dogs are 7 and 15 pounds... the "shock" collars do not hurt them. i have done it to myself to feel what they are feeling. it is annoying, more than anything else. the trainer will keep the vibration on the lowest level possible to get your dogs attention. they learn quick. sometimes, if their attention is grasped by another dog, you have to turn the vibration up higher than normal... but your dog isn't going to allow themself to be hurt. the vibration grasps their attention, they stop what they are doing and their behavior is corrected quickly.
i would not call it an easy way out. it is expensive and takes a lot of work. my dogs were not puppies when i went with the training... i tried things on my own... they didn't work. this was a last resort, so to speak, because i didn't know what else to do. we are all happier because of it.
Message edited 2/26/2010 11:04:05 AM.
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| Posted 2/26/10 10:59 AM |
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MrsSpring
I'm a lucky mama
Member since 1/10 7585 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Posted by MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
What trainer just got married?? Best friends is absolutely amazing. Theyve helped sooo much with my dog Jameson. She's a special case and always helped when I needed it. Yes, they're a little pricey but you get what you pay for and its lifetime classes
Kimberly
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| Posted 2/27/10 2:18 PM |
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MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
All of My Dreams Came True
Member since 2/09 1989 total posts
Name:
Kimmie
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Posted by greenfreak
The "e-collar", "bark collar" is really a collar that can deliver an electric shock to the dog whenever they vocalize. To anyone thinking of using it, I would say to put it on your own neck first to experience what is going to happen to your dog.
There are collars that are shock collars but which also have a vibrate feature. I've seen them in use, and it is merely to get a dog's attention and snap them out of the state of mind they're in when they're barking so you can follow up with a correction.
I would never resort to delivering shocks to my dog without exhausting all other training options first. Everyone can do what they want and it's not my business, but for me personally - I think it's the easy way out, and cruel to intentionally cause pain during training.
the "shock collars" are not cruel in any way. it doesn't shock, it vibrates and it's ANNOYING. i've put it on me and so has DH before we decided to go with best friends. they listen for sure when you tap it. you put it on the lowest level and only raise it if they don't listen. it goes from 10-100. i use 10 at all times. i've used higher when she hasn't listened to me and almost got herself into some trouble. like when she almost jumped the fence a bunch of times. i tap it, and she comes straight to me. it's a lifesaver. if i didn't have her trained, i'm sure she would've gotten out and either bitten someone or scared someone enough to get spca called on us. now i don't worry about those things. they have truly changed my life. she'll never be the ideal dog, but i knew that when i adopted her.
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| Posted 3/1/10 1:28 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Posted by MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
it doesn't shock, it vibrates and it's ANNOYING.
If it doesn't deliver an electric shock, then it's not the kind that I'm talking about. I made the distinction between the shock feature and the vibrate feature on some models of collars in my previous post. Sounds like you have one that only vibrates, or you are only using that option on the collar you have.
My point is that I feel for ME and my animals, that I would not resort to a collar the delivers a shock without truly exhausting all other options. I don't mean giving it a week and giving up. I mean weeks/months of educating myself and training daily. Trying different methods. Reinforcing good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.
I doubt I would ever use something that provides negative reinforcement to that degree. All dogs are different, as are people, and I was commenting on my own beliefs. I'm not telling you you're cruel, you do whatever you're comfortable with.
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| Posted 3/1/10 8:29 AM |
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lbride
Lovin' my mini man!
Member since 3/07 2475 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
it doesn't shock, it vibrates and it's ANNOYING.
If it doesn't deliver an electric shock, then it's not the kind that I'm talking about. I made the distinction between the shock feature and the vibrate feature on some models of collars in my previous post. Sounds like you have one that only vibrates, or you are only using that option on the collar you have.
My point is that I feel for ME and my animals, that I would not resort to a collar the delivers a shock without truly exhausting all other options. I don't mean giving it a week and giving up. I mean weeks/months of educating myself and training daily. Trying different methods. Reinforcing good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.
I doubt I would ever use something that provides negative reinforcement to that degree. All dogs are different, as are people, and I was commenting on my own beliefs. I'm not telling you you're cruel, you do whatever you're comfortable with.
I had them come to my house. We both put the collar on our hand - I found it very alarming. It def wasn't vibrating, more like an electric shock wave that spreads....I could only imagine what it feels like on a neck. That being said - if it keeps and animal or human safe then that's a diff. story.
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| Posted 3/1/10 8:44 AM |
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MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
All of My Dreams Came True
Member since 2/09 1989 total posts
Name:
Kimmie
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Most people that use best friends, its almost a last resort. Or other training training never worked. Its not a basic obedience type place except for their puppy class. Anyone that asks about it, everyone always responds the same way. Don't use them if you're looking for an obedience class.
You didn't say *I* was being cruel, but you did say its basically a cruel way to train and negative. I don't believe that at all. Besides, you're only supposed to tao them when they're not listening.
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| Posted 3/1/10 12:02 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Posted by MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
You didn't say *I* was being cruel, but you did say its basically a cruel way to train and negative. I don't believe that at all. Besides, you're only supposed to tao them when they're not listening.
Based on what you've said, we are actually in agreement about this.  You said that yours doesn't shock, that you're using the vibration. If it's not delivering electricity or causing pain, then it's not a negative correction to me, and I agree with you.
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| Posted 3/1/10 1:40 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
Thank you all for your responses and opinions. I will let my mom read this and let her make her own decision. I told her we could go down to a class and see what it's all about first if she wanted to.
Now when you guys say they are $$$, like how much are we talking? My Mom is retired. Thanks for any other info you may have.
Her dog seems to be a lot better after we had a couple of training classes at Petco or PetSmart (I don't remember which one she used). The trainer even came to the house twice. She bought a pinch collar I believe it's called. He seems to do pretty well with it, but still does not listen to us all that well. Especially when it comes to my SIL for some reason. But he is walking better now and doesn't pull my mom down the block. And he is only like 20lbs I think. Best Friends might be a good idea for this good. She got him at a shelter and we no idea where he came from and what was done to him. He is scared of everything.
Any other trainers out there that you would recommend for obedience training?
Thanks everyone! 
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| Posted 3/4/10 4:29 PM |
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karabara
LIF Adult
Member since 8/07 1153 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
I think that if you're comfortable using it on a child when he or she isn't listening then it's fine to use it on a dog. they have nerve endings just as humans do. i personally would try absolutely everything else before even considering a shock or vibration collar collar. i think vibration collars are the same - it's the lowest setting of a shock collar. i could be wrong, but i think it sends a pulsing sensation as opposed to one continuous shock.
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| Posted 3/4/10 6:03 PM |
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lbride
Lovin' my mini man!
Member since 3/07 2475 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
I used Matthew from BeyondPetSittingNY.com. He was a trainer at NSAL before and now has his own company. He came to our hom and trained Maggie
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| Posted 3/4/10 7:43 PM |
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MommaTo3Dogs1Boy
All of My Dreams Came True
Member since 2/09 1989 total posts
Name:
Kimmie
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
hey, i think it ranges anywhere from $850-$2000. depends if you do the in home training or the board and train for 2 weeks. the collar is what's most expensive. it sounds like a lot but its worth every penny. what exactly are the issues your dog is having?
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| Posted 3/5/10 10:57 PM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: Has Anyone Ever Used Best Friends Dog Training?
cost me $1400 for both of my dogs, that was in-home training. but it was the best $$ i ever spent
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| Posted 3/6/10 2:36 PM |
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