Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

If you are ever in a safe, social setting with your dog, let them dance. (Petco may not be that setting for some dogs and that's okay.) Safe and Social. Not every dog is a happy go lucky dog that wants to be greeted, I know that more than most. Again, it's our jobs to make that judgement call and t...

Yeah, I would have probably told you by the end of class one. In my class on Mondays (we're on week two today) I have 3 dogs. 2 yorkies (the pet parents are sister in-laws) and a pug. The pugs mom has worked with sled dogs all of her life so we spent some private time talking more about my methods a...

First off, okay there's nothing in my training that makes me able to be a service dog trainer. That shouldn't be even relative to Petco. However, managers tend to not mess with that the dog trainers are doing as it can be a big cash cow for the company. Just like my "mentor" was "appr...

I have yet to meet a trainer from Petco that genuinely understands Positive Reinforcement. Most of them seemed to believe that CM's methods ARE positive methods. The ones that I have encountered seemed to be urked by any opposing opinions and went into defense mode. I wouldn't assume all of us thin...

Being a dog trainer for a company that is well known, and getting ready to start puppy playtimes, (which are free from us) a trainer does NOT PIN A DOG. If a trainer pins your dog, you go find a manger. If a dog is getting too rough a trainer may pick the dog up and see if the other pups are coming ...

OHHH! We got the Greyhounds in today! Oh I love retired racers so much., cute little deers :3 Can't wait to have my own home so I can foster like my parents did when I was a kiddo. :) " Obviously the classes are geared more for socialized dogs who do not react around other dogs. Even when we go...

Petco mentor trainer here. :) The current curriculum is written partially by Patricia McConnell and in conjunction with Karen Pryor. Not too much clicker training, but definitely using marker words. I'm happy with my job, though there are many in the company I would NOT recommend. Hell, there are m...

@DianeLDL - Thank you! I have a friend that does AKC shows and I am even put off to her advice. "Don't let a dog pass a threshold before you, that's being dominant over you." Not how I view it. If I have a handful of treats, those dogs are eager to get going. I don't agree with the Alpha w...

@Judyn - Eventually. The boyfriend and I are living in a home we rent with my parents. Currently there are 2 dogs and I've known these guys for years. They're my personal guinea pigs! :) The boyfriend is deaf and he is going to need a service dog soon, so I would love to eventually work my way out o...

Hey folks! I just wanted opinions on Petco/Smart dog trainers. I hear they are taboo and awful, but I have been hired as one and am excited to begin my dog training journey. Thankfully, I want to do training on a log term basis, and am doing my own research. Petco is my foot in the door. Let's do an...

Hi guys! I joined this forum because I was recently hired at a Petco as a dog trainer here in Colorado. I am getting ready to start that training in November. Fortunately, Petco isn't enough for me. I am doing so much research myself that I am ahead of the game. I am hoping to become an excellent tr...