by mnp13 » June 22nd, 2006, 3:15 pm
I was not clear - the trainer or someone who has trained under him should have titled a dog. (what I meant, not what I said).
If you title Sasha, having trained under him, I would consider him to have "trained" her to a title. Yes, if she doesn't title that could be entirely your fault, but there is also a level of responsibility of the trainer in my opinion. You are a unique case, as there are very very very few labs doing bitework and I doubt 99% of protection trainers have ever trained one in protection.
We had an Australian Shepherd in our club that has done very well in bite work, and has won hardest hitting compititions. So our trainer had trained an Aussie, but could hardly be called "experienced" with Aussies.
However, there are a good number of Bull breeds doing protection work, so I would expect a trainer who is "experienced" in training Bull breeds to have at least one dog titled, be it his own or a client's dog.
You can not train a Bull breed like you train a herder, and I'd venture a guess that most trainers have only trained/worked GSD's, Malinois, Dutch Shepherds and Rottweillers. Yes, trainers have to start somewhere, but I don't think a first time handler with a green should be the learning tool.
There is a training club near me that is all breed, and though they don't have many Pit Bulls who train there, there is a HUGE variety of breeds who do - I have seen well over 20 different breeds there. Those trainers, even though not specifically experienced with bull breeds, would be ok with me because they obviously know who to adapt to many many different breeds.
Michelle
Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.