It has come to my attention that there was a misunderstanding between my girlfriend and the dog trainer and this is not exactly how the offer was done. I apologize for posting this.

lepp1892 wrote:

My girlfriend currently has Gabby at her place in Gainesville, GA. She went to a dog event at the local waterpark and while she was there the owner of the daycare she takes her to was there and she was talking to her about Gabby. The owner of the day care is also a certified dog trainer and was saying how smart Gabby is. She wants to make Gabby her Demo dog. She offered to train Gabby for basically nothing if she is able to use her as a demo dog. Even if we don't let her use Gabby as her demo dog (she would have to be able to take Gabby to events to show people her training abilities and things like that), she still wants to train her at a reduced cost. She went on about how she has a waiting list for people wanting her to train there dogs and about how good of a trainer she is. This is the first time a trainer has done this and I was just wondering if this is something trainers do to get people to pay for their services or if she really thinks Gabby is some sort of wonder dog?

We have put a lot into her training since we got her so if anything it is nice to here that other people think she is a well trained dog.

Anyways, long winded story.  What would you do? Trying to gauge the craziness of this.

A few Google searches left an odd taste in my mouth.  Is this the same <name omitted at request> who's the real estate agent?  If it is then this lady should really have her hands full.

Looked at her Facebook page which was "cute" (and if you've read much from me at all, I don't appreciate "cute") the links out of her FaceBook page did *NOT* point to her as a trainer but to a k9search engine (first time I've run into that!)

She may be so busy that she hasn't had time to do anything with her FaceBook page but the entries on it are all over a year old.  You (or your friend) may know different, but this, *to me*, does not look like someone I like hauling *my* dog all over creation as an example dog.  

BTW, and this is a bit odd - she wants to use your dog, who *you* have trained as an example of *her* training abilities?  

Personally, I'd be uncomfortable ....

I agree with Al. It sounds a off to me. I know I wouldn't do it, but I'm pretty skeptical about everyone (Dog theft here is UNBELIEVABLE). The last thing you want is for her to take off with Gabby.

I do not think I would be worried that she would run off with Gabby. Unless she planned on running off and leaving the business she owns. I had met her before and she seems like a very nice person. She also has a website that is also outdated. I will give it to her that she just became the owner of a doggy daycare and has probably has had her hands full with the newly acquired business. Also Gabby is fairly well trained but is in need of some refinement and some reliability.

Kyle, I too agree with Al. I too find it odd to go from real estate to doggy day care, but that doesn't bother me as much as using someone else's dog to show off training. That to me says she is not a good trainer or she has never had a dog and/or doesn't have a well trained dog to use as an example. As far as refinement and recall, you should be the one participating in the training with your dog. Just my 2 cents, but I am not buying the whole story here.

me too, it just seem to good to be true and very strange to me. and you would also miss out on bonding time with Gabby wail you guys train her.

I personally wouldn't go for it. Even if it was legit the fact that she can take your dog out at her will is too much I think. Look into your local shelters. A lot of them offer training at lower costs. Overall it does seem a bit shady.

Demo dogs are nearly always the trainer's own dogs (unless they train to service level, then they'll use a dog currently nearing the end of training). I have never heard of a trainer using someone else's trained dog (even partially trained!).

I wouldn't let mine near her.