I sent you that link because I thought that an opinion from someone you respected might change your mind. Your trainer is very clear about this kind of training. I get the sense reading your posts (”but I can live with that”) that you don’t work your dogs but enjoy them as companions. There’s nothing wrong with that. I do think you should make allowances that there are dogs that are worked and it is best if they are properly trained. “Close enough” isn’t good enough for a working dog’s happiness.
I do work my dogs and they are companions, but as I said, I’m not in high stakes competition with them and at this point don’t feel the need to use pain, which George says is necessary w/ the force fetch. I went to him to learn how to teach the dog to hold point and for backing. I’m disappointed I’ll be missing the field fun this season, but am due in February and pretty much gave up on training in the heat of the Florida summer during my first trimester of feeling overheated even when I was in the A/C. :)
I’m not sure what you’re trying to change my mind of; I didn’t think I was disagreeing with you. I don’t have any problem with someone using that method to train their dog and one of my girls, if I decide I want to do senior or master hunter or retrieve competitions with her, will probably require it. If I stick with just Junior competitions I won’t need it. I was just saying that I’d rather possibly screw things up myself than send my dog off to someone where you never really know what they’re doing to your dog when you’re not there.
If you have a trainer that you trust to send your guy off to I think that’s great and I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the dog that is returned to you.