Unk... I couldn't agree more. But I wondered, if a dog learns it from someone else, don't they just come back home and say"HA! You again?" And revert back to their old ways? That's why I figured I had to be the one to do it to make it "stick"
Nope, a good trainer teaches the dog the basics (sit, stay, come, down, etc) then that same trainer will work with you and the dog together,,,it takes some time and a number of sessions (depending on the dog) Maybe this is what you have planned?,,,,,but the one on one with the dog and a trainer not in a "classroom or group setting" is what works best on a problem dog at that age.
this saves you all the time required to teach those basic commands and the dog learns what behavior is acceptable (gets rewarded) and what isn't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,with the few basics down you will have to continue at home (regular sessions) but at this point that dog has no respect for you. Going to a stranger that knows what to do creates a clean slate for the dog,,,,,it also instills a vocabulary of commands (very important)
in the real world this will cost big $$$,,,,but try what I suggested earlier and work your wiles,,,maybe you can get off cheap, save yourself headaches, and turn that dog into what you were hoping it would be.
NOW,,,taking a page from Jim's book,,,,if you don't do something very soon that dog is of no use to you, and you will subject yourself and your family to an unwanted PIA for the rest of the dogs stay at your farm. Finding a home for an untrained, uncontrolled dog is not an easy chore.
good luck,,,if I was close I would offer to help ya out
