Question regarding "teacher" qualifications
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kerry wrote: I have a pet peeve about people teaching agility and other handling classes that have no basis for teaching the classes (after paying for many such classes and even more to undo what had been "learned"). What are your personal basic minimum qualifications for someone who is teaching such classes?
If I moved somewhere else and didn't already know? Word of mouth from worshipful current students who have dogs somewhat similar to mine, I guess. It's harder for someone just starting out because they're not in the trialing environment so less likely to meet/know people to ask. Advanced titles (masters level at least, depending on breed) in USDAA and/or AKC, happy students & dogs and letting me sit in on a class to observe would probably go a long way, but it's really hard to say. What are your criteria? Kristine |
Well that was the point, I guess I didn't have any defined criterion until I stumbled upon a good teacher. 
Now I would say someone who is working with a defined handling method (for agility) and shows an ability to communicate that method (guess that would mean letting me sit on on classes). Definitely someone who had recently trialed successfully meaning recent advanced titles I guess (in appropriate venues) and someone who seemed to connect and relate to my dog (okay that doesn't have to do with their quals, just another issue I have from bad experiences  )
Even in NY anybody can hang out a shingle and "teach" agility or rally and that can mean a lot of misspent money. Unfortunately I take classes with people who are teaching (heaven forbid) in other schools or clubs and I just feel so bad for their students (actually my first class at my new school my former instructor was in the same class with me - from what I can see i would never want to go back to that level of classes  ).
Interestingly all of these less than stellar teachers are at much bigger and fancier schools than the one I go to - the poor quality of teaching seems to be in directly related to the fanciness of the school  |
kerry wrote: Well that was the point, I guess I didn't have any defined criterion until I stumbled upon a good teacher.
Interestingly all of these less than stellar teachers are at much bigger and fancier schools than the one I go to - the poor quality of teaching seems to be in directly related to the fanciness of the school Well, good thing I spent the last 20 years teaching in gymnasiums, basements of churches, the local VFW hall.......to cancel out the 1 year I have been in the most beautiful multimillion dollar facility I'm at now..... 
I agree too. There is one instructor in town who does it for a living...and she was a beginner with a sheltie in one of my classes......  I get lots of her screw ups and people she kicks out of her classes because the dogs have too many "problems" to be in her classes.....her only personal training experience was with the shelties and a golden.....never competed, titled or anything....oh, don't even get me going on this one! |
| I looked until I found an obedience instructor who had a qualification from the Aust. Dog Trainers Assoc. and
she has some years experience and she has a well trained dog of her own who comes to class to help and she likes dogs, all dogs and she uses positive training methods and all the things she saiys agree with what all the experienced people here say.
She doesnt have any titles in obedience but I couldnt find anyone teaching close by who did. |
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