I do not recommend taking your dog to Daugherty Dog Training . They utilize "the Koehler Method" of dog training, which is negative reinforcement based, utilizing choke chains and 6ft leashes. I do not necessarily have a problem with punishing a dog whom is being bad, but constant negative reinforcement teaches a dog to be scared and live in fear, fear of you, it's supposed loving owner. As for the choke chains, the internet has a plethora of info/studies by PhDs which prove choke chains are extremely physically and physiologically harmful to your dog...don't take my word for it...or theirs...look it up. So what is the real problem here....ABUSE, the way Lin Daugherty and her minion Megan jerk the choke chains for "corrections" is nothing short of abuse. A quick "pop" of the chain is one thing but when they get 40+lb dogs airborne by the choke chain...that is not a "correction" it's abuse.
This happened on multiple occasions during our first and last class. The first time in front of the 30+ people/dogs, Megan repeatedly jerked a Husky who would not heel, a few people in the crowd gasped, She quickly snapped back asking in a harsh tone "who gasped, who thinks this is wrong". Later 2 dogs got into a barking match...borderline fight, but the owners quickly handled it separating them before an actual fight broke out. Megan rushed over grabbing one of the leashes and proceeded to jerk the daylights out of the poor dog, while yelling at the owner "you have to make them like a rag doll and kick their a**". She proceeded to repeat on the other dog in the same abusive manner, and even the dog on the end of the row who wasn't even trying to fight, only barked at the commotion. Both women, but especially foul mouthed Lin, seem to pride themselves on "owner corrections" meaning they will and do yell at the class attendees. If you are not jerking your dog hard enough, they yell at you. If you do not correct the perceived problem, they may take the leash and go to town on your dog as a demonstration, as happened to at least a half dozen dogs just on the first day of class.
A few final thoughts, don't let Lin's prestige of actually training under Bill Koehler (Walt Disney's animal trainer) convince you her program is the best. Her attitude is like the "rattlesnake" waitress in the movie Hell or Highwater. Megan is nearly just as cruel with a few less swear words and without the chain smoking. Their attitudes are "our way or the highway" and "we're right - you're wrong." Unfortunately you don't find all this out until after you have paid in full, so I suggest attending a class as a visitor first (without your dog and money) just to see for yourself.
Bottom line rather than more ranting on; they are using 70 year old training methods, which are outdated negative reinforcement based. They abuse the negative reinforcement aspect of the Koehler Method by abusing aka "correcting" the Dogs into submission. read more