quote:

ORIGINAL: TNstepsout

Good question. When I first signed up here I got a lot of offers for training. I really had no idea what that would mean. I had kind of the same opinion. I couldn't imagine why one needed training for what was essentially a relationship. But then I did end up in a "training" relationship.

It was a good choice for me for several reasons. It allowed me to test the waters to see if this was something I wanted without getting emotionally involved with someone. I had a lot of stress about starting a relationship and then finding out I wanted nothing to do with being submissive. I didn't want to take advantage of anyone or mislead them in any way.
It also allowed me to experience a variety of BDSM activities to see what I liked and didn't like and begin to get a better idea of where I fit in and what I wanted.

I don't think it's a bad thing, as long as everyone is clear about what "training" really means. Some may be looking for more of a formalized training in service skills, and others, like me, just wanted a safe testing ground. But I didn't go out looking for a trainer either, nor did I respond to one of the many offers. I was befriended by someone I came to trust and when he suggested how we might enter into a relationship we both agreed that a training type relationship would suit us both.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Padriag

First, many don't or can't simply because there is a great deal less community support for this than there is the training of submissives.  Take into consideration the amount of opposition you see towards training submissives and then multiply that to get an idea how resistant to the idea of training dominants many are.

That's not to say there is no support for it.  There isn't much in the heterosexual community, but among the Leathermen its was something of a tradition.  How much of a tradition and when it became so is debateable, but at some point the practice seems to have become fairly wide spread.  (And no I'm not an expert on the history of the Leathermen community).  But this at least provides one example.