Holy Moley.. training class nightmare!

[jelly8bean]

Last night I took my blue baby to her first distraction proofing class. We come in and Bang! This full size great Dane Jumps up and barks and drags his owner across the floor. :eek: Indigo and I just watched in wonder..as they approached. I imediately put Indigo behind me and the trainers stepped in and started the owner working with treats to keep the dog focused on her. Geez. :mad: We spent the whole class watching out for that dog. I'm not sure I can take this.. if it isn't better next week I may ask for a transfer to another class. At one point I was baracading us in.. a plastic chair on one side of Indigo and me on the other to protect her from the other dogs in class. Everyone settled down after a while, but the Dane was a constant issue. We were stationed next to a 9 mo old rottie who was pretty good for a puppy and my baby was wonderful. I played with her and did the watch me and treated out the kazoo because it was a real zoo in class. :confused: I think the class would be interesting and fine if the Dane wasn't there. It is really scary to see something that large barking and energetically dragging the person holding the gentle leader going for your dog. :eek:

[Rich S]

There must be something about Great Dane's and Dobermans. Magnum's one true enemy in town is a Great Dane, and also the reason we no longer take Magnum to the dog park. Every time Magnum sees this dog he tries to show dominance over him. Magnum hasn't hurt him but certainly wants the Great Dane to know who the boss is.

Let us know how the next class goes.

[jelly8bean]

Actually my baby didn't do at all badly with the Dane.. the Dane did badly with everyone. He is just not in control and after thinking about it I have decided to write to the trainer and ask if they are going to do anything about it or can they move me to another class...I don't think it is worth the wear and tear on me or my dog. Not to mention that these classes are not cheap.

[jelly8bean]

Crud.... they have asked the Dane's person to switch to a CGC class, but apparently she doesn't want to. So I'm telling them I will switch. This is not training for me and Indigo, but for the Dane. I don't need to fund that with my fees.

[Kane08]

Wow, this is pretty funny cause Kane does almost the same thing at the dog park we go to! He does not get aggresive but he "talks lip" as I like to put it. Usually the bigger dogs just ignore him (young punk) but the other day this one Dane came in and Kane started on him and wow the dane was not having it! It was so funny cause after that Kane just kept his distance..Poor guy..he likes to think he is the big man on campus but seems to learn the limits. The other good thing is that most of the people who come to the parks arent like overprotective. They let the dogs figure things out as long as it doesnt get ugly. I think thats a good thing.

[jelly8bean]

My baby has been many times to a dog park.. but it is very different confined in small room on leash. The trainers are recommending she change classes but apparently she doesn't want to. How is that for being a responsible dog owner? Humph!

[jelly8bean]

I have been doing some more thought on this, and I guess I'm a bit concerned about a set of trainers that can not even manage the dog owners. If you are in a training class.. have a bad time like this one, the trainer calls you and says they believe there is a different class that would be more appropriate.. wouldn't you take that advice? Don't you think the trainer should be able to enforce that advice? I had been thinking of going to this training group for a series of agility classes a package deal.. but now I'm rethinking. If they can't get this obvious an issue managed, what about when we are off leash in agility? My dog is a very sweet and gentle girl, and if she was attacked by another dog I think it would really hurt her psyche and she might never be the same. I'm suddenly not so sure I want to continue with these trainers. It turns out there is no other class to be able to change to for us, so I can either do this one or do nothing for about 3 months. Or I could go to another trainer. Am I over reacting? I don't know.