During Obedience Class...

[OliveOil]

We take our other dog to obedience classes at Petsmart and we decided to take Olive along with us just to socialize. There's a male black lab that she acts very strangely around consistently. They will run around together and play and then she goes into this high-pitched barking and sort of lunges at him and does this whiney growling thing. I don't tihnk she's being mean (I've heard her mean growl and it's VERY different) but she only does it when she's sitting next to us and he comes at us. Being a 9 month old lab he's going full tilt all of the time, and I've only seen her do it to him. Do you think that this is sort her way of tellng him to back off? I don't want her to think she has to do this because he's as sweet as he can be and gets along with our other dog great.

[RKCM]

I'm not sure exactly what your dog is doing. At the training club I attend, all dogs are expected to "leave it" if they are invading another dog's space. They aren't to lunge at other dogs and they aren't off lead with other dogs until they will come and obey a few commands.

Most dogs will lunge at other dogs that are invading their space. If that happened to me, I guess I would take the lead and turn my dog to face the other direction. I would ask the people to not allow their dog to invade my dogs space. I would think this would be a good question for your instructor. I wouldn't want my dog barking or jumping at other dogs and I'd tell them to leave it. The growl maybe a warning to the other dog, as your dog is warning the other dog. I would not want my dog growling at other dogs or people. I would think the first class is for socialization and rowdy behavior isn't what I'd think was the purpose. This is rude in even dog rules.

Some petsmart training classes are better than others. Best Wishes.

[jelly8bean]

High pitch whine and barking could be play behavior as well, so do ask your instructor. It could be more of a contained energy thing... When Indigo is trying to entice Sara to play she does the play bow, but she also does this weird bite the ground thing as well as the short barks. Also I have found all my dobies tend to use dobie dots (poke with the nose) to get attention.

[Big Dogs]

It's really hard to give you an answer with out seeing and I'm not sure of what Olives age is but here are a couple of things that it could be. I'f the male is older and larger than Olive he may be taking the dominant role which she doesn't mind while playing with him but she may not like him playing with her people and she is trying to keep him away in a non aggressive way which accounts for the high pitched barking and growling or she may have had enough of the playing and she wants him to leave her alone and is cumming to you for support I would tend to lean to the second scenario.

[OliveOil]

Big Dogs-I think that the second scenario is what it most likely is. Like I said, she's fine as long as they're out in the middle playing together, but when she's had enough she comes on and sits inbetween my husband and I.
RKCM-I agree with you about this being an undesirable behavior. My husband even made the comment "I think that this is the last time we're going to bring her." I *hope* that it doesn't come to that. I can't really control the other dog but she can control what she does. Her problem is that she's still in that puppy stage and she hasn't aquired much self control when it comes to other dogs. I'm definitely going to have a chat next time with the instructor to see what he thinks.
Like I said, I like these people and I don't want to insult them by saying "Control your dog"

[Panama]

If your purpose for bringing her to the class is to socialize her and begin training, in my opinion, the Lab is the perfect distraction. Not taking her again isn't the answer, and as she grows, it could potentially lead to something worse! Without teaching her how to handle the situation as it occurs, how is she supposed to handle it when it does happen again?

Between classes, I would recommend getting her to focus on YOU, whether it's a "watch" or "look" command or even a squeeky toy and treat as soon as she makes eye contact with you or the object. They're never too young to start training, especially focus.

[Hali'smom]

I, too agree with Big Dogs. I think Olive is kinda done playing and going back to her people, and doesn't want exuberant Lab puppy to join! I think she is trying to be non-aggressive, but still letting him know she can get there if he doesn't understand to back off. It's kind of in between play and serious.
BTW, Olive Oil, how do you like th Petsmart classes? I thought about putting my babe into them, but every time we have been in Petsmart and seen the class going on, the instructors are sitting and talking and the dogs are just lolling around by their owners feet!! On the other hand though, my brother works for Petsmart as a bather and he is always telling me of how the trainers are doing their weekly trainer get-together were they train and work with each other on class ideas and perfecting their techniques.
I am looking into several classes for her though. Just wanted your thoughts! Thanks!!

[Big Dogs]

Oliveoil I complement you on taking her to socialize at pet smart and if she is only having a problem with the Lab and is fine with the other dogs remove her from petsmart when she has had enough of the Lab if you do not want to say anything. I think the other scenario is you could position your self between the two of them and if the Lab persists there is nothing wrong with asking the owner to reel him in so that your dog can have a break.

[OliveOil]

I think I might just have my husband take her out for a few minutes if it gets too much. He doesn't listen very well to his parents...they yell "stop! back off! come here!!" and he's oblivious once he gets into his mood.

I love our petsmart class, but I think it's more dependent on the trainers. Our trainer is great--he works at a rescue shelter in the morning and then comes to do the training classes in the afternoon. He rehabilitates pits to be adopted out so he's great with behavioral training. He's got a whole pack of them at home so he's very dog-oriented. He's firm but not heavy-handed, and really discourages you from yelling at your dog. When he see's you're getting frustrated, he steps in and gives you a little break and works with the dog for a minute while you watch.
As far as how the class is structured, the instructor takes a dog from the group and demonstrates how to frame out the behavior. You practice on your own while he goes around and makes pointers and corrects you. Then you all one by one do the command for the big group.
Hope that helps--I didn't mean to ramble on :)

[Hali'smom]

Nope, no rambling! Perfect, Oliveoil. It explains now why it always seems like everyone is kind of sitting around!

[SnuzerDog]

Hope that helps--I didn't mean to ramble on :)

Please, ramble on! I have alot to learn, vicariously or otherwise! :D