Ellie's BAAAADDDD Behavior!

[Lahree]

Thank you so much everyone for your comments. I think I will finish this class and then either take private classes from this instructor or ask about her advanced class and what dogs are going onto that one.

There is a lady who offers classes locally and she competes with Shelties in obedience and agility. Her own dogs are Shelties and she has been a trainer for 25 years. I was real excited about that until I read that she uses positive re-enforcement AND correction with a choke chain. That's not necessary for Ellie. I think it would be detremental to Ellie to have any kind of harsh correction. She doesn't need that. I was really disappointed when I read that. I was so psyched because this woman ows Shetlies.

 

[Lightplum]

Thank you so much everyone for your comments. I think I will finish this class and then either take private classes from this instructor or ask about her advanced class and what dogs are going onto that one.

There is a lady who offers classes locally and she competes with Shelties in obedience and agility. Her own dogs are Shelties and she has been a trainer for 25 years. I was real excited about that until I read that she uses positive re-enforcement AND correction with a choke chain. That's not necessary for Ellie. I think it would be detremental to Ellie to have any kind of harsh correction. She doesn't need that. I was really disappointed when I read that. I was so psyched because this woman ows Shetlies.

ohhh thats kinda sad to read....I have never trained my with a choke collar...although there are days where it has crossed my mind with my male... Im surprised she trains shelties that way they are generally very easy to train because they want to please thier owners and harsh critisism usually works the opposite way in dealing with shelties....

 

[Katherine]

I'm very empathetic to your situation. I wonder if adolescence hasn't brought a little fearfulness / stress with it ? That's certainly possible.

I'm having some success using the Control Unleashed "go to your mat" / mat work technique with Snap. He may be THE MOST reactive sheltie on this earth ! I take my mat into obedience class and to agility with me and use it like a "re-set" place. He loves it, feels secure on it, and knows that he gets treats on it for being there.

 

[labgirl]

I wouldn't panic, she is still a baby and if this has only happened once then it could be just a one-off, and if it isn't there is plenty of time to sort it out

Cadbury was a nightmare at my first two training clubs (that's right the FIRST two). Cadbury is a lab, highly excitable and very friendly! He can be boisterous.

The first club the trainer punished owners for their puppies misbehaviour - like pup setting a foot through the door before I did, using public humiliation. I think I lasted 3 or 4 weeks before I came home in tears one night and refused to go back.

Second club there were simply too many dogs - Cadbury is not a barker, but all sorts of odd behaviour raised its head when he was crammed into a hall with all these dogs. He was stressed, he panted heavily, he even growled at a dog (that is very unusual!), he was appalling on lead and then he would get home and just crash out!

So now I'm at my current club and much happier and Cadbury will now relax and lay on the floor during a lesson, something he never would do
at the others!

10 dogs to me is a big class, especially with some dogs with issues. My beginners class has a maximum of 4 dogs. Too many dogs, means too much stress and however hard you try, until you leave that environment your dog will be stressed (unless it is a really laid-back mutt)

So don't panic, it is more likely the environment than anything else and if she doesn't behave like this outside the class then I don't think its a major problem.

 

[Lahree]

I am feeling much better about the entire situation after reading all the wonderful posts here. Ellie goes for a walk in the mornings with DH and with me at night during the weekdays and twice with me on the weekends. The day following the class, she got totally wound up looking out our back windows and seeing people on the walking paths or going bonkers when neighborhood dogs barked. We have taken great care to use the calming techniques the trainer showed us with geat success. So far she has done remarkably well ignoring the neighborhood dogs barking at her. She hasn't made a peep. She has stopped doing hysterical barks altogether now. She does some periodic "normal" barking (i.e., there is actually something outside that would be a usual thing for a dog to bark at), and that's ok with us. She's a dog for Heaven's sake, it's what they DO. We just stop her when she gets that really high-pitched hysterical barking and jumping or lunging. That's a big no-no! She always amazes me at how quick a learner she is and her willingness to comply. I am sure everyone is right that she is feeding off the other badly-behaved dogs. I am going to make it a point to wait outside for this one owner who obviously practices with her dog and has a really nicely behaved little mutt-dog. The dog was abused badly in it's former life and so this woman has tried very, very hard to rehabilitate this poor thing and has done really, really well. I am going to sit next to her. If I can't sit next to her, there is a lady who has one of the world's cutest mixed-breed puppy that is VERY laid-back. This puppy falls asleep during the massage! I know really well who I am NOT sitting next to!

 

[Caro]

My pups climb over each other to get massages - they love it. I also learnt at puppy school to massage the shoulders when we are out if my dog starts getting stressed out or worked up over a situation. I forgot all about that, thanks for reminding.

 

[Baileysmom]

I think you're little girl just had ENOUGH of that nasty little mop dog and was giving him/her a piece of her mind! Seriously, she probably was just reacting to his aggression toward him and decided she wasn't going to take it.

My Sheltie is a sweet little darling, very submissive, never challenged any human or our other dog or one of our cats. But the other cat--he's a BIG BULLY (the cat)! I know my dog is not cat aggressive because he will actually play with one of our cats, and is extremely gentle with her and loves her. But our other cat will lunge and attack Bailey completely unprovoked. Bailey will be minding his own business walking past the cat, and the cat will chase after him, hissing, spitting, and smacking my pup! Well, Bailey had enough and will now snarl and growl and bark right back at him. I don't blame him. I do try to distract both of them to break up the altercation once it happens, and it's never led to any injuries, it's just Bailey saying ENOUGH you bully!!

 

[Lahree]

I think you're little girl just had ENOUGH of that nasty little mop dog and was giving him/her a piece of her mind! Seriously, she probably was just reacting to his aggression toward him and decided she wasn't going to take it.

My Sheltie is a sweet little darling, very submissive, never challenged any human or our other dog or one of our cats. But the other cat--he's a BIG BULLY (the cat)! I know my dog is not cat aggressive because he will actually play with one of our cats, and is extremely gentle with her and loves her. But our other cat will lunge and attack Bailey completely unprovoked. Bailey will be minding his own business walking past the cat, and the cat will chase after him, hissing, spitting, and smacking my pup! Well, Bailey had enough and will now snarl and growl and bark right back at him. I don't blame him. I do try to distract both of them to break up the altercation once it happens, and it's never led to any injuries, it's just Bailey saying ENOUGH you bully!!

LOL! You are probably right! I don't know why I expect my dog to like all other dogs. I'm a people and I don't like all other people. I imagine Ellie has the right to choose not to like another dog!

 

[Caro]

LOL! You are probably right! I don't know why I expect my dog to like all other dogs. I'm a people and I don't like all other people. I imagine Ellie has the right to choose not to like another dog!

I read somewhere about why dogs don't necessarily feel the need to socialise with other dogs after puppy-hood.

It's because dogs are 'pack' animals - that is they stick close to their family and their social structures form around their pack. Humans are social animals and form complex social structures that go beyond their pack as this ensures genetic diversity.

So basically dogs do not really have an inclination to form relationships beyond the pack. Its just that we often want them to plus it helps them exist in our world if they learn to get along with other dogs.

 

[Chris]

Isn't that the truth! Layla is totally disinterested in other dogs (except for one of the therapy dogs that caught her fancy one day). She interacts mostly with Bits, whom she grew up with, and then next is Annie. Annie and Bits are more engaged with other dogs, but we think the pack is pretty stable as it is.