Gezzz... Why?

ghggp said:
Well, just got off the phone with the trainer. Her comment is the lady is trying to work through her reactive dog issues. She explained she is walking a fine line between trying to help an aggressive dog and a fearful one. She said my concern over Liam might be traveling down the leash and making him more nervous.

I explained that I want to set him up for success and that aggressive dog was not helping. She understood my concern and said I could transfer to the evening class where there are only 8 dogs. It is just an advanced obedience class without the CGC part. However, she said I could take the CGC class for free next time. I felt it was a good compromise. I told her I just can not be in a class with that aggressive of a dog.
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Wow our training center would not allow That dog to stay in (I don’t think ). Usually for group classes they specifically say not for dogs working on aggression. A smaller group would be best for that dog too. Wow. I can’t imagine owning a dog that scary and powerful large.
 
ghggp said:
I wondered the same about a private class. Her comment was he needs exposure to other dogs to train him not to be aggressive! She spent most of the class helping that lady with her Doberman. Since there are two trainers in the class the other has the responsibility of working with the other 12!

Oddly enough, I have had this experience in other classes where an aggressive dog takes the bulk of the trainers time and focus.

My thought would be, have the trainer give private lessons using their own dog first. Let them work with other trainers dogs! Let them put their own dogs at risk first! Then, once the dog has shown an aptitude to tolerate other dogs and can control his outbursts, allow him into the next class with more dogs.

Maybe this lady is a friend of hers? She sat after class talking with her laughing and joking around with her. Certainly did not seem as if they were discussing the dog. The dog is a perfect specimen of a Doberman. Her is just gorgeous, huge with perfect ears and construction. Possibly she wanted to show him in confirmation but with his aggressive nature, there was no way that would happen.

I am at a loss to understand why aggressive dogs are tolerated. Just my 2 cents!

Thanks for letting me vent!
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Temperament should have taken him out of the gene pool no matter how fine a specimen he is. That is just my bias. Beauty is nothing of temperament is missing. We destroy the breeds just as much as it responsibly breeding dogs with health and structure weaknesses.
 
ghggp said:
This Doberman should be used as a guard dog! It shows no aptitude to tolerate any other dog. I would be scared to own it as a liability! If the trainer did not want to put it in a sit or down stay... that says a lot. Oddly enough, another dog barked at it and really set him off... the trainer said the other dog was at fault... REALLY!

Anyway, I have never tried Nosework. I will see if they offer it. Can't say I remember seeing it on their website. Anyway, since he is so the sight and sound reactive and NOT using his nose as he will NOT take a treat in class no matter what I make, it might not work for him. Just not sure. Overwhelmed at the moment.
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Hi Gloria, I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to tell you I am doing an online Nosework class with Mindy where we just work together at home. Liam might enjoy something like that.
 
Daisy1015 said:
Temperament should have taken him out of the gene pool no matter how fine a specimen he is. That is just my bias. Beauty is nothing of temperament is missing. We destroy the breeds just as much as it responsibly breeding dogs with health and structure weaknesses.
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I totally agree with you! What is even more distressing was the owners were first timers! I just can’t understand when someone wants to get a powerful dog and don’t research the breed first. It just does not make sense to own a powerful breed as you first venture into owning a dog. The book the Right dog for You has an excellent quiz people can take. Funny, I was dead set on a collie when I got my first house as I had one as a child. Took the test and Sheltie came up. After owning one I never wanted any other breed!
Many first time dog owners are so soft and don’t understand how important obedience training really is.
Sorry for the rant...
 
DianeP said:
Hi Gloria, I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to tell you I am doing an online Nosework class with Mindy where we just work together at home. Liam might enjoy something like that.
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Might try it with Liam. I have treat puzzles that he really enjoys! I am seeing more progress with him since he has been fixed! He is not as shutdown. When I would put a trash bag into the kitchen the sound of that made him run in the other room. Now he just watches me. I was shredding some old papers in the basement and he actually came down and laid down by my side while I shredded for over 30 minutes! The sound of that machine is loud and it did not seem to phase him...
When some neighbors came to visit with their 2 shelties he played with them! My vet told me that neutering him would not make a difference in his fearful state. I am thinking it is making a difference. Very happy with his progress!
 
ghggp said:
Might try it with Liam. I have treat puzzles that he really enjoys! I am seeing more progress with him since he has been fixed! He is not as shutdown. When I would put a trash bag into the kitchen the sound of that made him run in the other room. Now he just watches me. I was shredding some old papers in the basement and he actually came down and laid down by my side while I shredded for over 30 minutes! The sound of that machine is loud and it did not seem to phase him...
When some neighbors came to visit with their 2 shelties he played with them! My vet told me that neutering him would not make a difference in his fearful state. I am thinking it is making a difference. Very happy with his progress!
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Wonderful news Gloria that he's settling down finally! It could be the neutering could just be an age thing. On our walk today we stopped in at our local hardware store (I call it the cookie store because I bring cookies for the owners to give the dogs lol) and Finnie went right up to a guy that cuts the wood. I remember a time when he wouldn't let anyone touch him. He's gotten much more confident. Still very barky but that's his nature I think!
On our way back home I ran into 2 older ladies who wanted to see the dogs (they were in the stroller at this point) and Finnie was bark bark bark. The one lady said oh he just has more to say than the other one lol. So true!
They live across the street from me (kitty corner) and I told them if you hear barking dogs when your walking by it's them. Their like Ohhhhh...they thought they were bigger dogs:lol:.
 
ghggp said:
Might try it with Liam. I have treat puzzles that he really enjoys! I am seeing more progress with him since he has been fixed! He is not as shutdown. When I would put a trash bag into the kitchen the sound of that made him run in the other room. Now he just watches me. I was shredding some old papers in the basement and he actually came down and laid down by my side while I shredded for over 30 minutes! The sound of that machine is loud and it did not seem to phase him...
When some neighbors came to visit with their 2 shelties he played with them! My vet told me that neutering him would not make a difference in his fearful state. I am thinking it is making a difference. Very happy with his progress!
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oh I bet it helped. I think if I could “neuter” my 13 year old son his temper and anxiety would calm down too! Teen testosterone surges are no joke! Pms has nothing on testosterone i have leaRned.
 
It’s interesting....Mindy is 21 months now and can have times when she’s very mature and calm and collected and other times that she just flips out. Hoping things will even out soon. Glad to know Liam is a bit braver!
 
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