Maybe, but I would definitely have a good talk with the instructor first and ask them to evaluate Ellie's dog aggression before just showing up for class. The place where I train will ask you to leave the class if your dog displays aggression.
Just When Things are Going really welll......(another long rant)
- Thread starter Lahree
- Start date
Maybe, but I would definitely have a good talk with the instructor first and ask them to evaluate Ellie's dog aggression before just showing up for class. The place where I train will ask you to leave the class if your dog displays aggression.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I took Jazz to classes after working with her for a year on my own. I had a very frank discussion with the instructor and accomodations were made for us after an evaluation and a couple private lessons. The school was recommended as one that works with reactive dogs. We got to stand in the far corner of the ring and other students were instructed to leave a good amount of distance around us. Your right not all schools or instructors are willing or able to work with reactive/aggresive dogs. Sometimes those reactive dogs are not as bad as thought sometimes they are just as bad as advertised. Jazz and I did 2 beginner classes and 2 intermediate classes and after that time we could be a normal part of the group but I still had to watch distance. Most of the students knew us so that wasn't a problem.
Oh, I realize I need to clarify. Ellie is only reactive to those stupid dogs who are charging their fences and snarling and barking at her while she is on a leash. She likes looking at other dogs who are also on leashes on our walks and sometimes she barely gives them a second glance. In another thread I mentioned there was a wee little Doxie that was running towards her barking it's fool head off and Ellie only looked at it with mild curiosity. She will also react if another dog on a leash barks aggressively at her first. This has happened at the dog park before. That gets her dander up. I can get her to sit perfectly well-behaved in those instances and tell her to watch me and she would MUCH rather get a treat than bark at another dog. In fact, she would rather eat than do anything else!
I am hestitant about obedience classes only because our first one was such a negative experience. In our first one, Ellie was 6 and a half months old and already knew how to do all the stuff we worked on. There were several VERY aggresive dogs in that class and that is where Ellie learned to bark (I am totally serious) and she also got tired of getting growled and snapped at and started to get defensive back. The last day of class Ellie got bit and so did I by the same dog. It was a sneak attack. The owner never said one word to us! She SAW the dog bite us! I was furious!
She would be eligible to go to an advanced obedience class now and I think if the other dogs in the class were well-behaved, she would be too. I certainly could talk to the instructor and explain what has transpired with Ellie and ask about the other dogs in the class and decide. If the instructor says other dogs in the class are aggressive, then I will pass. Knowing Ellie, it would make her worse and I don't want to go backwards.
I have thought very often about getting equipment for the backyard for her. I honestly think she would love agility. I just wish someone would have classes to teach how to work with your dog.
I am hestitant about obedience classes only because our first one was such a negative experience. In our first one, Ellie was 6 and a half months old and already knew how to do all the stuff we worked on. There were several VERY aggresive dogs in that class and that is where Ellie learned to bark (I am totally serious) and she also got tired of getting growled and snapped at and started to get defensive back. The last day of class Ellie got bit and so did I by the same dog. It was a sneak attack. The owner never said one word to us! She SAW the dog bite us! I was furious!
She would be eligible to go to an advanced obedience class now and I think if the other dogs in the class were well-behaved, she would be too. I certainly could talk to the instructor and explain what has transpired with Ellie and ask about the other dogs in the class and decide. If the instructor says other dogs in the class are aggressive, then I will pass. Knowing Ellie, it would make her worse and I don't want to go backwards.
I have thought very often about getting equipment for the backyard for her. I honestly think she would love agility. I just wish someone would have classes to teach how to work with your dog.
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
Oh, I realize I need to clarify. Ellie is only reactive to those stupid dogs who are charging their fences and snarling and barking at her while she is on a leash. She likes looking at other dogs who are also on leashes on our walks and sometimes she barely gives them a second glance. In another thread I mentioned there was a wee little Doxie that was running towards her barking it's fool head off and Ellie only looked at it with mild curiosity. She will also react if another dog on a leash barks aggressively at her first. This has happened at the dog park before. That gets her dander up. I can get her to sit perfectly well-behaved in those instances and tell her to watch me and she would MUCH rather get a treat than bark at another dog. In fact, she would rather eat than do anything else!
I am hestitant about obedience classes only because our first one was such a negative experience. In our first one, Ellie was 6 and a half months old and already knew how to do all the stuff we worked on. There were several VERY aggresive dogs in that class and that is where Ellie learned to bark (I am totally serious) and she also got tired of getting growled and snapped at and started to get defensive back. The last day of class Ellie got bit and so did I by the same dog. It was a sneak attack. The owner never said one word to us! She SAW the dog bite us! I was furious!
She would be eligible to go to an advanced obedience class now and I think if the other dogs in the class were well-behaved, she would be too. I certainly could talk to the instructor and explain what has transpired with Ellie and ask about the other dogs in the class and decide. If the instructor says other dogs in the class are aggressive, then I will pass. Knowing Ellie, it would make her worse and I don't want to go backwards.
I have thought very often about getting equipment for the backyard for her. I honestly think she would love agility. I just wish someone would have classes to teach how to work with your dog.
oh my word
how SAD is that experience??
I so lucked out to have found my agility trainer she is JUST my cup of tea, first thing she talked about was dog etiquette... to give all dogs space until owner gives ok, etc ... course Lab owners never listen, since I have never seen an aggressive Lab, I think they don't get dogs being snappy!
Sorry labgirl, LOLThis is me, I wish I could just get someone to sit down with me and show me how to train MMM. I am not much of a "class person" (too nervous and good lord too clumsy). I have a lot of things I want to teach MMM but I don't know how and I think I confuse him.
Too bad I am not in Texas, Lahree, we could figure all of this out together.
Too bad I am not in Texas, Lahree, we could figure all of this out together.
Oh, Jan asked how Ellie has been doing these past few days. Pretty much perfect! She has gone back to calming herself when certain cars go by. She will sit. I totally allow this. I can tell that's the reason why she is sitting. She is not doing it to be disobedient nor is she balking. She is calming herself. She chooses to keep walking with some cars, others must be scary because she will sit or in extreme cases, lie down. I am betting in a week or so, maybe less, that she will be back to where she was before in that she will walk no matter what kind of car or truck goes by. Other than that she is back to her happy, prancing self. When we are on the sidewalk which is on the farside of the walking path (i.e. the path goes behind the houses and we are on the sidewalk on the front of the houses) she can hear the BAD dogs barking and charging the fence because someone passes by, she perks her ears and gets slightly tense for a few steps. Because nothing bad happens and she can't see the dogs, she quickly gets over it. I talk to her in a soothing low voice and keep totally relaxed and she is fine. Today the stupid dogs were barking and snarling at something/someone and Ellie barely took notice.
I am beginning to believe that Ellie is a lot more sensitive than I thought and more in tune with me than I thought. It's a learnng experience with us and I will be a better owner because of it. I just hope I haven't done any permanent damage with anything I have done.
I am beginning to believe that Ellie is a lot more sensitive than I thought and more in tune with me than I thought. It's a learnng experience with us and I will be a better owner because of it. I just hope I haven't done any permanent damage with anything I have done.
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
So true
I am SO glad she is doing great again and she is not shutting down or acting out, lol
Make sure you CELEBRATE for yourself how good she is being now
I am SO glad she is doing great again and she is not shutting down or acting out, lol
Make sure you CELEBRATE for yourself how good she is being now
So true
I am SO glad she is doing great again and she is not shutting down or acting out, lol
Make sure you CELEBRATE for yourself how good she is being now
Oh, I do! Walks are a joy again. She is a good puppy. I got her two dog puzzles today and she loved them! I am also reading "Fiesty Fido" The Reactive Dog at the End of the Leash. What an eye-opener! I keep reading excerpts to my husband. Fasinating reading!