So I have about $500 in my bank and figured I'd be okay dropping $150 on an agility class this summer. It's something I've been wanting to do with Tucker for a while. I found three in my area, two of them seem really good, one I'm afraid might be the type that just has you walk your dog over equipment and doesn't teach any foundation, but that's just speculation. Their site also doesn't talk too much about their methods.
Anyway, I wanted to ask if a dog with fear aggression like Tucker would be allowed in these people's agility classes and not just sign up without finding out whether or not he'd be welcome. So I e-mailed the place I was most interested in, giving some info on his behavior, what sorts of things make him react, etc. and she e-mailed me back saying we should start with a private session to see if he'd be safe and to make sure I have a way to work on his aggression issues at home. Then we'd see if agility could be done. This session would cost $100. The trainer seems really good (Here's a link if you want to look http://www.dogslearningcenter.com/index.php?id=50 ) and I'd love to do this, I really would, but I don't know if I can spend the money, especially not knowing if she'd be letting him into her class when it's all said and done.
So I'm not really sure how to proceed. I don't think she's going to let me into her class without the private session, so I don't know if I should even bother asking that. Do you think any place would allow him? It's not that I'd mind the trainer evaluating him beforehand to see if he'd be safe in class, I just don't want to pay $100 for it. I don't know if I should e-mail the other places with as much info as I e-mailed her, or I should just ask the basic question of are fearful, sometimes fear aggressive (barking mostly) dogs allowed in their agility class. I still feel wrong signing up without asking about aggressive dogs first though.
I'm really bummed though, I liked that trainer a lot and I *could* spend the money, seeing as I don't really have any payments...parents pay for college. But I don't think my parents will take kindly to be spending nearly $300 on the dog this summer (this trainer's classes are also the most expensive of the three places I was looking at), nor do I really feel comfortable with it. I would sort of like to get involved with this trainer though, she seems to know her stuff.
I guess another option would be to put aside the agility class for this summer and take the trainer up on the private lesson for this summer, work on other basic obedience and trick stuff or agility foundation stuff I can do at home this summer, work more on his aggression, and think about agility class next summer.
Any opinions?
Anyway, I wanted to ask if a dog with fear aggression like Tucker would be allowed in these people's agility classes and not just sign up without finding out whether or not he'd be welcome. So I e-mailed the place I was most interested in, giving some info on his behavior, what sorts of things make him react, etc. and she e-mailed me back saying we should start with a private session to see if he'd be safe and to make sure I have a way to work on his aggression issues at home. Then we'd see if agility could be done. This session would cost $100. The trainer seems really good (Here's a link if you want to look http://www.dogslearningcenter.com/index.php?id=50 ) and I'd love to do this, I really would, but I don't know if I can spend the money, especially not knowing if she'd be letting him into her class when it's all said and done.
So I'm not really sure how to proceed. I don't think she's going to let me into her class without the private session, so I don't know if I should even bother asking that. Do you think any place would allow him? It's not that I'd mind the trainer evaluating him beforehand to see if he'd be safe in class, I just don't want to pay $100 for it. I don't know if I should e-mail the other places with as much info as I e-mailed her, or I should just ask the basic question of are fearful, sometimes fear aggressive (barking mostly) dogs allowed in their agility class. I still feel wrong signing up without asking about aggressive dogs first though.
I'm really bummed though, I liked that trainer a lot and I *could* spend the money, seeing as I don't really have any payments...parents pay for college. But I don't think my parents will take kindly to be spending nearly $300 on the dog this summer (this trainer's classes are also the most expensive of the three places I was looking at), nor do I really feel comfortable with it. I would sort of like to get involved with this trainer though, she seems to know her stuff.
I guess another option would be to put aside the agility class for this summer and take the trainer up on the private lesson for this summer, work on other basic obedience and trick stuff or agility foundation stuff I can do at home this summer, work more on his aggression, and think about agility class next summer.
Any opinions?