Rant... Just because I'm still annoyed the next day.

[Jenne]

Why would you pay to take your dog to a training class and NOT listen to the trainers instructions? If a trainer is telling you that you need private lessons for your crazy *** dog, I'd listen. When the trainer tells you to keep your dog in a specific area to avoid confrontation with other dogs, PLEASE DO SO!!! Your dog has lunged and/or snapped at all the dogs in class, while you were dithering around. Stop! Focus on your dog!!! Hold on to his leash so he can't get to the other dogs, and for all that is furry and fun, don't start walking up to people to have conversations while your dog is snapping and lunging at the end of the leash!

 

[MicksMom]

...If a trainer is telling you that you need private lessons for your crazy *** dog, I'd listen... !

That part is totally up to the owner. I'd be peeved if they didn't follow the advice, but still "complained" about the dog's behavior.

QUOTE=Jenne;2051297]...
When the trainer tells you to keep your dog in a specific area to avoid confrontation with other dogs, PLEASE DO SO!!! Your dog has lunged and/or snapped at all the dogs in class, while you were dithering around. Stop! Focus on your dog!!! Hold on to his leash so he can't get to the other dogs, and for all that is furry and fun, don't start walking up to people to have conversations while your dog is snapping and lunging at the end of the leash![/QUOTE]
Now, THAT is putting everyone else at risk. If I were a student in that class, I'd be talking to the trainer about it. If the owners continue to put others at risk, they should be asked to not come back. And that's where those private lessons you mentioned could be brought up again- the trainer could say something like, "I can't have your dog risking other people's safety. I'm willing to work with you privately until the situation is under control.

 

[Emily]

Why would you pay to take your dog to a training class and NOT listen to the trainers instructions? If a trainer is telling you that you need private lessons for your crazy *** dog, I'd listen. When the trainer tells you to keep your dog in a specific area to avoid confrontation with other dogs, PLEASE DO SO!!! Your dog has lunged and/or snapped at all the dogs in class, while you were dithering around. Stop! Focus on your dog!!! Hold on to his leash so he can't get to the other dogs, and for all that is furry and fun, don't start walking up to people to have conversations while your dog is snapping and lunging at the end of the leash!

Sing it, sister! I'd like to ask some people that myself, and I TEACH the classes.

 

[BlackPuppy]

That exactly happened to me when I took my Dutch to his first obedience class. There was a bully breed mix that immediately became confrontational with my dog. Then my dog looks like the bad guy when he goes on the defensive. Luckily I had a great teacher and she showed the class that my dog was fine. And she kept having to tell the other guy to watch his dog and redirect it. But every chance it could, it would stare down my puppy. Argh!!

 

[Jenne]

The trainer may have discussed things further with her, I don't know. I'd hope that she did, but I know the trainer mentioned fencing her and her dog in an area with an x-pen for next class. The trainer is concerned that by forcing her out of class the dog won't be trained at all and due to his aggression issues she feels he really needs it. I know she also mentioned doing one-on-one sessions at their home for free (not a lot but one or two). It's only the 2nd class, but it's escalated from the first. He wasn't too bad the first class (just resource guarding Chase, my dog.) But there was a new excited dog that seemed to really agitate him into more aggressive behavior and had him over-threshold.

 

[crazedACD]

I stopped going to a class because the instructor didn't have the cajones to tell people what they needed to hear. We were doing down stays and a large dog flew at the Whippet next to it. After that was broken up, the instructor allowed the owner to once again put the dog in a down stay and walk all the way across the ring again..where the dog once again jumped on another dog. Ridiculous.

 

[adojrts]

This is not a dog owner problem, but an instructor problem. Rules have to be in place for the safety of everyone first. Then those rules have to enforced, period. All dogs should be at least 20 ft apart until you know how they are going to react and behave. I don't allow student's dogs to get close to each other until a couple of weeks into a course. And that is only with dogs that are making googly eyes at each other and want to be friends lol.

 

[crazedACD]

^ Yes this is the point I was making, haha. The instructor really needs to be in control of the class, and if they can't perform that duty, then you need to decide whether or not you can continue to attend class under those circumstances. It's not fair to put you and your dog at risk, and under stress from other dogs at a place you should be safe and learning with your dog. Neither you nor your dog is going to learn much when you're worrying about someone else's dog.

 

[Emily]

The trainer may have discussed things further with her, I don't know. I'd hope that she did, but I know the trainer mentioned fencing her and her dog in an area with an x-pen for next class. The trainer is concerned that by forcing her out of class the dog won't be trained at all and due to his aggression issues she feels he really needs it. I know she also mentioned doing one-on-one sessions at their home for free (not a lot but one or two). It's only the 2nd class, but it's escalated from the first. He wasn't too bad the first class (just resource guarding Chase, my dog.) But there was a new excited dog that seemed to really agitate him into more aggressive behavior and had him over-threshold.

When aggression is the issue, the instructor needs to step up. We had to kick a Bassett hound pup out of our puppy class at work. The combination of aggression and lack of owner compliance was downright dangerous.

I think the instructors' heart is in the right place but if the dog is constantly over threshold, group class isn't doing him any good anyway. And bottom line, she can't allow this owner to put your dogs in danger because she's worried about him not getting trained.

I think you need to talk with her and explain that you don't feel safe. She needs to take care of it from there; it's part of the job. I've had to kick peoples' KIDS out of class, not to mention dogs, lol.