UPDATED: Reactive or Agressive dogs in Beginner Agility!

Besides keeping the agressive dogs in seperate areas...just to body block my dog. 
 
What if there is an agressive dog in the park or wherever I walk him....I wanted to have possible soultions?
Hmm maybe carrying a horse whip on walks lol![8D]

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

Besides keeping the agressive dogs in seperate areas...just to body block my dog. 

What if there is an agressive dog in the park or wherever I walk him....I wanted to have possible soultions?
Hmm maybe carrying a horse whip on walks lol![8D]

 
You could carry a stick, not to hit the dogs with but to claim a bigger space between you and the dogs

ORIGINAL: janet_rose
 
If by "leadership principles" you mean manhandling your dog to prove that you are "alpha", I adamently disagree. 

Oh dear! "Manhandling"? How awful! [sm=party1.gif]

If two truly aggressive dogs are going after her little dog, I don't see the harm in picking it up.  If it were her dog instigating it (giving the other dogs looks or postures that invited the aggression), then yeah picking him up is a bad idea, but if there is a fight obviously safety is going to override dog psychology at that moment.  Short of body blocking or picking up the dog, I'd say treat it like any other fight - spray water, use a stick, Direct Stop or mace - whatever it takes to stop the injuries.  That said, it doesn't sound like the bigger guys really are aggressive (just anxious, possibly reactive herders), so hopefully such a fight will never take place.

If the instructor doesn't seem concerned enough or has no grounds to kick them out of class, I'd look into a different program, one that has some requirements as far as basic obedience, recall, "leave it", etc, not just a free for all.  The "Agility Intro" course at my breeder's facility requires that the dogs have passed certain obedience classes or tests into the class.  But like Ixas_Girl said, it's a beginner class and finding such a program is hit or miss.  If you're really serious about it and the class is too much a distraction, maybe the instructor offers private lessons?  

Haha! A buggy whip is nice [8D]

What about a spray bottle or "Direct Stop" that was mentioned? I see people in my neighborhood carrying golf clubs and the like (there are lots of off-leash dogs around here).

Cesar Millan suggests carrying an umbrella, you can open it up to make yourself seem bigger, and some to have pointy tips.

Practice "Lean towards the oncoming dog, look at it sternly, point at it, and firmly declare "no!"" in a safe situation and see how it works for you. I've been having lots of success with it. You *have* to be convincing! []

ORIGINAL: Angelique

ORIGINAL: janet_rose

If by "leadership principles" you mean manhandling your dog to prove that you are "alpha", I adamently disagree.

Oh dear! "Manlhandling"? How awful! [sm=party1.gif]

I think the approriate term is "doghandling."

ORIGINAL: Liesje
If two truly aggressive dogs are going after her little dog, I don't see the harm in picking it up.

I'm with you, sista' [&:]

The "don't nurture fear or aggression" idea is important, but in this case doesn't seem applicable. Especailly if the dog is picked up before it becomes fearful - even before it sees the other dogs coming. Then it wouldn't even connect being picked up to the approach of the dogs!

The "don't attract the attack to you" argument sounds reasonable ... but what, you're really going to let a dog munch your little guy and not take a little beating yourself in defense of it? I'd rather have several nasty bites myself than a dead dog.

Well, like I said it is a beginner's class so....we will finish out the class and if he really likes it....I will look for another place to continue with it.
Thanks for all responses.
Ixas_girl...I was thinking more in terms of a lunge whip.  Longer reach lol.  [sm=whip.gif]

Yikes, like a bullwhip? Those are looouud! [:-]

ETA: I love that smiley! How silly! [sm=whip.gif]

Yeah the sound would probably back a dog off lol.

ORIGINAL: Liesje

If two truly aggressive dogs are going after her little dog, I don't see the harm in picking it up. 

I agree.  I did pick up Jack a time or two when he was a puppy, but only when the offending dog was giving out scarey body language and don't think he knows how to be fearful of other dogs...[8D]

ORIGINAL: sillysally

ORIGINAL: Liesje

If two truly aggressive dogs are going after her little dog, I don't see the harm in picking it up. 

I agree.  I did pick up Jack a time or two when he was a puppy, but only when the offending dog was giving out scarey body language and don't think he knows how to be fearful of other dogs...[8D]

 
Disagree, lets forget about dog psychology for a moment, like another poster said before, picking up the dog might be a little bit dangerous for the owner, the attacking dogs could start nipping the owners arms trying to reach the dog, this way the owner becomes a target which it does not happen if the dog stays on the ground, the owner then can body block without being in danger as much since the dog is still on the ground and the dogs just will try to go around the owner, besides by having the dog on the ground the owner can use his/her hands for a better body block in case is carring something with him/her like an umbrella or a stick, which is not going to be as usefull if is lifting a dog and has the hands occupied, liftingthe dog is a lose-lose situation with our without dog psychology in mind

^ I think that goes without saying.  We all know not to reach into a fight.  I guess I meant "if two larger, aggressive dogs were in the process of charging her non-aggressive little dog."  There, better?

ORIGINAL: Liesje

^ I think that goes without saying. 

It seems not since you think that picking a dog up is harmless in this situation, so which one should be?

I am pretty sure the OP is not going to wait for 2 dogs to be surrounding/nipping hers before picking it up.

2 prey driven dogs can make mincemeat out of a small dog in a matter of seconds.

Best to pick it up and get it to a safe area at the first sign of trouble.

Disagree, lets forget about dog psychology for a moment, like another poster said before, picking up the dog might be a little bit dangerous for the owner, the attacking dogs could start nipping the owners arms trying to reach the dog, this way the owner becomes a target which it does not happen if the dog stays on the ground, the owner then can body block without being in danger as much since the dog is still on the ground and the dogs just will try to go around the owner, besides by having the dog on the ground the owner can use his/her hands for a better body block in case is carring something with him/her like an umbrella or a stick, which is not going to be as usefull if is lifting a dog and has the hands occupied, liftingthe dog is a lose-lose situation with our without dog psychology in mind