UPDATED: Reactive or Agressive dogs in Beginner Agility!

ORIGINAL: Ixas_girl

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy
but invented ones are so much more interesting!

When they are thoughtful, provocative, and productive ... agreed! [sm=bravo.gif]


When they are superficial, emotional, and circular ... [sm=vomit03.gif]

**Content Removed - Inflammatory**

**Content Removed - Inflammatory**

Having been in the situation of having beginner dogs acting like idiots week 1, I can tell you that some are a whole lot better by week 4, and many times it is because I did give someone some coaching on basics like name recognition, attention to the handler, basic obedience, etc.  Other times, no matter what you say the person doesn't "get it" and may have to be told that the dog is not appropriate at a group class yet.  In beginner agility it's less of a problem, since the work is all on leash for a while.  But, the advanced beginners need a little more control over their dogs.  For some dogs it's the first time they've been introduced to clicker training, and the change in those dogs is sometimes night and day.  You can be waiting in line, and click for attention and quieter behavior...

Firestorm-
 
OMG what a thread. 
 
1. Talk to the instructor.  Maybe another talk with the instructor and the owner of the other dogs in question are in line.  I don't know, you may want to suggest this to the instructor as if there are other small or medium sized dogs in the class, you might not be the only one concerned about this.
 
2. Best solution - Crates.  Ideally, crates for everyone.  If your dog is in a plastic varikennel (those airline crates - not a softsided Paris Hilton type carrier), he's going to be perfectly safe.  The only time he's in "danger" is when he's running the course.  An agility dog should also look at crate time as down time.  It's important for any dog to know when he's working and when he can relax.  (For more on this, I'd suggest the In Focus book available from CleanRun or Dogwise.)  These dogs may be overly drivey, or aggressive.  Either way, having them watch other dogs run by them and have fun is very frustrating to them.  And can shut down other dogs that they are eyeballing.  I've had this happen to my own dog.  It's very frustrating to have your dog shut down on a dog that's hard to motivate.  If your trainer is really good, or has run something other than a high-drive dog, she'll know this. 

If your trainer is really good, or has run something other than a high-drive dog, she'll know this.

Um, like a hound?  (Ed take note - scenthound)  Maybe that's why our (I say "our", but they are another facility - we just love them, and refer all our students to them) instructors are running a better class situation.  Some of them run very low drive dogs, and non-traditional agility breeds, and wee tiny dogs. 

 

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

ORIGINAL: belgmal_girl

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

but invented ones are so much more interesting! 

yeah, beginner agility classes are chaotic and crazy and often the owners are clueless and the dogs are frenzied and misbehave. That's why they are in BEGINNER CLASS.

Haha. try training in a bedroom sized room, with 20 other dogs! That, even for an advanced dog, it HORRIBLE!

Where do you train?  A closet?  [sm=devil.gif] 
I know what you mean, though.

My closet's 10 times bigger than the agility ring at the training center! I was ready to shoot my dad. I'd rather go to our facility then some other person who also has no concept of learning theory.

Oh, then you must have the walk in kind LOL.  []   I do know what you mean about the trainer being important, versus the facility being opulent, though.  Makes a huge diff, doesn't it?

Any update from the OP?

Update to come after Monday night's class.  No class last week due to the holiday.

We had class last night and Harley and the Australian Shepard made friends.  So the AS doesn't have issues with my dog, whew!  Thanks to all who replied!

Hoorah! Good news. [] Thanks for the update!