We just got kicked out of puppy classes

[NewYoiker]

Fucks sake!

She's 4 months and as the title suggests we were asked not to come back to puppy class.

She was attacked by a neighbours dog on Monday last week and she's been recovering slowly but I asked the puppy class trainer and she said she was fine to come this week but to be aware if she needed to leave.

It started okay but then there was a half an hour play session and it did not end well. All 10 puppies off lead playing. She went in to play like a bat out of hell batting faces and play bowing.

So not aggressive but also not particularly polite. After the trainer saw her playing, she asked us to stand on her lead in the middle of the play area and allow other dogs to come to her- only issue is she was incredibly frustrated she couldn't play and then inevitably leave the situation herself. I didn't want her to bite or be bitten so I asked if I could put her behind the baby gate to sniff other dogs, but as I asked she started barking and they said we had to leave because the attack on her has made her aggressive and it's not fixable.

What the fuck?

Is this even possible at 4 months?

My dog was attacked when he was little and it did make him very skittish and nervous around other dogs but it was 100% fixable. Now he's not playful with other dogs but he's not scared and defensive, he just barely looks at another dog in the street.

not fixable. She’s right.

You can’t ‘fix’ a 4 month old puppy from being a 4 month old puppy.

The ‘trainer’ is a complete & utter idiot. Sadly any old muppet can call themselves a trainer & offer classes.

Maybe start a thread asking for recommended trainers in your area.

More importantly though, what has been put in place to stop your neighbours dog attacking her again?

Bit far from me but I'll try to find out the qualification our trainers get so you can look for one with that.

We’ve had several dogs and always taken them to puppy/dog training classes. They have never been let off their leads to play until we’ve reached the intermediate classes (next one up from the puppy class) and they have learnt some manners! Not your fault at all...as others have said, speak to your vet for some recommendations. This is definitely fixable so don’t worry to much 😊

I have been to puppy class and a terrible twos class with my dog. At no pointbwere they let off the lead with other dogs around, even when we sampled agility training.

Hope you didn't pay in advanceofor the course, and as others have said, find another trainer.

As above, you've dodged a bullet. It's a completely unregulated industry so literally anyone can can themselves a trainer or behaviourist. A lot of people find themselves with a dodgy trainer as they don't know what to look for - I initially went to one that told me I had to be a pack leader (luckily I already knew enough to ignore those bits) and later updated her website to say that her classes catered for everything from puppies to reactive dogs at the same time...!

Look for someone ideally APDT qualified (Association of Pet Dog Trainers; there's a list on their website) or failing that IMDT. Avoid anyone advocating pack leadership like the plague. Not all dog training qualifications are equal...

Ah OP sorry-you're at the wrong end of the country for me-have you got a local Facebook group you can get recommendations from?

Or a local dog walking group on Facebook or ask local dog walkers?

Good luck with your pup-I'm sure will be fine with the right support!

Is Liverpool too far? Helen Roberts at www.fasttrackdogtraining.co.uk/ is awesome and really, really knows her stuff. She might be able to recommend someone closer to you if you contact her. I know she's involved with a fabulous group of forward-thinking positive trainers in the north of England so she will probably be able to help in some way. (Tell her Ann sent you)

How ridiculous!

"aggressive and it's not fixable."

Good grief what an overreaction!

When your puppy was on a lead-were the other dogs also?

Hope you find a good trainer.

Oh dear. this trainer sounds not quite nice,, Best to try and find another person who is more suitable with puppies. Anyone would think you owned a massive ferocious dog, asking you to leave.!

Defo dodged a bullet there, the idea of a puppy class that lets all the puppies off lead to play straight away! Jeez... so bad, not at all good practice even if it is what most owners think they want.

Probably the wrong side of manchester for you but try Standish Dog Trainer (standishdogtrainer.co.uk)

This trainer is dumb, your pup sounds typical, a baby.

I know a excellent trainer in leics. our first classes were a disaster as there was so many rough dogs but the second trainer was amazing

Must. see. photo. of. delinquent. puppy.

This sort of dreadful, chaotic free for all is something I experienced on the only occasion I went to puppy classes. It's such bad practice and nothing beneficial is learned. To condemn a four-month old pup as 'unfixable' says everything about the so-called trainer and nothing at all about your pup. Definitely do some research and find a better class.

When you find a trainer, ask if you can observe a class without your pup first, look for a reward based trainer. She doesn’t need another negative experience.

Not fixable. That's like saying a baby is not fixable. They are still learning behaviours.

Try Damian Riley, he’s based in Wilmslow. I went to puppy classes with him and then had more advanced classes with some of his colleagues - all were great, small classes, positive training and no free play!

I feel for you OP and wish I'd known about tasting puppy classes before taking 7 m o along. There were certainly more than 12 puppies there. Mine had already been attacked but was clearly antisocial and frightened. She then bit me when I was told to scold her - and did it twice - no input from the trainers there. I hired one of them to do a private practice but it didn't work. I've had lots of dogs all happy and obedient, good with humans and other dogs so maybe it's just her. But having a puppy on lead while other puppies are around - disaster. Hope you find a good training school.

I had a bad experience too some time ago. I didn't stay long when I was spouted some 'pack leader' philosophy, and this for a tiny shy puppy who weighed barely 2 kilos at the time. Some of these people have no idea.

@Verynice photos for proof 😂

@juggler82 I've just got off the phone with him! Booked in for classes in April :)

@diddl no she was the only puppy on a lead so weirdly enough she was extremely frustrated and barked and was 'lunging forward' to try and play. Absolute nightmare!

Clearly evil and unredeamable.