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?

Excellent, he really is good. And your dog is lovely.

Definitely looks aggressive
(so cute!)

The puppy class I went to with DDog years ago had the same sort of number and they were shite - the trainer seemed to think that a good way to teach your dog to walk to heel was to move quickly forward (i.e. not actually walking) and drag them along (literally) with you! Not quite sure how that was supposed to teach DDog to walk nicely next to me. Needless to say that when she came into her first season (we'd left it a bit later to start going) we stopped and didn't go back. I figured I could do better than that. The socialisation was crap too.

Well he looks like a right hooligan

Sounds like you're well out of that class.

When I took my, then puppy, to classes about 7 years ago there was none of this puppies piling in together rubbish. We were there to learn to train our puppies with positive reinforcement not teaching them how to rough house.

Perhaps the 'trainer' thinks that's what's meant by socialising.

Just be thankful you've had a lucky escape.

Hope you have better luck with the new class.

Aw Gawd!!!!!!! He is so cute!!!

Best of luck with new school!

It seems very unfair to leave her on the lead with several other off-lead dogs milling around. Any dog would be stressed by that. My dog hates being around other dogs who bound up to him when she's on the lead. She feels trapped and vulnerable. Off lead he's fine.

he's on the lead not she

I think you had a lucky escape from a shit trainer that sounds like they cause more problems than they fix!

I see from your last update that you have another trainer sorted.

It might also be worth talking to your vet if you haven't already. Ours runs weekly free 'puppy parties' with the vet nurses. It gets them used to the vet environment without stress and socialises them with other pups.

That trainer has no business working with dogs. She clearly doesn't know enough about them to fill the back of a postage stamp. I am currently taking my 14 week old puppy to socialization classes and it is normal for puppies to be bounding around and batting at each other with their paws. Putting a puppy on a lead with a bunch of others wandering around off their leads is going to be extremely frustrating for them.

It is not unfixable at all. The fact that your dog was willing to join in and play with other pups is a brilliant sign. I also think that she would also benefit from attending a different puppy class, particularly one that focuses on socialization. It will just get her used to meeting other dogs and teach her that despite the attack, not every encounter with another dog is going to be a negative one. Find one with a good trainer and explain the situation. I'm sure there are plenty of more knowledgeable people in your local area that can help.

Is this your first dog? Just curious.

Just seen the pics you posted. Very cute. Mine is a border terrier too.

I found these classes great - seen that you have him booked in with a class from april but Mike does drop-in classes on a Saturday morning in marbury Park - nice place to go for a walk afterwards (and a van selling very nice bacon sarnies!) so may be worth a couple of sessions before your class starts www.thedogclub.co.uk/Well_Heeled_Web_Site/The_Well_Heeled_Dog_Club.html

Jac says border terriers are the best!

It's the equivalent of chaining up a 5 year old while everyone else gets to play

Glad you've found a recommended class. Your poor little puppy. Hope he thrives at his new school and graduates with honours!

I’ve been working with dogs for 20 plus years, admittedly not a trainer or a behaviourist but a boarder, walker and groomer, the trainer is off her head! I’d actually be really pisssd off at them for thier lack of professionalism!

Boarders are as mad as a box of frogs but also highly intelligent- your beautiful pup was trying to tell you to she thought the trainer was shit

That sounds really bad. You definitely don't let 10 puppies pile in together.

Get yourself another trainer and make sure they're APDT registered.

www.apdt.co.uk

I think it's the beard that makes them all look so wise. LIke old men haha.

Came back to see if there was photo proof of this 'aggressive' little thug.

Was NOT disappointed. She looks terrifying