Other dog pinned my dog to the floor at puppy class

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Evening all - looking for some advice and a little hand hold …

So dog is 5 months old and this evening was his 4th puppy class. He’s loved it so far (if a little more hyper than I’d like after!) and on the whole had some lovely interactions with the other pooches.

Last week the leader began the class with allowing the little ones 5 minutes off lead to interact. Our boy is a Border Terrier and still a little small even for a pup. He’s not off lead at all yet so I was a littte nervous but other than being excited he seemed to enjoy and it’s a safe environment isn’t it? 😳

A French bulldog the same age as him - similar size but pure muscle - who on lead he’s been ok with made a bee line for ours and proceeded to pin him to the floor. As soon as ours got up again other dog went at it again. No biting or anything. It was then distracted by another dog and left us. My boy seemed unfazed and still himself after. All ok with all dogs on walks since.

So tonight it happens again. His owners didn’t think it was an issue and didn’t try and distract. As soon as ours got away he went for him again. Reflecting back I feel like an utterly shit owner for not doing so before but my boy was panting but silent so I picked him up and went back to our seats. Class leader said “he didn’t seem too worried”. I’m not sure though.

My guts saying this isn’t appropriate behaviour if it keeps happening and should have been nipped in the bud. My dog seemed way over exited for the rest of the session with zero concentration. Seemed a bit unsettled when we got home but snoozing on my lap now.

Right now my plan is that we choose seats well away from this dog next week and if he goes for him I’m picking my boy up immediately and we’re sitting down.

If a dog did this to him on a walk I’d address it immediately and I’m so cross hay twice now I’ve not.

Do I need to chill a bit? Is this normal socialising?

L

How on earth have you got that I’m nervous of every interaction from my posts so far?

And how have you got that I’m sensitive? I’m just alert to the fact that this particular dog makes a beeline for mine and pins him to the floor repeatedly. They don’t take it in turns.

Some incredible reaching you are doing there.

Aaaaanyway - I decided to go back. Plan was to sit away from other dog and if at odd lead time the same happened I would ask his owners to take him off as a don’t think mine is having much fun.

Turns out that at off lead time leader announced that we’d keep all dogs on lead today. And that they could have 30swxonds or so saying hello them move to another couple.

He had a blast. Loved it again. Was energetic but polite much like all other pups there. Even playing with a six month old Doberman who towered over him but had lovely manners.

Frenchie came over and before he could lunge on him mine jumped on his hind legs and met him face on/ body language mirrored. Frenchie immediately backed off and avoided us for the rest of the session.

So today while still not feeling like they love each other there now seems to be a mutual understanding 😊 Mije also seemed so much more relaxed for the rest of the session. Hopefully last one after bank holiday will also be nice too.

Thanks to all of you for a little perspective, your advice but also reassurance that his body language is telling me something and to trust my gut.

Replying to Collie

Glad you had a better training session this week. Sounds like your trainer has realised free for alls are not a good way of socialising puppies.
And I don't think advocating for your puppy means you are a nervous or anxious owner. More an observant and caring one.

Thanks Spaniels