I have written before about not enjoying the KC Bronze classes but decided to press on as I had to do it to be able to join Agility. We have come to the end of an 8 week block and none of the dogs will be tested so we are all due to start another 8 week block tomorrow. Recently I have noticed Chepi getting more withdrawn while we are there. She lays behind my feet and is reluctant (at one point refusing) to come out when it is our turn to do a task. She is normally very interested in life and has a real sense of fun. Out of a class of 6 there are 2 dogs with issues. One owner is encouraged to use aversives such as a collar that makes a hiss and another collar which is citronella releasing. He is not sociable and nobody wants to sit near him. At the other end is a poor little rescued terrier that has been abused who just screams all the way through the class and lunges aggressively at all of the other dogs. It is just not fun going there. After one class Chepi had an extremely upset tummy which I wondered was a sign of stress. The dilemma is do we go back there in order to be able to do agility or sigh a big sigh of relief not to have to go - it's the low point of our week. Or am I just being too precious?
If you feel Chepi is feeling uncomfortable in that environment, and it sounds like you are pretty unhappy your self there, I would consider this....dogs need continued positive socialising experiences, especially adolescent dogs. On going socialisation should be relaxed, without any pressure and enabling dogs to interact on their own terms and in their own time. They shouldn't feel any anxiety, it should be fun! To me it doesn't appear this is happening. Dogs are so clever, they like to be able to think things through, without pressure. I am a firm believer in understanding what the right type of interaction/activity is for your own dogs, and bearing in mind their age, and the other dogs/people they may meet. Our dogs are so different. I have a bombproof, happy go lucky show lab, he can cope with practically anything, in fact, and i know JulieT has mentioned this, I think I over-socialised Benson as a young dog, he just didn't need it. Our 2 dogs are so different, they even have separate dog walkers, because they need very different types of activity. Going back to Chepi, I would be thinking are the classes right for her? What other effects are they having? Is there anywhere else you can take her? I am a bit surprised she needs to complete her bronze. We didn't have to go to any prior classes before we started agility and Benson is doing just fine. Caveat here, these are my just thoughts, I just feel strongly I guess as having a very reactive dog, I would do anything to have the nice calm dog he should be.
Gosh, it sounds awful. I have to say, I wouldn't take Charlie to a class where any form of punishment is used - I'm sure dogs pick up on other dogs being unhappy (how could they not? they are so finely tuned into emotions) and for that reason alone I'd ditch it. I was interested to see on the ClickerExpo joining instructions that, for those taking a dog, handlers must not use any form of punishment - because it upsets other dogs that have been Clicker trained. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this were true. And Chepi sounds unhappy - that's not right. You want your dog upbeat and happy about training, dying to get there and keen to join in. How about a class outside? I do indoor classes, but only to get Charlie used to being in close proximity to dogs inside. Outside classes are just so much more fun.
If it isn't fun, don't go . I think training, socialisation etc should be fun for a pup or adult dog, and also for the owners
Oooh, been there! One of my big regrets is not being more discerning about the training classes I took Merla to early on. In retrospect, I should have avoided anything indoors, or busy, or with barky, stary collies!! I agree with all above, my feeling is ditch it- I think this is what your intuition is telling you anyway. If you don't like the atmosphere in the obedience class, will the agility be any more positive if it's run by the same people? Is there another group you could go to, even if it's further away? By the way, what aspect do the instructors feel Chepi 'not ready' for on Bronze? There's some odd things in the regulations for the Good Citizen awards which seem a bit of a throwback to a bygone age and mean that they wouldn't suit every dog, even if those dogs are, in fact, perfectly good citizens!!
I would stop going. Is there somewhere else you could go to do your bronze, even if it means travelling a bit further? Or could you explain things to the agility club and ask them to assess your readiness? It does seem strange the agility club want you to have passed bronze - I suppose it's so they know your dog is ok around other dogs. if you only had a couple of weeks till your test I might say stick it out, but another 8 weeks is a long stretch doing something that's making you miserable. Hope you can find an alternative.
I'm with the others - dump the class. Dog training is meant to be fun - for you and your dog. Those classes sound horribly stressful, I'm sure you can find something better.
I agree with everything already written above. Personally, if Juno was unhappy in a class I wouldn't be going back.All training should be a positive, fun experience and it doesn't sound as if either of you find it fun. I would have a chat with the organisers of the agility course as I can't see why you should need a certain certificate to join in an agility class.
An overwhelming response that is really supportive, sensitive and understanding; thanks so much. Blast and damn it - we are liberated! We aren't going back - yippee!!!!! I was nearly there with the decision but had nobody to discuss it with. Chepi isn't too hot on waiting to go through the gate as she doesn't want to be left be behind, I think. Otherwise she does well. I have sent an email to a clicker trainer I saw once last year on a one to one to see if she is doing classes, no reply yet. I think she used to run some outside in Richmond Park which is about 25 mins drive. Thanks everyone
Well I'm lat to the party but you should totally ditch the class, as everyone has said! Classes are very worthwhile, but only if fun and well run.
You should pay to do something neither Chepi or you enjoy? I think not. I didn't finish Molly's puppy classes. We waited in turn to things, it was very repetitive and, as usually happens at any class, lots of time was spent to dogs and owners who had a variety of problems. My perception was (and apologies to other trainers) my trainer was mostly interested in competing in agility at a high level and ran puppy classes as a bread and butter line.
The next 8 week fee will go toward something worthwhile to do with Chepi; I was wondering what I was doing at these classes. I would actually be waiting my turn to do something trying to block out all the battles going on around us, thinking "why are we doing this?" It was to get onto Agility but I am just going to rethink, do more research and hope we find something good.
By the time I'm chiming in you've already done what I would have said.....'Dump the Class!' Bet you will find something really great to do together x
I'm glad you've decided to ditch the class . I'm sure you can find something better to do with Chepi and the money that makes you both happy
