Moviedust
Well-known member
As some of you know, I am teaching my first basic obedience class through the local kennel club. I accepted the invitation to take charge of the course with some concerns, so luckily I asked the training coordinator to attend the course with me just in case something came up that I couldnt handle. (Plus if someone had to be dismissed, it is her call.)
Well what do you know..... in the two years I've been at this club and attended all sorts of classes, I've never seen one. So of course she had to walk into mine....
A clueless Rottweiler owner and her full grown female rott.
From the minute the dog walked in the door, it was lunching at other dogs. Everyone was lined up to get registered, so I quickly steered the dog away from the door and the crowd. I immediately instructed the owner to NOT let the dog away at any cost. I observed while registration was occuring, and I stepped in several times to help the owner control/reprimand the dog.
The rest of the dogs in the class are gems. Many of them are graduates from my puppy classes in the fall, which is great. They are already friends and the dogs are already well trained in basic commands. Of course, I had a hard time focusing on them because the Rott was barking etc. At one point, while I was helping a friendly mix, all hell broke loose by the rott. It attacked a cocker!!
I rushed over and helped break them up. I thought for sure the cocker was injured, as it seemed the rott had a strong hold on its shoulder. The cocker was not groomed with a cut, so it was fuzzy furry. I had the cocker owner give a close exam to make sure it wasnt bleeding. It seemed okay, so the rott just got fur. The cocker owner didnt seem upset and did not insist the rott get kicked out, etc.
After class, I had a discussion with the coordinator, and as far as no complaints came in, we will let the rott remain in the class. The dog has no issue with people--its a sweet dog with people--its just dog aggression. It's clear that the dog's problem comes from the owner's lack of discipline. This is a dog that CAN be saved if the owner is educated.
It is tempting to kick the dog out of the class; I'm sure the others in the class would prefer it. As the instructor, I probably would like the class without having the rott always on my mind. However, our community is one of those in the middle of creating breed specific legislation. Our kennel club is actively opposing the breed specific legislation, so we're in a bit of a jam. If we say that the dog is too dangerous for the class, there's no where for it to go. We are a tiny town; we're basically it for dog training. There arent any behaviorists out there to take on a case like this. The owner would probably lock the dog in the back yard, and it would be a matter of time before an incident occurs. Plus, it would get out that the kennel club kicked out a rott from their class, rather than demonstrating that these dogs are capable of being trained.
So I found myself at the end of the class talking to the rott owner. Instead of telling her she can't come back (which she tearfully expected), I started listing all the changes she needed to work on with her dog. I talked to her about setting rules and boundaries--taking charge of the dogs life. I had to show her how to say no to her dog as it fixated on the leaving dogs. She was tentative to be physical with her dog; all she could do was hold on. I had to show her how to be assertive with her NO! I had to show her how to watch the dog and correct it when it fixated BEFORE it got obsessed and barked.
At one point, the rott was laying at our feet, watching the cocker it had attacked earlier as it was laying on the floor getting petted by its 7 year old owner (her mom was talking to the coordinator). The rott suddenly rose to its feet, fixated on the cocker. The little girl's face immedately registered blood curdling fear. I stepped inbetween the rott and the girl, distracting the rott. I turned to the owner of the rott and I said, " Did you see the fear on the girls face?"
She said, "yes"
"You are responsible for that fear" I said. "You are responsible for how your dog impacts those around it. "
I explained to her the added responsibility a rott owner takes on simply because they have a rott. People will be afraid of a well behaved rott; If the rott barks, people will think it wants to kill them. As a responsible owner, she has to make sure that she is 100% in control of her dog so that no one has cause to be afraid.
It was harsh and I felt bad for saying it, but it was the only thing that seemed to get through the "he just wants to play" or the "he's fine at home" excuses.
I gave her explicit instructions to stop free-feeding so that she's in control of the dog's food. I also gave instructions that the dog is not to bark at another dog, even inside through a window, without her getting the dog under control and praising it when it calms down and gives it her attention. I spoke to her about watching it like a hawk and redirecting its attention whenever it is around another dog. I wanted to say so much more, but at the same time I knew she'd be overwhelmed.
Of course, here I am, two hours after the class completely on edge and wired from the experience. Part of me hopes that someone complains and we have to ask the rott owner not to return. Part of me hopes that the rott owner comes back and actually makes progress. I know the dog can be saved with a knowledgeable owner; I just dont know if this owner can get it together.
So for all of you cavvy owners who have been to class with that scary, big dog that seems out of control..... this is what the trainer goes through! There's so much more involved in this situation than just what's best for the majority, as the politics in our community are at play. It's a heck of a lot for lil' ol me to handle!! It's not what I hoped I would have when thinking about my first basic obedience class!!
Well what do you know..... in the two years I've been at this club and attended all sorts of classes, I've never seen one. So of course she had to walk into mine....
A clueless Rottweiler owner and her full grown female rott.
From the minute the dog walked in the door, it was lunching at other dogs. Everyone was lined up to get registered, so I quickly steered the dog away from the door and the crowd. I immediately instructed the owner to NOT let the dog away at any cost. I observed while registration was occuring, and I stepped in several times to help the owner control/reprimand the dog.
The rest of the dogs in the class are gems. Many of them are graduates from my puppy classes in the fall, which is great. They are already friends and the dogs are already well trained in basic commands. Of course, I had a hard time focusing on them because the Rott was barking etc. At one point, while I was helping a friendly mix, all hell broke loose by the rott. It attacked a cocker!!
I rushed over and helped break them up. I thought for sure the cocker was injured, as it seemed the rott had a strong hold on its shoulder. The cocker was not groomed with a cut, so it was fuzzy furry. I had the cocker owner give a close exam to make sure it wasnt bleeding. It seemed okay, so the rott just got fur. The cocker owner didnt seem upset and did not insist the rott get kicked out, etc.
After class, I had a discussion with the coordinator, and as far as no complaints came in, we will let the rott remain in the class. The dog has no issue with people--its a sweet dog with people--its just dog aggression. It's clear that the dog's problem comes from the owner's lack of discipline. This is a dog that CAN be saved if the owner is educated.
It is tempting to kick the dog out of the class; I'm sure the others in the class would prefer it. As the instructor, I probably would like the class without having the rott always on my mind. However, our community is one of those in the middle of creating breed specific legislation. Our kennel club is actively opposing the breed specific legislation, so we're in a bit of a jam. If we say that the dog is too dangerous for the class, there's no where for it to go. We are a tiny town; we're basically it for dog training. There arent any behaviorists out there to take on a case like this. The owner would probably lock the dog in the back yard, and it would be a matter of time before an incident occurs. Plus, it would get out that the kennel club kicked out a rott from their class, rather than demonstrating that these dogs are capable of being trained.
So I found myself at the end of the class talking to the rott owner. Instead of telling her she can't come back (which she tearfully expected), I started listing all the changes she needed to work on with her dog. I talked to her about setting rules and boundaries--taking charge of the dogs life. I had to show her how to say no to her dog as it fixated on the leaving dogs. She was tentative to be physical with her dog; all she could do was hold on. I had to show her how to be assertive with her NO! I had to show her how to watch the dog and correct it when it fixated BEFORE it got obsessed and barked.
At one point, the rott was laying at our feet, watching the cocker it had attacked earlier as it was laying on the floor getting petted by its 7 year old owner (her mom was talking to the coordinator). The rott suddenly rose to its feet, fixated on the cocker. The little girl's face immedately registered blood curdling fear. I stepped inbetween the rott and the girl, distracting the rott. I turned to the owner of the rott and I said, " Did you see the fear on the girls face?"
She said, "yes"
"You are responsible for that fear" I said. "You are responsible for how your dog impacts those around it. "
I explained to her the added responsibility a rott owner takes on simply because they have a rott. People will be afraid of a well behaved rott; If the rott barks, people will think it wants to kill them. As a responsible owner, she has to make sure that she is 100% in control of her dog so that no one has cause to be afraid.
It was harsh and I felt bad for saying it, but it was the only thing that seemed to get through the "he just wants to play" or the "he's fine at home" excuses.
I gave her explicit instructions to stop free-feeding so that she's in control of the dog's food. I also gave instructions that the dog is not to bark at another dog, even inside through a window, without her getting the dog under control and praising it when it calms down and gives it her attention. I spoke to her about watching it like a hawk and redirecting its attention whenever it is around another dog. I wanted to say so much more, but at the same time I knew she'd be overwhelmed.
Of course, here I am, two hours after the class completely on edge and wired from the experience. Part of me hopes that someone complains and we have to ask the rott owner not to return. Part of me hopes that the rott owner comes back and actually makes progress. I know the dog can be saved with a knowledgeable owner; I just dont know if this owner can get it together.
So for all of you cavvy owners who have been to class with that scary, big dog that seems out of control..... this is what the trainer goes through! There's so much more involved in this situation than just what's best for the majority, as the politics in our community are at play. It's a heck of a lot for lil' ol me to handle!! It's not what I hoped I would have when thinking about my first basic obedience class!!