Taking fear aggressive dog to training class?

I'm thinking of taking my dog to some sort of training classes. He is 4 yrs old and I really could do with some help with his training.
In a lot of ways he is great at home, the main things I need help with are, pulling on his lead and being very aggressive when he sees other dogs when we are out for walks. I'm pretty sure its fear aggression as he has scars where he has been bitten (he is a rescue so I don't know his full backgound)
I don't think he has ever socialised with other dogs at all, and I don't know anyone who lives near enough to me who have dogs his size for him to try to get used to.
This was why I thought of the classes as there will be other dogs there but is it acceptable to turn up to a class to have him lunge and bark like crazy at everyone elses dogs
Also there may be other dogs who are also aggressive and I don't think this would help him as he wouldn't see other dogs as no threat if they are barking back.
I have alo looked at getting a behaviourist to my home, but we would still have the problem of no other dogs to practice with, and I don't want to pay for somebody to just come around and tell me what I already know I should do and then leave me to it.
Also he badly needs recall training but I'm scared to let him off as there are always other dogs around and there seem to be quite a few dog owners around here who will quite happilly let their dog come too close even when he is on his lead and I feel like if I had a training lead I wouldn't have enough control.
I will phone some classed to discuss this of couse but just wondered what others experiences of classes are like, will they let me in if my dog is aggressive?

I was in a similar situation to you, as my dog is also fear aggressive. When we found a training class, we contacted the trainer and were allowed to bring Anton in so that the trainer could assess his level of aggression - as it proved not to be too overwhelming, he was allowed into the class. Maybe you could contact a trainer and ask if they would be willing to do something similar?

Good advice so far! Our classes sometimes have fear aggressive dogs walking around the edge of the field doinf their training for fear aggression with the goal of integrating them when ready.

I would contact some trainers in your area and discuss your own specific needs. It might be that they can advise ona specific programme rather than just turning up at class...

Thanks very much to you both for your replies, this sounds like a really good idea, and its good to hear that I may be able to attend a class.
I'll look some up in this areas and give them a call. Thanks again!

It can help, it could also make him worse if it was done in the wrong way.

The best class would allow you to go along but stay at a distance from the other dogs, practicing basic obedience but so that he's not too uncomfortable with the other dogs around.

I suspect one that wants you to get him right in with the other dogs from the start would probably not be a good idea.

Hiya

Our female Akita was very boisterous and noisy around other dogs so after speaking to a local trainer we took her along to one of her small training classes with 4 other large breed dogs who had similar problems, sounds like a nightmare right?! It wasn't at all, the whole aim of the class was to get the dogs to focus on you and work with you around the room, it was great. Within just a few weeks the dogs were so relaxed around each other, the barriers/cloths down the middle of the room were gradually taken down...

Definately phone around, meet and watch a class first too.

We have a fear aggressive dog here as well. We managed to find a class that would work with him. We had a 1-2-1 consultation with the trainer first, then integrated into the background of a basic training day then we worked within the whole class.

Obi can still be fear aggressive to strange dogs and can get carried away easily with those he knows, his social skills are still not great but they are so much improved and he is manageble now thanks to the classes.

We did our good citizen awards upto gold level, we also did working trials (unfortunately cannot fit this class in anymore) and we do agility which he loves this continues slowly helping with his socialisation.

Hi my local training club run a class for dogs with real issues which I took Molly to and was told she was too well behaved for But then we advanced to their silver kc class as the other dogs and handlers were better and in more control. We then worked at our pace and within a few weeks we were able to be part of the main group. Visit the class on your own first so you know where the potential hazzards are and you can discuss the plan with the trainers first and how you will handle situations. It's tough to be the one with the asbo dog but you will find alot of support there so definately find the one that feels right to you and go along and join in!

Good luck with this. I hope you find a good class.
I took Daisy to an anti-social dogs class, where they used kind methods and gradually helped dogs gain confidence.
A book I found helpful was Barbara Sykes Understanding and Handling Dog Agression. It isn`t so much a `How-to` book, more a diary of the journey. I found it excellent because it is very positive, and includes the things that didn`t work as well as the ones that did.

Hi, do be very careful with both trainers and behaviourists - the problem being that some trainers may not understand a lot about behaviour (some will, but how do you know who is who?) and anyone can call themselves a behaviourist.

So, overall, the best bet is to select a trainer from www.apdt.co.uk and if you need a behaviourist, again select a reputable one from www.apbc.org.uk

You can go on recommendation, but the problem with this is that some other owners may not understand what actually constitutes a good class or trainer or behaviourist.

This may be of some help for general info on choosing a class:

http://www.apdt.co.uk/choosing_dog_trainer_uk.asp


I'd think many trainers would suggest at least an assessment and a one to one before classes. If in classes, he needs to not get overly stressed and this may mean sitting well apart from others, using barriers to avoid seeing too many dogs, etc.

I like to recommend the book "The dog aggression workbook" by James O Heare (it's only small) - it's written with the owner of "aggressive" dogs in mind, and helps to understand why dogs act aggressively/fearfully and how to help the dog cope/how to train for more control and so on.

Good luck

Wys
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