I personally would not be happy going to a class who allowed DA dogs into it.

(if it was a regular dog class - a specific class for DA dogs would be different).

Im at a loss why this thread has been allowed to continue, when so many others have been closed!

Awwww come on dont ruin the fun!

Of course your view is understandable but personally I am grateful that both my training class and agility class allow us to go. Without them, I would not have had the opportunity to work on Cain's focus around other dogs, agility class in particular has helped him. My trainer is sensible and the other owners are respectful of our space and understanding. There are no DA only classes near me so regular classes are our only option and it's helped Cain immeasurably.

I think it depends on how disruptive the dog is. Our trainer says that dogs are there to learn, no play and they have plenty of time to socialise on walks. So Cain isn't stopping that. We have enough space to keep a sensible distance and he is quiet and calm mostly. I don't think we disrupt the class much, except for people having to keep an eye on how close they walk to us.

Of course if a dog was totally stressed, snapping, barking and lunging on its lead then classes are a bad idea. Too much for the dog and not fair on the owners who paid for a training class. But I don't see that a blanket ban on ALL DA dogs in regular classes is necessary. But I can also understand why you may not want it, I am very lucky that the other owners are supportive, sympathetic and make me feel included even when we're standing 10 feet away

This is a general comment though, in not advocating Ben in normal classes as I don't know his behaviour well enough to comment.

Oh that's great, you will be in good hands with her. She does demand a lot from the owners but you won't mind that

She really does know what she is doing, she's been in training and behaviour for years and is also a truly lovely person

Wys
x

I agree with you. I think so long as the owner is honest and everyone is made aware of the dog's limitations then it shouldn't be a problem. Obviously it's different if the owner just lets their dog off or go crazy without any responsibility, but that goes for all dogs, not only DA dogs.
I'm glad agility has helped Cain

There is a difference between allowing a dog who has done several 1-1s and built up a relationship with owners who know what they are doing and just taking a DA dog along to a class in the hope that the other dogs can cope with it!

I will not allow any dog into a class situation before I have done at least one 1-1. I need to be sure that the dog can cope with the class environment and it will not be detrimental to anyone who is also at the same class.

There are classes who allow DA dogs (and I do have classes which DA dogs participate in) and I think people find them very beneficial.

That makes sense. I think any DA dog should be assessed before joining classes to ensure the dog can cope and that it won't be too disruptive for everyone else

I wouldn't mind at all, as long as the dog was suitably controlled and muzzled. I'd be more inclined to have a lot of respect for the owners who recognised their dog's issues and were trying to correct them.

Yes the lovely lady I trained with let me take Mia to her class
BUT
she knew me and Mia, I knew the class and basically was able to sit at the other end of the corridor for a few weeks, then able to come in early and sit in the far corner of the room clicking Mia for every dog that came into the room
We sloowly built up to participating in the class - to the point where Mia got her KCCGC bronze in the class

But at no point was she permitted to kick off at other dogs - or for them to correct her in any way
The class was not for interacting with dogs at all - it was for being in a space calmly with other dogs about