I agree with all those with a reactive dog , it is very stressful being on high alert all the time and at the same time trying to keep a calm approach to make the dog feel better.

I took Bella to her first class last night , she is not reactive but I was still cautious as we didnt know the other doggies there and I didnt know how she would react in a completely new situation . She behaved very well but I immediately recognised a couple of stressed owners who hung back with thier dogs at the start , that would have been me if I had taken Tom. I didnt take Tom because he is reactive, the class and the trainers were fab and insisted I brought Tom along next week to give him a try and see how he gets on in the class situation. I wouldnt put any other dog at risk as if you have a reactive dog its part of life daily when you walk and you become very tuned into how your dog may react with particular dogs.

I can appreciate peoples concerns being faced with a reactive dog at a training class but if the trainer is supportive and experienced in dealing with this then they should at least be given the opportunity to try in a controlled enviroment.

Exactly - but good trainers are hard to find IME!
Any dog can be difficult. It`s the challenges that separate the real trainers from the `My dad was a dog trainer so I know everything` brigade!

I have to say that I am very pleased at the way our dog school is run, its not easy to find a school in rural france so I am so happy to find this one near to me. Its run by a young couple who know that you know your dog best so they wont be bossy as to what your dog can and cant do. Our classes are outside in a fenced field. Also there are no separate puppy classes all ages are in together.
Some of the dogs that go there can be a bit DA, and lunge at other dogs so there are strict rules that the dogs should have at least 2 metres between them at any time, Culotte is a bit goby to start with but I don’t think it is aggression it just she hasn’t got her gang with her, and once we get going she ignores the other dogs, most of the time she is off lead.

When they teach recall if there is a DA dog then it has to wear a mussel (when off lead) and one of the trainers will go along with it till it gets to the owner, the other trainer will be with the rest of us keeping a good eye out as to what is going on.

The only time there was a slight problem was when a guy with a very well trained BC was at the class, all went fine until the end of the class when we were all having a coffee and a chat, he decided to let his other dog (a lab) out of the car off lead with the BC, they came rushing up to Culotte at a rate of knots, poor girl didn’t know what to do, nor did I for that matter, the dogs were grabbed and put back in the car, and the trainers, Johnny and Virginny told the guy off, never seen him again.

I took my old pup to a training class that had an aggressive/reactive (not sure which actually) dog in class. There weren't mega young pups in the class, all teenage/adult dogs, said dog was muzzled and specifically brought into class after others, and left before the rest, and we all were made away of it and asked to keep a little more distance from him than the other dogs. I remember them trying another "problem" dog who just reacted too much so he attended a different class, so it was nice to know the trainer wouldn't just let a dog be stressed and stress out others for the sake of one more customer.
I certainly wouldn't agree with it, as long as the safety AND stress levels of all dogs involved was taken into consideration.

I dont mind if there are DA dogs in the class, as long as they are managed appropriately and the rest of the class is made aware of the dogs issues (in a non embarrasing way for the DA dog owner of course).

Jed and Flynn dont react to aggressive dogs, they just kind of stand there looking bemused and it doesnt upset them. I might feel differently if it was Jessie in the class because she's very sensitive and would be very put off if another dog came at her. I think it's one of the things that permanently upset her at agility. There was another BC in the class who would target a dog, charge at it, nip and then run off. It charged at Jessie one time and from that point forward whenever the dog was attending she would be very worried.

I just wanted to add that teaching your dog not to react when another dog is being noisy or aggressive in a class is a valuable lesson. It does help when you`re out and a dog starts barking at them if yours has already learned to stay calm.

I agree with all these. How is a DA dog doing to learn if he isn't allowed in any classes?

As for Claires comment in bold, again that is another way of looking at it Dogs need to learn that not all dogs are friendly and how to act accordingly around them

Not always, some clubs dont have the time to distinguish between puppy and beginners classes so the two are clumped together

I have had one - had him until he was nearly 14 years of age. No one else wanted him and more than one vet told me to have him PTS. I had him as good as any of these dogs will get with fear aggression plus I have helped others with these dogs.

I stand by what I say a DA dog should not be in a class with puppies. I have seen clubs where they combine beginners with puppies.

I agree - but a puppy class should be for puppies only. I`d be most unhappy at paying for a training session and having to go at puppy pace.