the thing i love is my trainer gets to know every dog individually initially and knows each by name. He reads when a reaction may occur and avoids it so the dogs only have good experiences to get over their DA. We balance the class through non-reactive dogs and reactive dogs and work out what triggers reaction

He also trains dogs which show aggrsseion towards humans.

Cherry can be dog reactive and we have been to lots of different training classes (agility/obedience/heelwork to music) over the years.

Saying that-she is very well-behaved and only really "kicks off" the first time she meets new dogs at the class (by kicking off I mean attempts to head-butt and of course I keep her out of the other dogs' way and do not let her do this!).

She then settles down into the class and ignores the other dogs and can sniff and meet the smaller ones if appropriate as she likes, and feels comfortable with, small dogs.

The problems we have had in classes are when other people's dogs don't do as they are told-for example-when we were in a test situation and all the dogs were lined up doing a sit-stay and they all decided they were going to move (apart from Cherry bless her!) and a big dog came over and started to sniff her bum! I called her away from the situation as I thought she might "kick off" but she was a good girl and ignored the other dogs.

I always am upfront about Cherry's behaviour and her not liking large strange dogs but sometimes the trainer has put us in a difficult situation like when I did agility and was swapped into a different class on week 7 of an 8 week course and the trainer let a reactive dog off-lead halfway through and it went for Cherry. If you allow aggressive/reactive dogs in a class you need to ensure safety of people and other dogs.

It really depends on the competency of the trainer and dog owner and the size of the training venue in my opinion.

We are starting a new training course at the end of the month and I will be taking Parker for the first week to check if it is suitable for Cherry or not. The trainer knows she has issues with certain other dogs and is happy for me to take her to his classes but they may not be suitable for her.

One class that we attended had an aggressive Rottweiler in it; within the first ten minutes it had already snapped and growled at another owner and her dog.

The trainer didn't seem bothered but another class member insisted that the dog be given a temporary muzzle which the trainer did have in his car.

I was a bit edgy because my dog always wants to leap around and play with every single dog he sees, so I had to ensure we weren't too close to the Rottie - especially because halfway through the class that muzzle disappeared...

I only ever have a Max of 4 in a class - and I will occasionally have DA dogs in there.

I have had one notable issue where the people did not tell me their dog was DA - assuring me in the prior checks that the dog was fine - only to have it arrive and create hell.

I have recently had a DA SBT attending classes - we had worked on a 1-2-1 basis initially and the owner had felt she had reached a level which would enable her to cope in the class.
Usually for the first couple of lessons the dog is separate in the corner - everyone else in the class is informed of the issue and to ensure their dogs to not go over.
The dog is taught (using Mat work) to relax while the other dogs are working, if there are any exercise that are likely to over excite or upset, the dog is removed from the room for those times.

I am very careful which Classes I allow DA dogs into, but at some point (if you have owners who want to work with their dogs) you have to get them into environments where they can work around other dogs without fear that the other dogs are not under control. I do not know any other way to do this that a class.

So Far - I have had no complaints - and would even go further as to say that it has encouraged people to continue, giving them the confidence to continue working with their dogs. (The other people in the classes have all continued as well!)

How else can an owner of a dog aggressive dog ever hope to overcome the issue other than work on it in an environment with other controlled well behaved dogs? Its a dilemma.

I never thought I would own a dog aggressive dog.. If you had asked me 4 years ago I would have told you I couldn't imagine anything worse and that no dog of mine would ever be dog aggressive.... Yet here I am with a dog aggressive dog...

When she became food possessive, we could work on this at home together and we cracked it... But how can we work on issues with other dogs without other dogs to work with?

Some really great replies so far It's interesting to hear it from lots of different points of view, especially a trainer's.

Of course you need to have DA dogs in classes in order for them to work on their issues but I think it's a case of making sure that the necessary precautions are taken so that, as far as you can possibly prepare for, no one in the class gets hurt.

I do sympathise with owners with DA dogs because my dog can be/was very reactive and it is really difficult to deal with the issues if no one gives you the chance.

I think it is totally wrong to have DA dogs in beginners classes with puppies

I'd be interested to see why you think this?
What about in adult classes, such as those held for KC Good Cit. awards?

Ive seen puppies attacked by such dogs. This can make a pup become fear aggressive

In a well run adult class under strict supervision of a good trainer you could have DA dogs

I don't take mine to training, but if I did it wouldn't bother me, how else is that dog/s going to learn, I'd of thought that was why they were there. In which case thats very commendable of the owner and trainer to help.

Puppy classes IMO should be for puppies so I doubt a full blown DA puppy would be there.... its not what a puppy would be at that age

As for adult classes yes I'd expect to find them this is the time when things have been allowed out of hand...either through lack of early training/socialisation/breeding/or the fact that they are rescues.
I've allowed my own dogs as studges to help aggressive dogs and Im quite happy to help.
so I'd have no problems with it