Will a junior training course REALLY help my dog accept other dogs?

As some of you will know I have a mini poodle.
I have done all basic training with him myself, however he is not happy around other dogs especially males.
So above everything else I want to take him on this junior course to help with this problem.
But am I kidding myself? or will it really help him to accept other dogs?

If it is a good trainer he/she will be able to show you how to control him when he is around other dogs plus it will get him used to being in close proximity with lots of other dogs. I think it is worth giving it a shot. Good Luck.

It depends entirely on your dog and the course imo. A good trainer should be able to tell you - sometimes it's counter productive putting your dog on a course and sets them back, other times it can help them.

What you don't want to do is flood your dog with the presence of too many other dogs at once so it may be worthwhile doing desensitisation with the help of a behaviourist/trainer with just one dog at a time and gradually build up.

Also - its very easy to make matters worse when you have a dog at training classes and don't want him disrupting the class so do your best to keep him quiet - I have the same problem with Takara, she's not good with other dogs when she's in an enclosed space with them and she also barks out of boredom for attention so if we have to sit for any length of time to listen to the trainer, I have to trickle feed her the whole time and she's been inadvertently rewarded for barking by me shutting her up with a food distraction!

Even if you do go to a training class and it is succesful you should still seek advice on working on your dogs behaviour around other dogs on walks etc because he probably won't generalise it to walks. My eldest is terrible with dogs on walks but bring them into the house and he accepts them pretty much instantly - he just isn't comfortable meeting them when out and about.

In my opinion the best way to accustom a dog to being around other dogs safely is in a controlled environment like a training class - provided it is well managed. If it`s a zoo with lots of manic dogs barking it`ll probably make it worse. So why not go along without your dog and see what it`s like first? I`m sure the trainer would like to know she has a dog coming in who is not socialised with other dogs as well, and if she`s any good she`ll help you with his behaviour.

Thanks everyone for your advice.
Lottie, what you said about your eldest when out on walks.
Well Red is the opposite, on walks he seems ok. If another dog comes to the house, or even walks past the house he is not happy at all.

Sounds like he is protecting his territory.

It is easier when they are puppies but it is never too late to teach a dog manners, well for most dogs that is, I have one who is hopeless and another who I swear was born with all the social graces.

So although classes may well help if he is hell bent on being a hooligan you may not even scrape the surface. It is also possible he is just going through the Kevin stage and will improve anyway whether or not you take him to classes.

I really can't see him turning into a hooligan he's only a mini poodle and he's so soft you wouldn't believe. I think its more like what elmac13 is saying.

Yes, my other is like that and needs carefully getting used to the idea of another dog coming in (although she's actually worse on their territory, than her own) and she barks at any dog walking past the house or car - if she's in it.

In my experience, it's more normal for dogs to be ok out but not when dogs come onto their territory but my eldest was a rescue who had lived with a dog but wasn't used to meeting dogs on walks, due to having free run of a farm and limited walks and he seems to be ok with dogs coming to our house if I say it's ok whereas he's a lot less secure when we're out and about.

My youngest is much better now with visiting dogs (and is currently laid on her back with her legs in the air tarting for our lodger dog ) but that's because I've done a lot of practice with her, looking after dogs for my friends when they've gone away and she's got used to the idea that dogs come and go and now just sees it as an opportunity to find a new playmate!

Lottie what you say about a playmate. I'm hoping one day to get another mini so Red will have a little playmate, I just need to get him used to the idea first.
I think a female would be best as well.