The dog musing/vent thread

Snark

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Hope your next class goes well, Maxy! Michaela is reactive, too, and while our obedience trainer was pretty good, there was still one clueless person in class with a pushy dog who would walk right at us, no matter where we went.

Michaela did learn 'watch me' REALLY well, and this week, she's actually been friendly with a Scottie and Shih Tzu at barn hunt practice. Whoot! New dogs, especially bully breeds, coming to practice can be a different story but 'watch me' still works, and the woman who holds the practice lets everyone know Michaela is reactive so they all give us space.

CrystalGSD: All I can say is, 'Wow!', and what a cutie!!
 

Maxy24

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Maxy! Did you have another class yet with Tucker? How did it go??
Not yet, it'll be on Wednesday night. I'm so excited! Nobody understands why I'm even taking this class with him since he knows all of his basic obedience. I just want to DO SOMETHING with him, it's not about learning the commands (though of course being able to practice around other dogs/in strange place will certainly help). He's my one and only dog and dogs are my hobby, this whole sitting around the house thing isn't fun.


Hope your next class goes well, Maxy! Michaela is reactive, too, and while our obedience trainer was pretty good, there was still one clueless person in class with a pushy dog who would walk right at us, no matter where we went.
Thanks! I think once I told everyone that he's aggressive towards people they decided he's terrifying and will stay away. One of the people (she's young, maybe college aged, and seems a bit naive) came up to me after class while I was waiting for my ride and was like "Is your dog really aggressive towards people?" like it was some foreign concept, and horrifying. People seem to shrug off dog-dog aggression, but once they think they might be the ones getting bit they stay away. I've learned not to use euphemisms about his behavior-no more shy/afraid of strangers/fearful-people think they can change you dogs mind when you say those things because they are just SO good with dogs. Nope, I say he's mean/aggressive/will try to bite and that does a better job of keeping him and everyone else safe.

The trainer came right out and said, well we have four people so everyone will get a corner of the room. Sounds good to me. The store manager said they'll probably start him out with visual barriers and take them down if he is doing well. So I think the actual class will go fine. I'll just need to be careful before class starts/when we're leaving. Last week the class before us ran late so we were all hanging out in the store attached to the training room (which was closed, so it's just us, but the store is tiny) waiting for them to finish up, that's where things could get iffy. I could always just wait outside though.
 

BostonBanker

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He's my one and only dog and dogs are my hobby, this whole sitting around the house thing isn't fun.
I get that, Meg stayed in agility classes long after she was getting anything out of them, because she was my only dog at the time and I wanted to be doing something. I'm glad you found a place where it looks like Tucker will be able to be successful.

I'll just need to be careful before class starts/when we're leaving. Last week the class before us ran late so we were all hanging out in the store attached to the training room (which was closed, so it's just us, but the store is tiny) waiting for them to finish up, that's where things could get iffy. I could always just wait outside though.
He's pretty little, isn't he? Can you just have him in your arms going in and out of the room?
 

Maxy24

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Yeah I'll pick him up if we find ourselves too close to anybody/need to move closely by someone. I get a little hesitant about it because I wouldn't put it totally past him to redirect onto me, but he has never reacted when in my arms (I've picked him up when I've seen off leash dogs or speedy toddlers running towards us), so perhaps he feels safer up there.
 

Dogdragoness

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Not a vent but more of a muse:

We had someone walk out on "agility league" (like a bowling league only with agility). His dog wasnt feeling it that night but even on a good day, it wasnt a dog who was going to be competing at agility, fine, nothing wrong with that. But the more he tried to get excited and encourage his dog, the more he shut down, and he just upped and walked out, saying he was quitting class, and the league, too. :/

Even the trainer was shocked and unsure of what to do.
 

BostonBanker

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His dog wasnt feeling it that night but even on a good day, it wasnt a dog who was going to be competing at agility, fine, nothing wrong with that. But the more he tried to get excited and encourage his dog, the more he shut down
His dog didn't seem to enjoy agility, so he stopped doing it? I don't see anything wrong or surprising about that. As someone who has beaten her head bloody against the wall with dogs who aren't "ideal" agility dogs, I don't begrudge anyone making that decision. It's supposed to be fun; if your dog isn't enjoying it and you aren't either, another hobby isn't a wrong answer.
 

MericoX

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Any type of dog can compete, it's what you want to get out of it that you win or lose. On our worst runs I find something good, or cheer Kiba on for her attempt. Also a Schnauzer whom I've been mocked at for even running because she's not a "Papillon, Shelter, or BC".
 

Snark

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We had someone walk out on "agility league" (like a bowling league only with agility). His dog wasnt feeling it that night but even on a good day, it wasnt a dog who was going to be competing at agility, fine, nothing wrong with that. But the more he tried to get excited and encourage his dog, the more he shut down, and he just upped and walked out, saying he was quitting class, and the league, too.
His dog didn't seem to enjoy agility, so he stopped doing it? I don't see anything wrong or surprising about that. As someone who has beaten her head bloody against the wall with dogs who aren't "ideal" agility dogs, I don't begrudge anyone making that decision. It's supposed to be fun; if your dog isn't enjoying it and you aren't either, another hobby isn't a wrong answer.
I wonder if his dog is like Riley? Riley loves agility - on home ground, by himself, without any other people around, and no pressure. At class, he worried - about noises (car doors slamming, lawn mowers, etc), about people he didn't know walking in, about making 'mistakes' and reactions he thought were 'out of character'. For example, at home Riley would fly through the weaves, at class, most of the time he'd walk. Once, he actually started to speed through the weaves like he does at home, the class spontaneously burst into applause, he stopped dead and wouldn't go through the weaves again that night. I finally quit class too, and we play at home - he likes that.
 

Dogdragoness

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I wonder if his dog is like Riley? Riley loves agility - on home ground, by himself, without any other people around, and no pressure. At class, he worried - about noises (car doors slamming, lawn mowers, etc), about people he didn't know walking in, about making 'mistakes' and reactions he thought were 'out of character'. For example, at home Riley would fly through the weaves, at class, most of the time he'd walk. Once, he actually started to speed through the weaves like he does at home, the class spontaneously burst into applause, he stopped dead and wouldn't go through the weaves again that night. I finally quit class too, and we play at home - he likes that.
I think so, too. And the guy didnt leave in a good mood, like "hey, I had fun, but I dont think my dog is enjoying it." He seemed flustered and embarassed, and frustrated with his dog. He had been coming for 3 weeks, and he was on the bottom of the scores all week, so maybe that's it?


I mean I get it, my dog was being a jerk, too, I have been ill for almost 2 weeks so neither he nor I have been able to practice, so we were BOTH really rusty. I guess its not that he walked out, but HOW he walked out, like I could see finishing out the class that night and approaching the trainer after and being all like "I dont think this is for us", but storming out in the middle of class in front of everyone and making a scene? :confused:
 

StillandSilent

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Yeah, no need to make a scene. His dog sounds a lot like Gimmick. We went, we tried, and we had the same issues. And this was in foundations, not anything too stressful. But it was for him. So we finished the set of classes, thanked the teachers (who really were wonderful) and left. Gimmick has found his true passion in holdng down the couch, and Glitch will be giving it a go at the end of the month. Fingers crossed!
 

Maxy24

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First class with Tucker today. It went okay. He did not react aggressively at all but was clearly nervous and had a lot of trouble focusing on me, he had to keep looking at everyone else, which is alright, I figured he'd need to get used to it all. He was able to follow his commands most of the time, he just wasn't into it, you know? He begged to sit in my lap or be picked up a lot which clearly indicates he's nervous as he's not a super cuddly guy. It didn't help that I was fairly nervous too, especially since there were a couple of kids there. At the end of class we waited until everyone left and I spoke to the instructor. Once the dogs left he immediately perked up, tail went up, he got a spring in his step. I mentioned how I wished we could hang out in the room ourselves for a while so at least he's not scared of the place and she said we're welcome to come by any time there is no class and play/train/hang out. So I think we'll do that a few times this week so he's feeling good about the place. I think he'll get better each week with the group.
 

lancerandrara

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Suddenly reverts back into browsing Malinois and Dutch Shep breeders and dogs 24/7 again. Halp.

I can't even have until at least 4 months from now. Sad.

It's almost over... moving out of this apartment is soon... only 3.5 months left... It's been an annoying year of this place.
 

Locke

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Suddenly reverts back into browsing Malinois and Dutch Shep breeders and dogs 24/7 again. Halp.

I can't even have until at least 4 months from now. Sad.

It's almost over... moving out of this apartment is soon... only 3.5 months left... It's been an annoying year of this place.

I think taking the next 3.5-4 months to research breeders/dogs is a good idea! If you start planning now, you might be able to get a dog soon after you move out!
 

StillandSilent

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Glitch got introduced to his new best friend Mr. Belly Band today. He was absolutely horrified, but until he can control his marking, this is what's happening.
 

lancerandrara

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I think taking the next 3.5-4 months to research breeders/dogs is a good idea! If you start planning now, you might be able to get a dog soon after you move out!
Man, you have no idea... I have been planning and researching and occasionally contacting (or trying to contact) here and there for so long... LOL.

Assuming my life goes in the way that I expect it to go in the next 3 months, I will be moving to quiet area- either my own owned condo or renting a single family house in about 4~5 months. Still have a roommate though, but she's my best friend from college (we were roommates for 4 years and already gone through our dumb dumb college roommate arguments and resolved them, so very happy now haha). And I may likely be able to work from home for 3 days a week starting then, if all goes to plan! I'm excited! 8__8 *crosses fingers*

I've been kind of boggled with breeders lately, because it seems that for the Malinois breeders somebody recommends, someone else knows something shady or poor temperament in their dogs. And I don't really have dog connections and have no clue about anything or witnessed anything myself, so can't form my own opinions of breeders/their dogs. But I have to try contacting a couple local Mal breeders again to hopefully visit their facility, but they're very renown. I'm not sure what my chances are with getting a puppy from them, since I'm not well-connected or have any experience behind me besides dabbling in a few sports with my Aussies. :x

I've been tentatively looking at Dutch Shepherds too, and only read good things about Asheley McCleary's Vrijheid so far (both about her as a person, skills, and her dogs), and seem to be a good fit... maybe! Buuut I can only get my info from online and chatting aaaahaa.

(I also found Asheley on facebook, but don't want to come off a total creeper like I usually am or anything haaaar har har. How how.)
 
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Dogdragoness

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Yeah, no need to make a scene. His dog sounds a lot like Gimmick. We went, we tried, and we had the same issues. And this was in foundations, not anything too stressful. But it was for him. So we finished the set of classes, thanked the teachers (who really were wonderful) and left. Gimmick has found his true passion in holdng down the couch, and Glitch will be giving it a go at the end of the month. Fingers crossed!
Well, our trainer said she waited a day or so, then emailed him, and he admitted to being frustrated and was sorry for making a scene, and wanted to give it another go.
 

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