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Originally Posted by Elle  Dogs don't think like people. Dogs think like dogs, right? 3 lbs or 300, he doesn't know it. This is you. You know it, you worry. He is going to be a baby and milk it as long as you do. He won't ever train as long as you cater to the baby being scared. If another handler took him to class without you, he would be different.
Divorce the event. As long as you cater to it you will be overcoming it. They read and feel body language. You must stop the uncertainty if you want him to. Drop it. It happened and it is over. Get to class, boom he's out you are on. Happy handler in action. He has a job, you do to. He can't do his if you aren't 100%. You must believe in yourself and mean it.
Check back in. Let me know how it goes. Very positive rewarding. Laughing, no stress. Stop the negative energy, he's reading it.
I would not suggest the groomer doing this. If you don't make the changes it won't matter when she passes him back to you. He will revert with you. He will be okay with another person. They're all better with a different mom. Get some toys, treats and enjoy your dog. |
I have not catered to his fear. Of course you don't know me or my handling ability so you wouldn't know this. He is afraid - plain and simple - all on his own. After the attack I was shaken up. Because of this I backed off and let the teachers in the class tend to him so that I wouldn't transfer my feelings to him. When we got home that night he was his regular feisty self playing with our lab mix. I really thought that he would be ok the next week. When we walked in the next week he was a little cautious but nothing too wierd. The second that other dog walked in he backed into a corner and started shaking. I had barely even noticed that that dog had come in. There is no way that he got that from my emotions. I've been taking classes for two years. I know that our emotions transfer to the end of the leash. I have been happy and positive with him. I repeat - I have not babied him. I asked the groomer about socializing him with other dogs because I was still trying to understand what his fear was based on - whether it was all dogs if it was based on the room. The next week when we came in again I didn't really expect the fear because the dog he is afraid of wasn't going to be there. I wasn't nervous or afraid. With all due respect, you have not seen what I have with him. I don't think anyone who knows me or my handling ability would say that I am babying him and catering to his fear or that he was somehow milking it. Quite the opposite - I am facing his fear and trying to do the best I can to help him face it and move on. I'm a little insulted by your comments but again - you don't know me or really seem to have an understanding about this situation. I am working with professional trainers and I will continue to follow their advice. They know me and they've seen what is going on with my dog and how I've handled it. Before you say it, yes I did come here looking for suggestions and I do thank you for giving me yours. I just don't think they apply to this situation because in reality what you are suggesting are all things I am already doing.