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Originally Posted by salazark  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. |
I don't think you are catering to his fear. Earlier this year I took Maggie for training at the SPCA. The trainer wanted me to sit on the floor with Maggie rather than stand (which turned out to be a good thing). A big lab whose owner could barely control him, came charging at us. As I picked up Maggie, this dog clawed the top of my hand and also broke the skin on Maggie, actually took out a plug of hair. My hand bled for the next hour. I had a terrible scar for a couple of months. After a visit to the vet, it was determined Maggie would be ok. Maggie shook every time we walked into that place. I'm not going to leave my dogs to be the entree for any dog. If they are afraid and want to be picked up, I will do it. A big dog in the neighborhood charged Buster and scared him so bad he came out of his harness. We had in home training for Buster and that worked really well. He wasn't distracted, he was the only dog and he learned very quick. It was expensive but I thought it was worth every penny.