that's exactly it!! she is SO nice to every other dog we see... she plays very nicely with her "cousins" a husky mix and a bichon... she has a VERY hyper and "biting" friend who is a poodle mix and she is right in there on top of her playing like the best of em! it's just obedience!! very :situation specific: if you will! lol... and part of me really feels bad for her... tons of 40 lbs dogs coming at her 5 lbs little body... but i know it's not the ok way to act... all she has to do is asked to be picked up... biting is not the answer...

Marcellera:

Obviously, I owe you an apology. My post did not come across like I intended. To you, I apologize.

But, Marcellera, I have given you suggestions. My first post (which you seemed to appreciate) was here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66905
My other advice was to try to find another trainer. I understand that you didn't like that advice, but I did explain why. You, yourself, have described your dog's behavior as fearful. As I explained, it's my opinion that alpha-rolling a fearful dog makes her more fearful. I just don't think it is appropriate in this situation. Thus, I would find another trainer who doesn't use it for fearful dogs. Another thing that I didn't say, but will say now is this: your dog doesn't act this way in other situations, only in class. That leads me to believe that perhaps your trainer doesn't have this class under as much control as she should.

I do apologize again for the tone of my last post. But, please, look again. I never said your dog's behavior was inappropriate. Many dogs are become snappy when they are fearful. It was your trainer's behavior (the alpha-roll) that I believe to be inappropriate.

I'll say it again. I apologize that my last post came across rude.

OH.. so you don't think she should be rolling her on her back?? hmm.... i never thought of that... she did look like the level of fear went up like 10 notches! her "baby sitter" runs behaviour classes so i think i'll try and get into one of hers.. if not at least see what her approach is. I appologize if i was being over sensitive.. this is a very touchy subject for me because layla never acts the way she does when we are there and it just breaks my heart. thanks for the advice!

The same thing happened to me when I took Pepper a few months ago for a puppy playdate. At 6 months, he was the oldest puppy there and I was embarassed because he started snapping at the younger puppies whenever they ran up to him and tried to play. When I walk him, he goes crazy about any dog (no matter size or age) and wants to play and is overly friendly, and in the place where he could be off leash and running and playing, he was so unsociable I was shocked... He got better though. But still, seems like the crazy energy and barkiness of younger pups drive him nuts.

You don't have anything to apologize for. It was my post that got us going in the wrong direction.

NO, I don't think your trainer should do that. However, many on this board would disagree with me. I don't believe in alpha-rolling dogs period, but in most cases, it doesn't do any harm. However, I think that forcing a small dog - who is in a room full of larger dogs that she is already afraid of - into a submissive position is only going to make it worse. IF your dog is afraid (which you say she seems to be and her desire to be picked up indicates) then I think she needs more confidence in class, not less.

You mentioned socializing her more outside of class. That is an excellent idea!

I think that's a great idea.

It would break my heart, too. But don't be embarassed by it. Remember, it is NOT a reflection on you.