Lampetergirl

Just to clarify... I had no idea she was a reactive dog when I joined the two classes. If I had known, I would have asked if each was a suitable class for her. She was only about 15 weeks old when she started the classes and the reactivity has emerged over time and only become a significant issue over the last couple of months or so. As I say, I can't believe neither trainer identified the reactivity issue for me or gave me advice on managing her, or suggested better classes to go to. In fact, after the nipping incident, the agility trainer suggested we join her gun dog class!! That is the worst thing I could have done - all those whistles, running dogs, excited owners!!! I feel bad that I put my dog through that. I did two sessions and then started to look around for advice elsewhere....... Onwards and upwards!

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. I have bought Control Unleashed and it's really interesting - I definitely plan to start LAT training. As for classes, the agility class was outdoors, but on reflection, the pen where we all waited our turn was small and was right next to the agility course. This meant my dog was getting completed hyped by everything going on in front of her nose and then couldn't focus when it was her turn. I have now found another club which has a class for reactive dogs. The lady I spoke to there was so helpful and I feel positive about going. I can't believe the original trainer never mentioned reactivity in dogs. I actually think she doesn't know about reactive dogs, if that's possible?! She even said to me that she didn't know why I kept coming to her class as we clearly weren't communicating well. In fact, she has never told me anything useful about handling my dog. I'm well out of there. Thanks again for all your help x

Hi, I would really appreciate your thoughts on this. I have had my 13 month old BC girl since she was 12 weeks old. I have taken her to obedience class weekly in a hall since she was tiny and also to an outdoor agility class most weeks. My concern is that as time goes on, she is getting less and less settled in both classes. It began with barking as she wanted to get going and not wait her turn. Then she started reacting to every excited call that other owners made and to every running dog. If there was an owner using a squeaky ball or a whistle, she was a nightmare and I was exhausted by the end of the session. Finally, starting in an exercise where handlers weave between people and their dogs in a line, she has started jumping up at people and nipping their clothes / ?them. I'm upset by this as she has never nipped anywhere else at all. The vet confirmed that he has done several procedures on her and has never seen her turn on someone. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised at this behaviour, she is a border collie after all! So of course she is going to react to movement. She probably finds both types of class too stimulating? I'm just not sure whether to stop going altogether, which seems a shame as believe it or not, she seems to love going and starts wagging her tail as soon as she gets out of the car and pulling to go in! Also the trainers seem to think she is naughty and one in particular has asked me to keep away from all the other dogs. I haven't taken her to classes for the last couple of weeks and to be honest, I've enjoyed her more as she is a fab dog most places... just not in a class! How do I teach her to ignore all the exciting things going on around her?