Questions to ask about classes for aggressive
dogs
- Does anyone at the facility have up
to date first aid training? Ask to see
the certificates.
- Do the dogs ever come into contact
with each other, or are allowed off
leash with in range of other dogs throughout
the class?
- Can you pay as you go?
- How many dogs per class?
- Is there any one-on-one training during
class?
- What kind of qualifications do the
trainers have? Do the trainers have
any academic qualifications?
- Can you be assured of working with
a trainer who is qualified?
- How is the class structured?
- Will there by any handouts you can
refer to?
- What are the costs involved?
- Is there special equipment needed?
- Can anyone in the household take part?
- Who is legally responsible if my dog
attacks another, or my dog is attacked?
- Can I have some names of others who
have taken this class to talk to?
- Is there an online forum for class
participants?
- How long have these classes been going on, and how long in this location? (It may be helpful to talk to the building manager to see if there have been any accidents, dog attacks, etc.,)
Classes are not recommended as a way to treat any
aggressive dog, even if there is only a small number
of participants, although the dog may benefit from
obedience classes (if not aggressive towards other
dogs). Each dog and each situation in entirely unique.
Relaxation is extremely important to a dog's treatment.
Often a classroom situation just makes an aggressive
dog anxious.
If your dog has been treated, and you want to follow
up on obedience training, talk in detail with the
instructor about his problem.
Even if your dog has been treated, unless there
is an instructor per participant, the class situation
has the potential to cause your dog anxiety, to
create distrust in your dog or worse, get out of
hand. Note that any instructor will, of course,
try to convince you that they run their classes
properly and either there never is any problem,
that any problem will be dealt with swiftly, or
it is a good opportunity for corrections. After
all, if they are making money from you - what are
they supposed to say?
If you dog is aggressive towards other dogs you
should stay away from any class,
as any opportunity for your dog to think
about acting aggressively or to act aggressively
will make you dog's problem worse, and
that much harder to treat. It is certainly
not a good situation to desensitize this
kind of dog with other aggressive dogs
unless under very controlled circumstances
where the dog is capable of relaxing.
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