18 replies to this topic

[Idaho Cairns]

As I suggested earlier in this thread, dog parks are one of the best places to socialize a dog. It is a natural environment for dogs to interact and so long as there isn't an overly aggressive dog present, a dominating type dog, your Ivy will learn how to interact the way dogs always learn by playing and running with all kinds of dogs with all kinds of agendas--generally just having fun.
I have no way of knowing what your trainers are up to or the training methods used but I do know you are confused and/or skeptical of their attempts to "train" Ivy.
Why not give her and yourself a break, take Ivy to the dog park, check it out from beyond the fence, watch the other dogs for a bit and let Ivy watch them--if it all seems normal, turn her loose and let her play. I think you will be surprised with how she does.
Don't let a trainer define your dog for you--they don't know her outside of their apparently restricted environment.

[Tuesday]

Idaho Cairns, on 03 December 2011 - 08:46 PM, said:

Don't let a trainer define your dog for you--they don't know her outside of their apparently restricted environment.

I stand by my previous comment in that I really think you are being taken advantage of by this trainer - they have you believing something that is so obviously not true about your dog. You had a VERY successful holiday with Ivy and other dogs, that should have been the reassurance you needed to know that Ivy isn't some horrible, aggressive, scary dog.

[TwoDogNight]

Hi Ivysmom,

My girl Islay is exactly the same as your Ivy, where my boy Ripley couldn't be more different. Islay will "sense" an aggresive dog and will always react first. I have chalked this up to a normal instinct to protect herself from attack while restrained. My Islay has NO problems with any other dogs when unrestrained at the dog park or day camp. My opinion is that for some dogs the act of being restrained is unnatural and they feel insecure about being "trapped" and vulnerable without the ability to flee if needed. I have worked with her and we have both reached a mutual comfort level with how she will react with other dog while on leash, and I find she is a very good judge of character about other dogs and their behavour. I started watching the other dogs and I could see how they would make the first move of non-verbal aggression. Once I picked up on the pattern Islays "reaction" was much easier to handle.

Don't be so hard on yourself and IMHO I would definitely look for a new trainer.

[Ivysmom]

Thanks TwoDogNight for your input. It makes sense. I know she will love being around all of the dogs again at Christmas...