packers training

[jules]

i've recently been bringing packer for training classes at petco.There is a couple that brings their dog that is a month older 6 months,the dog is a mix and is a little hyper,Last night we brought him to the class they were wrestling around as they did the 1st night we brought him.today i was throwing the stick with him and I noticed a little hair missing on his jowel,I got close and it's a deep bite mark,,I overheard the couple talking to the trainer and they were saying that they bring this dog to the dog park and that other owners complain about their dog,we went the 1st night ,there was that couple another couple with a nice dog and us,we missed lats week and this week when we went the other couple was not there,I'm thinking they pulled their puppy,I hope the scar goes away,my wife wants to change class and my son's upset

[smartrock]

When my own dogs have played with each other when one was a puppy, there were a few tooth marks. You describe the dogs as playing, not fighting, not that packer was being attacked. I wouldn't be thrilled but if it happened during play, I guess sometimes those things might happen. I certainly had plenty of tooth marks and tooth scrapes on my arms and hands from my puppies playing with me. I'm not sure it needs to be a deal breaker. I have gone to obedience classes but not puppy classes, so maybe some with more puppy class experience can weigh in. In our actual obedience classes, the trainer did not allow the pups to play with each other, that was for the younger puppy classes. If the trainer is allowing puppy play, that might be something to discuss with the trainer.

[jules]

thanks,just looks kinda deep and at the latter part of the class packer started really showing his teeth,it's just that packer seemed done and the other dog didn't stop ,my 1st lab used to rough around wiith a pitbull so I know what playing is

[smartrock]

What was the instructor/trainer doing during all this? If the other dog continued to be a pest causing packer to react badly and the trainer was not doing anything to help keep things under control, I'd consider looking for a different class to get a different trainer, not just to get away from hyper doggy.

[jules]

she was talking to the dogs owner saying this is how dogs play,all the while the owner was saying how people at the dog park were complaining about their dog

[barry581]

If you saw Bruce and Sophie play, you'd swear they are killing each other, all you hear is growling, and all you see are teeth. They go at it several time s a day like this, and I've finally gotten them to the point where when I say "Enough" they stop and come to me. Even as hard as they go at it, I've never found as much as a scratch on either of them.

I did not do puppy classes with Sophie, and I wish I would have. That's why when Bruce arrived I signed him up as soon as he had his shots at petsmart. Bruce could do everything that was to be taught on the first day of class. Sit, Down, Stay, Loose leash walking, etc. I put him in for the socialization and distractions. The instructor was pretty much incompetent, she had never even owned or actually trained a dog. We did some free play with the other dogs in class, but it was very closely supervised, and the second it escalated we would step in.

Honestly, it sounds like this dog and/or owners have some issues, and I'd probably withdrawal from the class. From my experience with the petsmart classes the capability and competency of the instructors varies greatly. Once we finished with the puppy class at petsmart, I started a class with a local instructor who does CGC and Therapy Dog classes. I can't tell you how much better this instructor was that the one at petsmart. Like night and day. Bruce passed his CGC at 6 months old, and I actually got Sophie her CGC, which I never would have thought would happen. The competency of the instructors make a world of difference. And in your case the instructor was clearly not in control of what was going on in this class.

I'd check on classes offered by your local kennel club and see what they have to offer.

[jules]

the trainer seems se knows what shes doing and the previous week they played the same without incident but there was an additional puppy in the group,i have already called and switched his class out of that one,she apoligized I just hope it doesnt leace that scare

[jules]

the trainer seems pretty good but likes to talk alot,my dog has only been to 2 classes and has already learned alot,they were laying the same way the 1st class but thee was another puppy in the mix but it went w/o incident so I thought it was ok,this time it was just the 2 of us,I called and spoke with the trainer and she has switched our class like I requested and she apoligized,just hope the hair grows back and it doesn't leave a scareb