Upset and worried.

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Mosh

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We've had Bruno (JRT) for just over 3 weeks now and he has settled in really well at home. Or so I thought! Hes about a year old, but quite behind (come over from Ireland, spent 2 months in kennels) so hasn't really been socialised with other dogs. We've just been walking him at home, meeting dogs on walks and getting used to passing them nicely which was going really well!
I've signing him up for puppy classes because I want to take him right back to basics and work our way up and do it properly if you will.
So today I met a possible trainer and dog handler who works at a local rescue and is a friends friend. Then it went a bit tits up!
First of all she stuck her head through the car window and Bruno went ape but was locked in the back so couldn't get to her. Then we went for a walk so she could assess him. Halfway through the walk she bent down to stroke him and he started to growl at her, then his body went stiff and he lips started to curl. So this woman kept coming! put her hands on his neck and put her face near his. Bruno went for her, i pulled him away but he just grazed the skin, no blood drawn and no bruising but he went for her.

I'm just so upset that he went for her, I tried to warn her, he was relatively new to me and and he hadn't met a lot of people yet which is why I was going to puppy classes!

I've got a potential new trainer which has been recommended to me by my dog groomer who I have met a few times before at dog shows and we are meeting next week to help Bruno get sorted.

Will be getting a muzzle to wear out in public I think as I don't trust him right now and I will walk him early mornings/late evening, basically away from overly busy times.

What else can I do?!

He has rules and routine at home to follow as well I should add.
 
What a stupid woman and a dog trainer to boot:eek::rolleyes: I would be keeping a million miles away from her. You are right to go back to basics, I hope this new trainer knows their stuff. I would continue what you were doing but the slightest hint from him I would check him hard so he knows that is unacceptable behaviour. Dont worry lets hope its just a blip and that womans body language made him very defensive and protective of you but as I said the slightest hint, correct him hard so he knows you are in charge not him.
 
I hate people who "push" dogs buttons to see how far they can go! Hope the next person is a bit more "positive" in their methods and can help you. Who knows what he's been through a hand coming into the car may well be a VERY scary thing for him!

nb: keep doing what you are doing it sounds like you are on the right track
 
Change your trainer, I am surprised she pushed your JRT's boundaries in that way :( you should come away from training with a positive feeling, not be upset.

Don't worry if it takes you a few go's to find a trainer you and your dog are happy with, good luck, and look forward to an update :)
 
Thank you all. I've been really upset all day about it wondering if I could have done anything about it. I'm sure there are lots of things, but I warned her he was new to me, I noticed his body language towards her and if she couldn't well!
I've introduced him to friends and family in our house and he was fine so I don't think he liked this woman...at all!

I'm going to meet a dog trainer who is very firm but very fun if that makes sense? Can't step out of line but it isn't endless sit, down, stay etc. He will walk with me to help get used to other dogs/people too.

Bruno is a nice dog to be around, hes quite protective over his things but is getting better at giving them up. Hes not had any accidents in the house for nearly 2 weeks now :) We'll get there I'm sure.
 
Stupid flipping trainer. Why do people feel they have to make the point? I would have had a lot more respect for her if she had read his body language, backed off, and explained her reasons for doing so to you.

Just take it slowly, build up the rapport with him so he really focusses on you. Hopefully they will teach you the 'watch' command which is an excellent foundation. Have you been to watch the trainer at the puppy classes? Be careful you don't bend up with a conflict of instructions! Puppy classes will help to socialize the little fella. I'm sure it will all be OK in the end, you have the right attitude so you're halfway there!
 
So sorry to read your post, unbelievable that someone who professes to be a trainer should be so stupid. It is such early days for you both and you need time to build up confidence and take things slowly.

Glad you have another option, you would be better carrying on quietly yourself than going to someone who is going to upset your dog.

When choosing where to leave our dog when we had to visit family, I was very happy at our intro visit when the person made a point of not looking at or talking to our dog until he went to her, and it worked, he was really happy staying with her!
 
That's the thing though, anyone can set themselves up as a trainer!!

I know a bloke with a great website and a flashy business name and a car covered in livery advertising residential, boarding, specialist training, classes, he does demos at public events etc....and he was asking the other day why my friend was verbally marking good behaviour?! He can't get his 'search dog' to start a basic track?
Basic stuff.

It doesn't take a trainer to know that a dog in a car is especially territorial and elevated, so will be more aggressive/confident than normal, or indeed defensive, she was lucky to escape with her face the first time, what a stupid thing to do with a strange dog.

My own dog growled at someone a few months ago, he was in his own box, in his own car, with the door open and this woman made direct eye contact, put her hand out towards him and approached him in slow motion without asking - I did not correct him any more than an 'oi, stop that' as that is a really stupid, deliberate and threatening way to approach a strange dog who is elevated and in his own territory.
She volunteers for rescue and believes she really knows a lot about dogs.

Same dog, same car, same day, acted like a total slut with my friend and her mother (who are cat people!!!) who he had never met before, because they just acted *normal* and waited for him to jump out of the car and say hi.

They got off on the wrong foot and then she got up in his face again. I really wouldn't worry at this stage that he is a slavering beast :)

Good luck with the new trainer.
 
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