megan_

My suggestion is to go to the school first without your dog and have a look around. Some of the large clubs are not at all suitable for reactive dogs IMO - lots of chaos, dogs being allowed to say hello to strange dogs, some classes INSIST that all dogs get forced into a big group to say hello at the start of a session (this happened to me at a polular, well known club in Melbourne)! The best classes for reactive dogs that I have found are small, privately run classes with instructors who are suitably qualified to deal with reactive dogs. Unfortunately these cost more than the volunteer run classes. ETA: I suggest also learning about the "Look at that" game as you can use it to keep your dog below the threshold.

The derret's (top competitors) don't let their dogs near equipment until they're about 2, and then only trial a while after that. Regardless of sport, all the top world competitors that I've heard talk all say they delay trialling and focus on motivation, foundation skills and relationships - and none of them seem TP trial young dogs. When I get a new pup, this will be my focus. Then they'll be able to learn any sport.

My dog would not happily great a stranger tn her yard t - but she is well contained. Should she be declared dangerous then by the standard you describe?

I see that remark as being rude & insensitive & quite stupid under the circumstances. Even if the child was a silly little brat that ran up to the dog, which he obviously is not, no mother with a child that is badly injured & traumatised needs to be told this or be told how to feel about the dog at this moment. Hopefully the child will come out of this ok mentally & physically & kind words to this effect is all she needs right now. The rest can be sorted later, including the fate of the dog. Agree. It is totally the dog owners responsibility. An even tempered dog doesn't just snap. If I take my dog to someone's house or stall in this case, how my dog behaves would be totally my responsibility. If there are kids around, it would be my responsibility to ensure that my dogs don't harm them. I am sorry but I disagree with that and feel in this day and age "everything" is lumped onto the dog owner where in many cases these incidents could have been avoided with some good parental education for children how to behave around other people's dogs. We don't know the exact circumstances of this case, but if the dog was leashed and under handler control, there is no need for a child to be within a close proximity of the dog with the assumption that the dog is ok. It's getting worse by the day in general where parents allow their children to rush at and want to pat everyone's dog, then blame the dog owner when it turns to s&*%. As a child, I went to many shows with my nanna, she was an exhibitor and my mum was a trainer/handler and the golden rule I was taught from an early age was to leave other people's dogs alone, don't approach them and don't pat them because they can bite. It wasn't about blame, it was about proactive bite prevention management for children in those days I am talking 40 years ago now, but the system worked and being raised to respect what a dog may be capable of and learn the truth of potential dog behaviour didn't effect me or cause me to fear dogs, quite the opposite in fact. We were taught with our own dogs never to stare them out at close range, never to blow in their face or poke at them stupidly etc, we were taught the good and bad things about dogs and to respect an unknown dog's personal space and I have to be honest to say that many of these incidents involving childen had the children been taught the old school rules that I learned, most of these incidents wouldn't have happened. Putting dogs to sleep and having dog owners charged with offences after the fact doesn't undo the pain and trauma inflicted upon a child, but preventative manangement with proper eductation does prevent many these terrible situations occurring in the first place, it's not about right or wrong, it's about protecting childen from the vulnerability of suffering injuries from dogs when we are dealing with animals who can be unpredicatable. No dog is 100% bullet proof and no child IMHO should ever be led to believe that they are for my 2 cents worth. The dog owner walked into the tent and stood near them. What you are really saying is that no child should ever be anywhere near any dog because any dog can attack. I am not in the dog show world but show dogs are meant to represent the best of the best. That means they should be even tempered and it would take a lot to provoke them. A dog that bites because it is petted isn't even tempered. I have a fear aggressive dog and she is never allowed near children. As an owner of a dog, it is my responsibility to take reasonable percautions. ETA: Everyone always harks on about the olden days. In the olden days that I remember, dogs with bad temperaments often never got the chance to even grow up. In the dog world I think we tolerate too much sometimes. Puts flame suite on.

Just plain old kibble here - they have to work (either toys or training) for all their food so they never snub their noses at it.

It could be bacterial slime because you're washing with water only?

Did the vet take a blood test?

I need to know DOL names to pics! The only person I recognise is Erny

Report them to Troy - people are not allowed to harrass others via PM's.

Dog shouldn't be at off leash park, even on lead (very bad idea, even with a friendly dog)and the owner shouldlearn techniques to keep the dog below the threshold ( eg LAT). It is very hard for an overstimulatex dog to learn.

How insensitive are people? Steve and his family have just lost busta and you want to put the boot in? FWIW, Steve helps many people rehabilitate their dogs, including bullbreeds. Because busta attacked his family on private property it wasn't a council issue.

Shiner - many dogs don't like being rushed and wil respond with aggression no matter what their humans response. The behaviour you describe is considered rude by many dogs. There is far more to dog behaviour than friendly or aggressive. Small dogs in particular don't enjoy bring rushed by a dog that is 100 times stringer than them. My girl was abused and is nervous of being rushed. She would immmediatly fight back. Would your dog just stand there and take it? Sick of owners with no control blaming other owners for fights when they clearly can't control their dogs....

Yes - I doubt all are breeding quality.

Cuddles are different to a hug, but I don't want to go OT. no dog loves to be physically restrained by their head. They might put up with it. As I said , read some of Patricia mcconnells stuff.

Read the other end of the leash. Dogs hate being treated like people - being hugged etc is not a sign of affection to a dog. My dogs are part of my family, they are not substitute kids. They go for long walks, play, go to agility weekly and love it. I shudder for the Molly- coddled dogs who don't do these things. My dogs are healthy, active and cherished. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Papers don't necessarily mean ANKC papers - it just means paperwork.

OT, but I;m with you pers. Maybe if you have a short term emergency situation like the OP, but what on earth happened to a dog being a dog, sniffing, getting some sun, playing in their yard? I shudder for the sterile life some dogs live.

And yet my dogs would feel this is the worst positive punishment in the world. Great way to shut my dogs down, especially before they gain some experience and learn that they get another chance to earn there rewards. Cheers, yip - I used to do this to my boy (advised by an instructor) and he would shut down totally, distracted sniffing etc. Now I make "oopsie, let's try again" a game. He gets rewarded for coming back to try again and now he is so much more engaged. Greg and Laura Derret talked a lot about "screw up cookies" - if your dog makes a mistake, get them to do somethign simple (eg target you hand) and reward. If you make a mistake (let's face it, it is a wonder most dogs get around the course given our handling) then reward your dog for doing the right thing.

Is there a link to the pics?

A box to rip up - will only last minutes, but costs nothing and they love to tear something apart.

Worth noting that yours are sports dogs though so would get much, much more exercise than the ordinary family dog.

Be aware that a lot (ie most?) of the walking trails don't allow dogs at all.

You could have got duty of care, put your name on her etc. Plenty of options.

After a few days out, my lean dogs would look very thin and they wouldn't get brushed - theyd look like strays. I shudder at the thought of some rescuer stealing them, a with good intentions. Intentions won't bring my dogs back. People need to remember that chips move.

We walk not matter what. Only exception is a dangerous storm. They hate the rain but once they start walking they're fine. I've looked at a headtorch before - daggy, but would make things a bit easier.