Hopefully; Kilo did do the sit and down which was what had to be done tonight, in amongst all his teeth chattering and skittishness. He was so unsettled he was unresponsive to his name, thank goodness I started clicker training (only last week!!) as it was all that would gain his concentration and bring his focus on to me. I just felt so awful as i have never seen him like that. The trainer even had to ask if he was friendly to approach him; he looked as if I had never socialised him when he even comes to work day in, day out with me .

Poor little bugger...all because I was (and still am) afraid his breeder will hear that I can't handle him. Very irrational on sooo many levels, especially since I am in regular contact with his breeder to update them and go back to visit from time to time . And the trainer is lovely so no reason to think in such paranoid depth about it all .

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Thats a good way of thinking about it. Unless its bella then she was perfect when she started and then got worse and worse as she got more confident and now we're starting to get better again

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Well, after last week's disaster, I went in determined to be calm and enjoy myself...which meant Kilo did too...and it went really well .

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Last time my dog reacted with those type of symptons you describe was at a test. There was a bitch just starting her season attending the same test.

Grandad; funny you should say that, a lady this week said hers had just finished her season the week before...the only other time he has acted like that was around a neutered dog at work that he walks with regularly and is very calm around. Talking to the owner afterwards, the dog had had a severe epileptic fit the night before.

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Glad this week was a more positive experience for both of you

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Thanks, so am I; it was the polar opposite, I was calm, Kilo did well and we enjoyed it .

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I just prefer working with dogs on my own in a park, than in a class. It's easier to be patient, when you can go at own pace and change what you do to suit the circumstances, rather than follow a fixed group plan.

So I just went along to get feedback on my handling of the dog, rather than worry about anything the dog actually did at class, after all I hardly spend any time with him in halls, and lots round homes, gardens, streets and parkland.

I like to have feedback and advice on my handling too and also to teach Kilo the art of listening when surrounded by potential playmates.

I also do lots of training at home, out and about, and at work.

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