Thanks everyone.
I agree it is not a race. This class was the next in series and seemed like the right thing. But I will not let Doc off lead in the class anymore, excpet in situations where I know he will succed. (Like a short stay followed by a recall.)
I did a little more research on the behaviorist that we were refered to and she does Schutzhund training as well and has lots of experience with German Shepards, Dobbies, and Rotties. So I may go to a consultation with her and get some training tips, make sure that she thinks we are on the right path. Knowing that we do not believe Doc has any behavior problems aside from being a PUPPY! But I don't know that all we are working on know are working on Doc and his thick head.
The more I think about it the more I think my trainer is not comfortable around Doc. The bigger he has gotten, the better he is bahaving but the more she seems like she's not sure about him. Reinforcing that we will have to watch him close around his second birthday becasue Rotties go through a "stage."
I relized this week that she was standing between Doc and a poodle (who Doc has bounced towards the week before) but Doc and I had practiced hard ignoring other dogs and he was paying it no mind, and we were far enough away, that they would not have gotten to each other even if Doc wanted to jump the poodle.
I should have clairfied but our hour a day was not all "ON" time. But I wanted to practice with lots of people so I had to drive 30 minutes to a park where there are always people. So we were there for quite a while. But the heeling and "working" parts were 3-4 sessions of about 5-7 minutes intersperced with walking on the trail with a loose lead and just practicing "leave it" with other dogs. Still asking a bit of him but not as much of an hour of hard practice.
So I guess we will stay in this class since we payed for it and the class I want to do at Cleveland All Breeds Training Club does not start until March. But we will take our next class (Pre novice) there, I think.
I agree that I need to work more on my relationship with Doc. Its not his fault his trainer is a spaz and expects him to move faster than he is ready to move, trying to force him to that speed just will not work. Yesterday we just played tug, and practiced sit stays and down stays when I walked his Kong around the corner.
More petting and loving. Less boot camp. Maybe the reason he seems to not be as "eager to please" as some other dogs is because he has decided that he cannot please me?
Last question is a 12" bar to high for him to be going over at this point? He can step over it but he is much more likely to leap over it! (Granted this same dog leaps off the couch back and from couch to couch when he gets puppy zoomies!)
Thanks everyone.