[debbiej]

well, no miracles happened, but we did make some good progress. the trainer said, "lets not" when I asked if he could come in tonight, but she had the class move closer to the fence and we worked along with them closer than before. He did pretty well, for the most part. when we were all heeling down the field he did a sudden lunge but I was able to get some good correction in so that he started avoiding looking the way of the other dogs. toward the end of the 1st class, he was doing better. I think I did better too. but still he is just a huge handful.

John got there about half way through class, but I was doing ok, so kept working him. then John held him while Hilda had class.

it was interesting, tonight two dogs in class got snappy with each other. the instructor grabbed the instigator and showed the owner how to handle the behavior. giving hard corrections for looking. I couldn't believe how fast the dog shaped up. It is what we are doing with Boris, but no way is he as responsive and soft as that dog. after walking the lab past a few dogs, and giving hard corrections with a "don't look" this dog was plastered to the instructor's leg, looking up with whites of his eyes showing. fast and easy.

I guess it dosen't matter why he acts the way he does, but I still wonder if his being a loose stray and spending 3 months in the shelter have something to do with it.

He sure is a sweetie at home though. We had one seriously dog aggressive dog once. it became so much easier to never take him out, thus he never got any socialization, and got worse and worse. I can't make that mistake again.