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i honestly wouldn't enjoy being in a class with more than 4 dogs per experienced trainer. that could just be me, and the ratio that i've grown used to over the years, but it is my preference. that way everyone can get some decent one on one time, to deal with their own specific needs.

as for the trainer riling up your dog, i'd have let the dog go and play, since it was invited, but would have (politely) taken a strip off the trainer after the fact, for provoking a response from a dog still being trained in proper people manners.

i've personally had quite enough trouble from random people on the street inviting my dog to jump up on them whilst i'm training to be willing to deal with that from someone who calls themselves a trainer. (the most bothersome for me is a woman down the street who's reponse to seeing ozzy is shrieking and patting her chest to invite him up. this drives me insane, since i'm working hard to train him NOT to jump on people unless *I* give him the ok. there are days it's SO much easier getting a dog to understand what we want than it is our fellow humans...)

were i you, i would speak to the trainer about the fact that you're teaching proper leash and greeting manners, and would prefer that they not give your dog attention unless they're sitting (laying down, whatever your preference is) and they've cleared it with you first.

hopefully you're having fun with the training, and get this cleared to your satisfaction.

i'm now off to look for your carting pictures (i've never seen a dog look quite as comfortable in a cart harness as rotties tend to.)

happy training!

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