[lgslgs]

I'd avoid that trainer and do some training over the next few days to make sure he has very positive associations with the "down" command.

One useful way to do that is have him sit, use a hand on his collar to keep him from going out of the sit, put a kibble between his feet, wait until he really wants to get to that kibble, and then release him into a down position to enjoy his snack. Sometimes you might need to steer or aim him a bit to get it right, but you'll be working with him already moving in the right direction so it's quite easy and fun.

Down can sometimes be a somewhat vunerable position for a dog. Add in the less familiar location of a training class with distractions, and then a stranger trying to push and fold you into position when a pup is trying to figure out what is being expected and it's not surprising that a puppy might attempt to protect it's space.

A trainer turning that situation into that level of conflict is just crazy. If your pup was truly having a bit of an aggressive moment she could have just put him through his paces for a few minutes with sits and leash walking to switch him back into working FOR her instaid of against her.

One of my pet peeves is seeing "trainers" who make down a heavy handed activity or a conflict exercise. There's not much that's more beautiful than a Rott that will joyfully fly into a down position on command, and you don't get that by intimidating or brutalizing a dog that's trying to learn what it's supposed to be doing.

Lynda