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Originally Posted by Maxxx  I'm usually tucked in the corner with Max's back to the other pups and that does work sometimes, but sometimes, more often now, he'll fight to turn around so he can watch the other dogs. And he'll keep fighting to turn around no matter what I do. |
Having his back to the other dogs increases his anxiety. I would do it the other way around, you with your back to the other dogs, and him facing you (and the other dogs). I've found it much easier to handle my dog this way at times when distractions are high enough to give her some anxiety. It will also be easier for him to remain stationary and comply with a watch me command, even if only for a second or two at a time. He is also in a more secure position if you are between him and the other dogs.
We had an incident at Chili's agility class where a large dog went after a little Papillon. The little dog was screaming his head off (he wasn't hurt, just scared), and it was such a prey sound that my concern was for my dog not to become a part of it in any way, even if only by a bark and lunge. I put my back to the meyley, with her in a sit smack in front of me and just kept saying "watch me" and spitting treats at her. She did watch them, and she did watch me, too. She stayed put and it worked out just fine. I was so very proud of her for maintaining her composure as well as she did. Had she been placed with her back to them, it would have been far too difficult for her to remain still.
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Originally Posted by Maxxx What's worse is the trainer asks one dog to perform a heel around the other dogs who are all practising the watch me command in the middle....They want us to stand on the leash and hold out our arms and wave them around to create a distraction and reward when your pup's looking at you and not your hands, but Max is just too distracted. |
Is there any reason you could not give him more distance and work OUTSIDE the ring until he's more comfortable? It sounds to me like he really needs more distance for for the time being.