[lengel]

We were asked to return to the class on the condition that the issues with the dog who attacked Zooey would be addressed. After much discussion, DH and I decided to return with Zo in the car while we evaluated the situation.

I'm so glad that we went. I couldn't have guessed how people would have reacted and now I know.

Only a third of the original class showed up.

Everyone asked how Zo was doing. When I said before class that the other dog's issues were being addressed but I didn't know if he would be returning, the owners of a shihtzu looked like they would bolt.

All but two of the dogs who returned were either toy dogs or puppies from our puppy kindergarten class. It seems that the big dog owners concluded that their dogs might suddenly attack a puppy or small dog? This made me very very sad. I had thought that the trainer's remarks had people thinking that Zo was at fault because she was a puppy.

One of the two big dog owners who showed up basically told the trainer where to get off. The trainer asked one if his mom (who had had another big dog in the class) would be there tonight and he said "She's not coming back" while backing his dog into a corner. The woman who had a Pomeranian carried her around as if she needed to protect her at all times. Again, very very sad.

PS The trainer asked about Zooey and pronounced her name correctly for the first time.

We start at our new facility mid-May.