I've just got back from agility training very upset, meg had a full blown fight with another BC (male) and it was completely out of the blue. She is a nervous dog anyway but is usually ok with other dogs, although she occaisionally nips other dogs on the nose when she has had enough. But just recently i have noticed that she is getting funny around other dogs and food when we are training, either obedience or agility, but this was the first time she ever attacked any of them. She had a bit of a disagreement the first week with this dog, and again it was over a bit of crumb on the floor. I have been trying to keep them apart since then (this was the third week) but the other owner doesn't seem to think to. Today i had put my dog into a down stay as it was our turn next and removed the lead. I bent down to hold her collar as one of the dogs when past and this male went to sniff my bumbag of treats. Without warning she just went bananas and i was right in the middle. I was so shocked i just froze. Once i had got her away she calmed down but it has got me worried now. We have another dog and they aren't too bad when there is food around, although meg occaisionally does the nip at the nose thing, but she never growls or anything. I don't want it to start at home. Also apart from keeping her away from all the other dogs i don't know what we are going to do as there is stuff all over the floor and i have to have the treats with me so its a bit of a worry.
I'm thinking about using rescue remedy next week do you think it will help?

the person who should be giving you advice is the class trainer. what do they have to say about it?

To be honest she didn't say anything and i was just too choked to ask. She told us to seperate them and turn them away so there is no eye contact and that was it. When it was over we just carried on.

Just a thought...is she a rescue or have you had her from a pup?

My rescue collie is very possessive over her food. My other dogs don't seem to give toss, but if they are so much as in the same room when she is given her food then all hell breaks loose. She'll attack them even though they're no where near her bowl. We have just had to get used to feeding her in a room on her own seperate from the others. She never so much as raises a hackle in their general direction in any other situation, just food. Probably more to do with the fact that she was starving when I found her....
I agree with your other reply. i think your trainer should have taken a more pro-active role in helping you with this problem. Ignoring it can often make it worse. can you try training her with a different stimulus, and take food rewards right out of the equation? Then she may feel she has nothing to defend when at class?

Don't know if i helped at all, but your description of her behaviour is identical to my BC whenever there is food around...

Caroline

I suspect the trainer may think that that is how she is normally and that you knew she may behave this way. Of course this is not the case so if i were you, i would speak to her when you get a quiet moment. If you are at Chats, i know how busy she gets but maybe arrive slightly earlier or something if you can :)

If this is the first time she has ever done it, I wouldn't worry too much (although you will understandably be on tenterhooks) and instead be proactive and train for similar situations. My dog has been a bit possessive around water bowls (!) with other dogs, even those she knows well, because being an "only" dog she doesnt understand about sharing. (I appreciate your dog is not an only dog though). I clicker trained for good behaviour and she will share now :)

Hopefully you could do the same; you may also need to use some voice control around her so that if for example she looks ready to aggress, a sharp "ah! may stop her intentions ..... but the best way is to make her realise that other dogs are fine around you and may even lead to rewards and attention for her. I agree it may be agood idea to get rid of the bum bag, but it is still possible she may aggress simply if dogs approach you closely due to food being in a pocket...or even for a toy...but you will know whether she will or not. But do ask the trainer and say you are concerned :)

Lindsay

Thanks for your replies! She wasn't a rescue, i have had her since 8 weeks, but the way she acts sometimes you would have thought she has had a terrible life! ( i assure you she hasn't!) ;-)
The funny thing is today i was walking with my friend's two dogs (one of which Meg has only met twice) and recalling my two occaisionally and giving them treats like i normally do. My friend's dogs caught on quick that i had treats and i gave them a few in front of Megan and she didn't bat an eyelid. It seems to be worse with Dogs rather than bitches. She doesn't seem to like dogs very much. She has also started barking at men out on the walk again. :-( I wonder if she is in a heightened state of nervousness at the moment.

Lindsay, yes its CHATS. Sally was busy trying to run all the dogs, so i don't blame her. Really i should have stayed and asked her but i was so upset i didn't feel i could at the time. I have been really enjoying it up to now, but i'm not going to let a little blip stop me. I wonder if all the excitement is getting to her as she is a highly strung dog.
Do you still go to CHATS? WHat time do you go and what breed of dog have you got? I know a couple of Champdoggers attend CHATS so i am trying to look out for all of you!!

I have the same problem occasionally with Honey and other dogs when we are out, I don't feed other people's dogs unless I know Honey is good with them and I ask others not to feed her so she doesn't hassle anyone. At home though we never have problems with her and our other dog Dylan, although we are getting a new pup next week so I'm a little worried what may happen there

Sorry I can't be of more help, but I will be reading your replies with interest

Hayley

Hi :)

It may well be that she is getting a bit excited and OTT and that is affecting her behaviour a bit :)

I dont attend Chats now, but did do for about - oh, well, ages anyway - puppy, good manners, and for Bronze and Silver. Then Sally became involved with the young kennel club and had so much on her plate i think she basically had to cut down a bit!

I did agility for a while with my BSD and we were improving slowly, but she got so excited it played havoc with my working trials agility - where the dog needs utmost calm and control! Ha! So i stopped - but now my girl is maturing i hope to be returning maybe next Summer :)

YOu have chosen a great place for agility - i would highly recommend Chats :)

Keep us up to date with it won't you :)

Lindsay

Is there a particular reason you are using food for agility training. Usually with a collie the hype is enough to switch them on, with quiet praise when doing well.

I would drop the food and hopefully the problem will disappear, she is protecting what she thinks is hers which is not a good trait to encourage.

Give it a go next week without taking any food or bum bag into the training hall.

Sandra