I have taken my dog to training from the very start and he has always seemed to enjoy it, we have risen up through the ranks and he is very obedient. Lately he has been showing signs of not wanting to go in to the hall, and hiding behind me when we get in there. He has never been attacked ,hurt, etc there but a few dogs have snapped at him. When we do a recall he gets as far away from the other dogs as he can and hugs the far wall, even though they are not bothering him. I am starting to wonder whether it is a good thing to go or not, primarily I go now for socialisation and practise in obeying me with other dogs around but am I just upsetting him?  I am very confused by this as if he sees a dog on a walk he wants to say hello and play, has anyone else had this experience? he is a 3 yr old GSD. I was wondering if, as they get older they are less interested in the company of other dogs?

Have you tried something like stuffing a nice big kong and all the time you're not working, he gets his kong to play with?  This would help him to have positive associations with just hanging out in the hall and being in that environment.

If he's feeling that stressed, I wonder if he'd even bother with a Kong - it's worth a try though, over several weeks rather than just a one off.

HI,

I have a similar problem with my girl, she is the same as yours out on a walk she wants to say hello and play with any one a very sociable girl, it's completely different out in open space for a dog to being in an enlcosed space and/or on the lead, they can feel trapped.  Ciara is very worried in the training hall if someone is behind her or too close.  She has a brilliant wait at home in the fields or even at the park with her buddies, but she just won't wait and let me walk away from her at training - she doesn't like me being more than a foot away from her in the hall, she just doesn't feel secure in there unless she's next to me.  I just don't push her - I can tell from her body language when she's feeling uncomfortable and if she really isn't wanting to do something because she feels uncomfortable then I won't make her - learning is much easier for dogs if it's fun.  I'm gonna keep going for now as I would like her to get to the stage where she will feel more comfortable, I just try and make it as light hearted and fun as possible.

Karen

It sounds as if he just doesn't like going to this particular training class, to be honest. If he's fine meeting dogs at all other times then perhaps just let him socialise in a way that he is happy with. Only an unhappy dog isn't going to get much out of the experience in terms of socialisation or training.  I had a dog who really couldn't see the point of being walked round and round a village hall and, to be honest, I didn't blame her! Hence I'd much prefer to avoid formal training classes if they don't involve rather more than endless heelwork in confined surroundings. For sure, I'd want the experience to be a positive one that both the dog and I enjoy and I'm beginning to think that there's something positively purgatorial about some training classes, to be honest!

It could be the other dogs upsetting him, he could be bored, or he could be feeling a little pushed beyond his limits.  Are YOU enjoying the training too?  Do you get frustrated with him sometimes?  Do you ever see the other dogs 'eyeballing' him - making prolonged eye contact and holding it - collies can be particularly guilty of this :(  Can you manouver your position to keep yourself between him and the other dogs to make him feel more secure?

he is a bit of a coward and there are a few collies there that have had a few snaps at him so I think it is the confined indoor thing that is worrying him. If anything it is too easy for him, he can do it all, so he may be bored as well. What other activities are good for a big dog like him, could he try agility?

So long as his joints are sound, no reasone why he couldn't do agility - or working trials even.....

What are you doing in class...?  I just wondred wjat levely your club teaches to.  Is it competition level?  Or is it like the pet socialisation clubs who just do a few basics? 

My old training club and another top dog let me come half way through the lesson and then the trainer stayed on to teach us for an extra half gour doing all sorts based on obediance but with a differense ..so obediance combined with mind games.... ans alsi in main ckass sometimes would  do mini agility or we would come dressed up carrying unfaliliure obects to socialise the dogs, and also would teach tricks and some HTM   all just to keep it fun and interesting. But t was a pet class not competitice. My class now teaches competitive obediance and I can see at some point being in a hall will become too restrictive... although I doubt we will master all the skills for a long time yet because mine are still very young. lol! But itis not versatile or as fun as my origional more creative  training class. That one was great.

.... if it gets boring for you and the dog you really could do with looking for something more demanding.

Before you change it could be good to master the few problems you are having in class...it's always good to conquer these ...for that you could try going back to doing the puppy recall...lots of fun to destract from the hiding habbit. . Then doing a short wait and come then a wait and come an so on just backing off a bit ewch time so you an cross the hall with lots of sucsess and get in lots and lots of praise in place while you do it. 

I would say it is a general obedience class but with fun things thrown in, never the same stuff all the time, i will try to keep him more occcupied while we are waiting around but really i was wondering if he is going off other dogs?  as a maturing thing?

That sounds like quite a good class.

It could be you re getting more bored though...there is a limit to how interesting the trainer can make it... so take a look at how much you enjoy it. If you are getting fed up that will pass down to your dog....it could be as simple as that.  Maybe you can as your trainer if you can be given something more demanding etc...  In training class when we wait our turn we teach tricks or play 'focus' games so that's a good idea.  

I've known a lot of dogs change as they mature...some go a bit anti dog at three to four years old especially if a few have had a go at them... it might be quite important to train though that age if it is an age of change.

I'm guessing you and your dog would enjoy something more demanding or intersting though. Someone suggsted working trials... I tried that with my last dog and it's outside trainig and quite a mix of activities so is quite fun . You are at a disadvantage in some of the skills if you've nt already been training up to them but it's all quite loose so you can build on your strengths and more slowly buld up anything you are less used to.