Difficult Situation at Obedience Class-UPDATED

[Amy and Annabelle]

I have Annabelle in an Intermediate obedience class. She has been doing great, last week she was the star pupil. We had our 4th class tonight. There was a new dog there. We had been kind of briefed on this dog last week. He had been in the beginner class and because of his issues he scared most of the other dogs so they put him in this one. Well Annabelle was scared to death of him, so much so she couldn't concentrate and wouldn't do anything but want to lay at my feet. I feel sorry for him, he is a rescue and was abused, it is his foster mom that has him in this class. Annabelle is a 14lb mini so quite a bit smaller than the rescue, he is a pitbull mix. Anyway this dog was scary, he tried to bite the trainer several times. He growled and bared teeth and was fighting him. I will admit I was scared and maybe Annabelle sensed that from me. But she probably would have been scared regardless.The other dogs in the class were uneasy but still did what was asked of them. They are all large dogs though. Annabelle is quite a bit smaller than all of them. When I was in kindergarten I saw my friend attacked by a dog that was similar to this one. She died from her injuries. So this situation terrified me and brought back some bad memories. Anyway we have 2 classes left and this dog is there to stay. What can I do to help Annabelle and myself to get the best out of these last 2 classes. I want her to do good and pass the class but after tonight I am worried about it. So any advice would be appreciated. The trainer made a comment about this being the worst dog he has seen in years.
Update is at the end of discussion, but the dog is no longer part of the class.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I don't blame you or Annabelle for being scared. I would ask the trainer if there is another class you can join that might be at the same level you were. You can explain your circumstances. The trainer should certainly understand. Or maybe you can start over. I know my trainer will allow either of those things if things are not going well for any reason. You certainly don't want Annabelle to become so afraid that she doesn't want to go to class anymore. If she shuts down during class it will be difficult for her to learn.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I guess I question the trainer's judgement in moving a dog like this into an intermediate obedience class.  I don't blame Annabelle one bit for having the good sense to be scared considering how little she is.  and from her viewpoint, things must seem a little out of control. This dog should be in private training at this point for serious behavioral issues, IMO.  I would talk to the trainer.  Perhaps you could move to another class or you could finish the last two lessons privately.  If you can't, I would take Annabelle out of the class and ask for a prorated refund.  It sounds like a potentially dangerous situation from what you've described and it's stressing Annabelle for good reason.  Plus how much can she learn under these circumstances.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree that this dog shouldn't be in this class, or possibly in any class. It's simply not fair to all of the other dogs and owners. I also don;t think it's fair for Annabelle or any of the other dogs who have been working hard in this class for several weeks to have to move to another class, or quit because of this one dog.  I would discuss this with the trainer and with whoever is in charge of the school. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

I agree this dog has no place in with the mainstream crowd yet, if ever. He has way too many issues. The trainer has been doing this for 20 years and knows this foster mom very well from working with her other rescue dogs through the years. After the trainer made the comment about him being the worst dog he has seen in years, the foster mom made the comment about this being his behavior with his 4 med cocktail. This is a private trainer who rents out the village community center for his dog training business. He does private one on one training too. The reason I put her in this one as opposed to the private class was so she could enjoy the company of other dogs in a controlled atmosphere. She really enjoys going to the class... up until tonight anyway. I agree that I don't think this situation is fair to anyone. Not the trainer who has to spend pretty much the entire class trying to keep this dog under control, or the other dogs and owners for the same reason. Not mention no one was comfortable with it. This is the only class available until the next one starts up in late August. I felt bad for Annabelle as she works hard doing her homework 3 times a day only to have it all go to heck because of one dog.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

If he won't move the the foster dog to a private lesson or different class then you and the others in the class should definitely ask for a refund. If he gets enough complaints, he may re-think his position.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I agree, it's not fair.  It seems the class environment was a good one until this. Now that the trainer has seen how this dog reacts, maybe the dog will not return (although it seems he must already know since he moved it once). You and others should not be put in this situation. So if it was me, I'd contact him before your next class and ask him point blank if the dog is returning. If yes, I would explain to him that you feel you have a responsibility to your dog to be working in a nonthreatening environment and he has a responsibility to everyone in the class to work with all of the dogs and remove a dog that is clearly dangerously reactive and out of control.  My next step would be to involve others who feel the same. Hopefully that's enough. My final step would be to ask for my money back and file a complaint with the community center. Under no circumstances would I return with my dog and hope for the best. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Cheryl, What a perfect response! I so admire people who have a way with words.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. I agree it isn't fair and to ask the trainer about it - maybe if everyone else requests a change then he will have to remove the offending dog. But, if not, I'd try to look at it as an opportunity (if you're ready) to safely proceed despite unfortunate circumstances and work through this scary situation - maybe turn it into a positive! Best to you - let us know what happens!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've come to realize that one of our responsibilities to our dogs is to keep them safe and away from situations that cause them to be unreasonably frightened or stressed.  I belong to a Reactive Dog group where several members have dogs who became reactive because they were put in situations where they were either attacked or feared that they would be attacked by another dog.  I would not return to this class, and I would ask for a partial refund.  If the dog is growling and barring teeth with the trainer that signifies to me that the trainer does not have control over him.  This is a potentially dangerous situation IMO.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Thanks everyone. I sent him a text to call me to discuss the situation. We will see.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I agree with the others but wondered if the dog was muzzled?  We were in a class once where another dog - a rescue with serious issues, was being given its 'last chance.'  This dog was muzzled for everyone's protection.  Personally, I am afraid of powerful dogs and try to avoid being around them because I am positive I am sending he that message to my dogs. Another class we attended had several adult dogs with problems, however the trainer was totally in charge; one dog was moved to private classes, one dog and owner were given more specific directions (with successful results), one dog just blended in with the group and was fine.

[Amy and Annabelle]

No, no muzzle or training collar. Someone asked why he wasn't wearing a training collar like all the other dogs and the trainer told him with a dog like that, it will only make his behavior worse. He told us that he had the dog under control that if he had really wanted to bite him he had several chances to do so. He said going through the motions and acting like it is different than actually doing it. I guess the foster mom was bit 3 times while in the beginner class which horrified everyone. Why they both thought a classroom setting was still the best option for this dog is beyond me.