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.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The muzzle is to protect others. I have no idea about the type of collar having an effect one way or another, but the muzzle . . . . ?

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

You got great advice from everyone...I sure hope all turns out well so you and Annabelle can continue your training in a safe happy environment.  

[Amy and Annabelle]

When I sent him the text to call me to discuss this I almost made it from Annabelle telling him how skeered she was of the new dog. Anyway I think this will be resolved before next class. At least I hope it is. I wasn't the only one that questioned why he was even there. We don't stick around for playtime at the end because Annabelle is so much smaller than the other dogs. I guess there was a discussion after I left.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

You've gotten great advice, and I hope the situation is resolved soon! I would have been scared to death, too.

I greatly admire people that take the time and effort to rehabilitate abused dogs, but I think it takes a very special handler and trainer to do it the right way. And, putting other dogs and people in harms way isn't the answer. I know I could never foster an aggressive dog! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The "We Must Save The Poor Misunderstood Pitties" people are a breed apart, no pun intended. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

Pit Bulls account for 62% of total fatal dog attacks. The animal shelters around here are overrun with them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm surprised it's not higher than that. In fact, I suspect it is, and the breeds are just not known, or incorrectly reported. In my area, we have BSL, and some pitbull owners get around that by having their vets list the dogs' breed as "bulldog" or "bulldog mix". 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

This might sound harsh, but if we as a society can't reform and rehabilitate all of the people in prison that commit hideous crimes, what makes a certain group of dog owners believe that they can reform and rehabilitate all of their aggressive dogs? Granted, there is good and bad in all living creatures, and some bad people (and dogs) do learn to be model citizens. But it seems to me that the zealots have unrealistic expectations. But, that is just my opinion. And, I don't own a pit. And never will.  :-) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I couldn't agree more, Lori. 

Besides unrealistic expectations, the wasted resources have to be considered. With funding for all rescues being so desperately needed, spending precious time and money, and tying up a foster home for months for one dog who may very well be unadoptable when that same time, money, and foster care could be used to save perhaps a dozen other much more adoptable dogs is IMO, a travesty. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

I know you take your chances with rescues because of how they were treated by past owners. I lucked out with our rescue Golden Retriever. He had been abused as well but he was very loving and gentle. He even loved the cat. He just wasn't an aggressive dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, but a Golden is a much different breed than a Pit. It takes a lot to make the average Golden aggressive. They're known to be just about the most tractable breed there is. That's simply not so with Pits, or even with most other terrier breeds. I know there are differences between one individual member of a breed and another, but there are definitely certain natural tendencies. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Having recently been bitten by a Pit Bull, I can totally understand your fears! Karen you are so right! They are a breed apart. Even after confronted with my dog bite, the young couple (with a 6 month old baby) insisted that she has never done that before and would NEVER harm their baby! They actually have two pit bulls and I worry everyday about that baby and what it will take for them to finally "get it".