Stress!

[Holly]

Thanks to all the help I had from you Mouse is now making a little progress and although she still growls and barks at men it is not for so long. We'll get there in time!
My biggest problem is with her stress levels when around other dogs.  Beatle's an action dog loves flyball, agility in fact anything where she can and use her brain and her boundless energy and she loves every minute of it.   Mouse usually comes with us but finds the other dogs very stressful. She gets really upset if there is any barking and panics when she hears their feet scratching on the A frame etc.  I usually go early and take both of them out for a run then I take Mouse in for a few minutes just to let her see what is going on but if I keep her in for more than five minutes she starts barking and shaking. This is with me sitting with her, well away from the action, talking to her and feeding her treats. She growls and snaps if another dog comes near. Even if I go in between classes she still gets upset.  As soon as she gets in the car she settles down and is quite content to stay there until I come out.
Help!! Do I persevere and just keep going in for a few minutes which hopefully I might be able to extend a little or am I asking too much too soon?  I would eventually like her to be able to do some training because she is a very quick and agile little dog  when we are out and if eventually we could get her to settle I think she would enjoy it. My concern is that I'm not dealing with this the right way.  At home she is beginning to play with our other dogs which is huge progress as she seemed unable to understand the difference between play barking and growling and the more serious variety, always panicking and snapping at the others when they tried to play.  Hopefully as this progresses she will be able to transfer this knowledge to other dogs. 
Slowly....slowly

[Abby]

I am not an expert by any means, but this sounds like a bit too much too soon for little Mouse. An environment like that with lots of dogs who are probably all very excited would be very intimidating for a dog-shy dog. Like you say, it doesn't take long for her to stress out.

How is she with other dogs in a less frantic environment? Does she interact at all with dogs you meet out on walks? How is she then?

Some carefully arranged socialisation (with stooge dogs if you can find some, much like the stooge men from your other post!) in a calmer atmosphere might be a good start and then gradually build her up from there.

You're right when you say slowly, slowly as she's already making progress. From the little I do know, it seems easy to move on a little too quickly once progress is started.

Good luck.

[Holly]

Abby
I'm sure you're right. She is OK with other dogs when we're out as long as she isn't on her lead.  She will run around with them quite happily.  She doesn't like other dogs in her 'space' if she has her lead on. She panics, growls and snaps at them then backs off.
Once she knows them she is fine, my daughter has two Border Collies and she is very good with both of them. We have two other older dogs who she is fine with. One of them growls at her occasionally and Mouse's response is to give her very wet Cocker kisses which makes her growl all the more 
I wish I could help her more with this. I try to control her environment when she's on her lead but some people don't seem to understand my reasons for asking them, politely, not to let their dogs get too close then wonder why she panics and snaps.  Others are great and really helpful.
My concern is that I'm going down the right roads with her. She's got enough problems without me adding to them
But...she is a super little dog and fits in at home really well and we  her

[Top Barks]

If you want to do agility with mouse can you not book one to one lessons with a trainer and when she is feeling confident begin to introduce one dog at a distance she can handle and still work with.
It doesn't sound like you're doing her any favours by taking her with all the other dogs at the mo.

[Holly]

It doesn't sound like you're doing her any favours by taking her with all the other dogs at the mo.

Mark
Thanks for your help. I'm sure you're right! I think I had this wild idea that if initially I just took her in for a few minutes and gradually extended the time as she settled it would work.  It doesn't!!  Settling in the car and watching the coming and goings is her limit at the moment.  But..I'm really pleased she can do that because it's a huge step forward for her.
She just can't cope with exited barking dogs they really frighten her and she is is prepared to stay in the car and not get too upset by them that's enough for now.
I do so want to get it right, I feel she's been through enough without my practising my limited training skills on her, especially when I get it wrong
I will look into the one to one training.  I think I could arrange that locally and it sounds a much better idea and is the obvious answer if only I wasn't so thick I might have thought of it . 

[Top Barks]

you have to be so careful and steady with a nervous dog and realise the limits they have.
Push too hard and all you've built comes crashing down.
Been there, done that so to speak. learned my lesson (hopefully)
Mark

[Holly]

Push too hard and all you've built comes crashing down.
Mark

Thanks Mark
I'm just beginning to realise this.  Definitely  slowly very slowly
I've kept a diary since we got her and when I have days where I feel we are going nowhere I look back and it helps me to realise how far we have come.  Stops me from having an attack of 'help we're not getting anywhere.'  It's amazing how quickly you forget the little problems that have now gone.

[Top Barks]

sounds like you are doing just fine with her.
Big click and treat for you!
Mark