Well Gus was a complete maniac last night. We went to Top Notch for a "coached walk through" class and he was completely unable to remain calm. He started off barking while in his kennel which has had stopped for the most part while there. Then I brought him out and tried to work with him on remaining calm while the other dogs were running. I was able to get him to lay down and I clicked every time he would look away. This seemed to keep him sort of calm until it was his turn. Then he wouldn't hold his stay at the start line and refused to weave. Debbie suggested that I take off to the side and click him for looking to try and calm him down. Unfortunately this only seemed to escalate him. The longer we were off to the side the more he screamed like a banshee and lunged at the other dogs. Finally Debbie suggested I take him in the office to try and calm him down where he couldn't see the other dogs running. Unfortunately he could still hear them so that didn't really calm him too much.
At this point Gus and I left because there was no way that I could work with him when he was in such a state. Because I was treating him so heavily and he was so crazed, he got sick on the drive home. He was lethargic for the rest of the evening and got sick once more after I went to bed. This morning he continued to be lethargic. Obviously this behavior is not healthily for him. Going forward we will restrict his exposure at Top Notch to private lessons until I have done more conditioning with him. Debbie also suggested that I try him on Valerian Root and see about getting him into a Control Unleashed class that is being offered in town.
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