Agility question???

[Emilymonet]

Emily and I have one more week of our intro to agility class, and she is doing great. I want to continue agility with her because we are having so much fun and her confidence is really building. However, we have one small problem.

Emily is the sweetest most gentle, loving dog; but if you run from her, she will take you down like nobody's business. She tried to tackle me(just in playfulness)when we were running between cones, in front of the entire class. Everyone else found it amusing, except me who is growing tired of this.I felt like a zebra in one of those animal documentaries running from a hungry lion. She had ripped my clothes and even gone as far as putting teeth marks into me. This needs to stop.

She is not being aggressive by any means, just getting very over excited. My trainer told me to put her in a time out every time she does this. I can do this at home with her crate, but have no place to do this where we train. I don't want to sign up for another six weeks of agility if I cannot run a course with her.

She will be a year old next month, and I understand that a lot of this has to do with her adolecencet age but she is really testing me right now and I need to nip this little habit in the bud. It's not just me either, she will do the same thing with my kids, the trainer and even my husband. What should my immediate response be next time she decides to play rough with me or anyone else? Should I try and take her down to the ground followed by a firm NO?
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Kootch]

Grab her by the scruff of the neck and growl at her hard. Give her a good shake as you do it and give her the sternest sounding NO (or two) as you do. When you release her turn your back to her to show her even more of your displeasure.

She should/will learn very quickly that this is unacceptable.

 

[Jeannie]

One thing I have a question about--why can't you stop running and disipline her in training class? It is "training" and you need to train her not to get to excited. Try going slower even walking--you don't need to go full blast all the time. Agility is speed and CONTROL. Right now you need to work on the control part. When she starts to get excited STOP then start again when she calms down a bit. But keep it fun or you will spoil her enthusiam for agility.

 

[Emilymonet]

Thank you Rick & Jeannie, We had our last class last night and she did wonderful. One thing I tried was exercising her before class to wear her out a little and she controlled her excitment and did not take it out on me this time.
We are going to continue with agility because it is a lot of fun for the both of us, but at the same time we are going to start some obedience classes so we can work on our control issues.
She is a teenager now and she is testing me every time she can! Isn't adolescence wonderful?
I am taking your advice and correcting her at the right time. Thanks!