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Good experiences, bad experiences....

  • 26-11-2011 12:47pm
    #1
    Tranceypoo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭


    So, I've come to the realisation that my youngest dog is 'dog reactive', I don't know if that's a real thing but it's the best way I can describe it, what I mean by that is she will react to another dog the way they react to her, so if we meet a friendly dog she will be friendly, if we meet a dog displaying any aggression, fear etc, she will display the same.

    She didn't appear to have this issue when I first got her but over the course of our walks there were 3 or 4 houses we would pass where dogs would come running out, barking at us, one house in particular has a small dog who would literally run at her barking furiously and try and attack, the first time it happened and she retaliated and I saw that she could easily stand over this dog and do some serious damage, I pulled her away but anytime we meet this dog it follows us up the lane barking furiously and I have to drag her away. This dog is owned by an old lady and all she does is walk up the lane calling the dog (pointless) and when she eventually catches up with her, grabs her and gives her a smack on the nose, I've said to her in the past 'you know that's why she won't come back to you cos she knows she's going to get a smack' but it's fallen on deaf ears, she never apologies or even acknowledges me in any way.

    Then there are the good experiences, I take them to the woods and we've met some nice people with nice dogs and they say hello and that's fine, last month I had a great morning in the woods, met about 3 or 4 separate groups of people and dogs, all positive experiences.

    But the last 2 or 3 weeks it's been nothing but bad experiences and I wonder if it sets her back or if she just takes each dog as it comes, there's also a golden retriever (un-neutered male) owned by a neighbour, I never used to meet her out walking but the last few weeks I've met her a few times, maybe she's on a health kick or something, but her dog is very aggressive so my dog retaliates and you have the 2 of them (both on a lead) pulling and straining and barking at each other as we pass, I hate it I find it so stressful. There was also a situation in the woods with a jrt, I had the two of them with me and the older one will copy the younger one and with the two of them pulling me I dropped the younger ones lead and she ran off after the jrt (who was on a lead), no harm was done just a lot of barking and I was mortified and apologised profusely to the owner, who was fine about it, but I just had to go home after that I was so pissed off, not with the dogs but with myself for not being able to control the situation better.

    I have tried distracting her with a 'sit' and with treats but it doesn't work and if I have the older dog with me, it has rubbed off on him and the two of them pulling me are really strong and I'm no little bird like creature. I don't really know what the solution is other than try to avoid meeting those dogs but there are only 2 walks I can do and one of them is past their houses, it's also the safer one, ironically because I go past houses rather than the other walk where there are hardly any houses or passing people.

    It's such a shame for her, I've had them both out at events where there are lots of other dogs who are all socialised and well behaved and they've been fine, we were at the Madra day out in the summer, loads of dog there and they had a great time, I've walked her with 2 other little bichons in the past and had no probs at all.

    Just wondering if anyone has similar issues with their dog(s) and if so, did you have any solutions?

    She is spayed and always on a lead by the way.


Comments

  • #2
    Cherry Blossom
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 6,928 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cherry Blossom


    I think you seem to be letting her decide for herself how she interacts with these 'bad experience' dogs. Don't leave her to decide for her self if they are a danger to her or not. This shouldn't be happening, you should be seeing these dogs off yourself - put yourself in between her and them, shout at them, growl at them, tell them to go home, chase them away etc. don't let them approach her at any cost - if you were doing all of this she would be much more confident that she isn't going to be attacked because you are there to defend/save her. If someone ran up to me growling and snapping I'd bark back at them too :D


  • #3
    Tranceypoo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Tranceypoo


    Yes I see what you're saying and it makes sense, I have tried that with the little dog that chases after us, although maybe I'm not shouting loud enough, I've just sort of gone 'P**s off ya bugger' (or words to that effect!) and kept going maybe I need to be more pro-active. But the dogs that bark from their houses I don't know what I can do about them, I don't mind shouting but I don't want all the surrounding neighbours thinking I'm the nutter who shouts at all the dogs :o and the retriever that passes is also on a lead with his owner who is a neighbour so I don't want to start shouting she'll think I've lost it, we've actually tried to get them together but it didn't work.

    But thanks for the suggestion I will go out tomorrow now being more confident and in control, change my state of mind. Bring it on. I'll let you know how I go!!


  • #4
    kelly0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭kelly0


    I completely empathise with you. I have two dogs and walking them twice a day I've come across all sorts. I wouldn't agree with 'confronting' these aggressive dogs. It may be just all noise on the other dogs part but growling and shouting at an already aggressive dog can just escalate the situation.

    However, I agree with the other post, it is your responsibility to take charge of the situation. If you're confident and carry on as if there's no problem, eventually so will your dog.

    I've also found that if your dog will play with a ball, or if there is anything of 'high value' to him, carry this with you on the walk. When you see a dog coming, take out the ball and start 'play'. This will firstly distract your dog, making sure the heavy eye contact and stare doesn't develop with the other dog. Secondly, the dog will begin to associate other dogs with the positive experience of the ball. The key to this is, to distract the dog with the ball BEFORE any aggression starts, he won't even register its presence if the barking/growling/staring begins.

    Another tip is to carry a small bottle of water with a sports cap on it (like the one for a kids lunch box). If the situation gets out of hand, a quick squirt of water in the face of the other dog does wonders! In my experience, they back off straight away and a very unlikely to approach you again.

    Hope this helps!


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