Training Last Night

paulsuzy1991 · #1 04-11-10, 05:24 PM

Hi All

I took Sienna to her usual weekly training class last night , she is doing her bronze and silver and she did well in the tests, even not reacting to the meet and greet a stranger task (she is wary and nervous of strangers)
Then out of the blue she had a go at a couple of the smaller dogs that came near to her, barking and heckles up. She has never done anything like this before to other dogs. She was a bit more grumpy and frisky than usual in class. The 2 dogs she barked at were both small and very bouncy and lively.

Afterwards we all went on a short road walk and she was fine with a mastiff she sees every week, sniffing him and walking right next to him and also walked past all the other dogs in her class with no reaction at all.
I have no idea why she should all of sudden do this.
She is 15 months now and has recently been spayed and had a health check at the vets
She has also been a bit rebellious at home sometimes in the last few days.
Could it be the teenage stage?
Any ideas?

zetstaff · #2 04-11-10, 05:32 PM

We often have no idea of the 'conversation' dogs are having with each other, how they carry their tail, a wrong look, a dominant stance etc. She may just have been reacting to something like that.

I can't believe the number of people who have said of their dog 'it's ok he's wagging his tail' - NO IT'S NOT OK because his tail is in a position that suggests he's up for a scrap, wagging or not

So it may not be anything but your dog reacting to what in the doggy world is throwing down the gauntlet!!!

DelsMum · #3 04-11-10, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetstaff

We often have no idea of the 'conversation' dogs are having with each other, how they carry their tail, a wrong look, a dominant stance etc. She may just have been reacting to something like that.

I can't believe the number of people who have said of their dog 'it's ok he's wagging his tail' - NO IT'S NOT OK because his tail is in a position that suggests he's up for a scrap, wagging or not

So it may not be anything but your dog reacting to what in the doggy world is throwing down the gauntlet!!!

This is so true. Jerry Lee's 'trigger', when I know he's about to lunge at something or have a moment is a long low tail sweep!

paulsuzy1991 · #4 04-11-10, 05:43 PM

I did hear the owner of one of the dogs she barked at to stop staring at Sienna a few times.
She doesnt like being stared at by strangers, maybe certain dog's stares too!

zetstaff · #5 04-11-10, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsuzy1991

I did hear the owner of one of the dogs she barked at to stop staring at Sienna a few times.
She doesnt like being stared at by strangers, maybe certain dog's stares too!

In the stafford world, a stare is asking to be killed outright

A stare would definitely do it, + we just don't know what they are communicating to each other

You're at a stage in training now when you can afford for one week to observe as much as you can the way the dogs get on with each other + I promise you it will be an eye opener

wildmoor · #6 04-11-10, 08:07 PM

Staring/eye contact is a challenge, also you said the other dogs were excitable - probably not mentally stable which then would make her anxious because she has picked up on this.

jackie · #7 05-11-10, 07:53 AM

Just a thought, as it was a test was she perhaps picking up on your stress vibes. I know if I am tensed up my girl reacts.

Caryll · #8 05-11-10, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetstaff

In the stafford world, a stare is asking to be killed outright

Hahaha! My old Bandit was a terror for that. If another dog stared at him he'd go wild, and if he took a dislike to another dog he'd go all stiff legged & STARE!!! It's the same with EBTs as well!

paulsuzy1991 · #9 05-11-10, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie

Just a thought, as it was a test was she perhaps picking up on your stress vibes. I know if I am tensed up my girl reacts.

She could have been. I did pull tighter on the lead when the dog came close and we were standing right in the corner of the hall against the wall. I do get a bit worried sometimes because of the way she is with strangers. I expect she picks up on this. When we all went out on the walk I felt more relaxed and she walked with the lead loose and she was fine with the other dogs.
She seems more wary of the smaller exciteable dogs. She was attacked quite badly by a JR a few months back, I dont know if that would still be affecting her

#10 05-11-10, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsuzy1991

She could have been. I did pull tighter on the lead when the dog came close and we were standing right in the corner of the hall against the wall. I do get a bit worried sometimes because of the way she is with strangers. I expect she picks up on this. When we all went out on the walk I felt more relaxed and she walked with the lead loose and she was fine with the other dogs.
She seems more wary of the smaller exciteable dogs. She was attacked quite badly by a JR a few months back, I dont know if that would still be affecting her

She may well be 'getting in there first' then. They remember. Staring as others have said is very unsettling in a situation like that, which is from a dog's point of view, quite unnatural. Often a dog will react by barking if another eyeballs it.