Does your dog stalk?

Tedsmum · #1 05-03-11, 01:47 PM

Whenever we are out on a walk and Ted sees another dog in the distance, he get right down and does a border collie style stalk. He stays motionless for ages until I tell him to get up and then moves slowly towards the dog, who by this time is often a bit perplexed by this behaviour.
He is totally friendly towards other dogs and when he finally gets there, he greets other dogs and always wants to play.
Needless to say some owners are a bit worried by this stance and I find myself having to yell out to them that he is quite friendly and just thinks he is a border collie.
Does anyone else's dog do this?
Any tips on how to stop it as it is very boring waiting for him to get to the point so slowly?

#2 05-03-11, 02:05 PM

hiya, our zeus does this to me when hes waiting for me to launch his ball for him! i just put it down to excitement or their natural herding abilities!! LOL

#3 05-03-11, 02:23 PM

Yep Gill, Remus does this on lead and off. Head down, shoulders hunkered up, ears forward. He doesn't lay down though, keeps walking - then waits until he's within striking distance and launches himself like a missile towards the other dog, wanting to play

Dogs that know us are fine with this exhuberant approach but for small dogs or any that don't know he's friendly, I always put him back on-lead and use the Leave it command. 40 kg of GSD tearing towards you is far from ideal

It's the one thing I really struggle to train out of him. So any suggestions from those that have achieved this please send me a PM!

alan · #4 05-03-11, 04:26 PM

my 2yr old gsd does this at any thing,leaves,paper bags,any thing that moves,and she not sure of.it might be an age thing,the worring thing is she takes no notice when l try to distract her.

Tedsmum · #5 05-03-11, 04:41 PM

Glad its not just Ted, I was beginning to think he had border collie somewhere in his pedigree!

Beki · #6 05-03-11, 04:47 PM

Ellie does this i can usually correct her with an "ahah leave" if i get in early enough with it and sometimes she will stop then start again so have to correct again, but if i cant get in early enough there aint no stopping her! lol x

hippychickuk · #7 05-03-11, 04:51 PM

pappy does this to. and its funny when he also wiggles his bum from side to side at the same time

davewhite152 · #8 05-03-11, 05:14 PM

I thought it was just Misty! It does look like they are stalking their prey and other dog owners must wonder what she is up to. Then she does a nice 'sniff and greet' of both ends, then plays.

wildmoor · #9 05-03-11, 07:00 PM

only when stalking living prey

Bonniesmummy · #10 05-03-11, 10:12 PM

Bonnie does this, its so cute

she does it mostly with birds, deer and squirrels but will do it in play too when waiting for a ball launch!! she does it with humans/dogs on walks but its not as full on, its mostly just the slow walk she does without the ears back and crouching