Dog approaching off lead advice

#1 13-07-11, 01:18 PM

Hi,

As some of you know, Ciara is quite fearful of other dogs. In the past month we have started clicker training her, I can't tell you how much she has improved, even considering she was in the house for a week with kennel cough. I've got her to the point where she can walk past a dog on the other side of the road without her hackles going up and 8/10 she won't bark, sometimes I wonder if she has seen the other dog as she is that calm, sniffing around, eating treats etc. I've not progressed to walking past on the same side of the road yet, I figure slow and steady is the best way.

Up until this past month we have never walked past a dog across the road without her lunging/barking/hackles up so we have made great progress in such a short amount of time. I told Trish yesterday that instead of getting a horrid feeling in my stomach when seeing a dog, I now feel happy that we are going to overcome another challenge, so my mind set is changing and this is having a good effect on Ciara.

I took her out yesterday and she was very good until a dog unexpectedly ran upto her off lead. It was a young GSD, probably only wanting to play, but Ciara was on her lead and become very anxious, I turned her away and started to walk away.

The other dog continued to follow and jump in Ciara's face so Ciara finally barked at it, at which point I made her sit. I know I shouldn't make her sit right in front of what she's afraid of but it did calm her down.

My question (and after messaging Gail too I think we are in similar situations) is what to do if a dog runs up to Ciara unexpectedly while she is on her lead. Even off lead it is all just noise with her when she is frightened, no teeth or trying to bite at all but I don't want to let her off when she is already in a frightened state.

Any advice on what to do in this situation would be really appreciated, sorry for waffling!

Thanks

xxx

Stuart · #2 13-07-11, 02:04 PM

There is very little you can do,..the worst thing would be to turn and walk away I think. this is only putting the dogs back to any threat that might be there.

Watch both dogs reaction,.. clearly the on-coming dog first, but also your own dog, they will tell you if there is a threat at all, learn the language of your own dog..... if you dont see any alarm bells ringing then try hard to relaxe and [I personaly ] would continue to walk on,..on the asumption that dog meets are often best done while walking

If you do see warning bells, then clearly you have to do something,..,..often a sharp `No` to the on coming dog works well,...some people release their dogs, to either give them a chance to fight or flight,..a dog on a lead has a great dis-advantage against an aggressive attack,..some people carry some sort of defence, be it a spray or something that makes a noise, just enough to give you chance to put distance between you and the attacking dogs

I am looking forward to hearing what others put forward

#3 13-07-11, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

There is very little you can do,..the worst thing would be to turn and walk away I think. this is only putting the dogs back to any threat that might be there.
Watch both dogs reaction,.. clearly the on-coming dog first, but also your own dog, they will tell you if there is a threat at all, learn the language of your own dog..... if you dont see any alarm bells ringing then try hard to relaxe and [I personaly ] would continue to walk on,..on the asumption that dog meets are often best done while walking

If you do see warning bells, then clearly you have to do something,..,..often a sharp `No` to the on coming dog works well,...some people release their dogs, to either give them a chance to fight or flight,..a dog on a lead has a great dis-advantage against an aggressive attack,..some people carry some sort of defence, be it a spray or something that makes a noise, just enough to give you chance to put distance between you and the attacking dogs

I am looking forward to hearing what others put forward

Ah, I didn't think of it as turning her back on the threat as such, thanks. I'll be careful not to do that next time. I'm not sure how to continue walking though as the other dog tended to be in her face rather than at the side of her which I could have dealt with. I don't think the other dog was being aggressive, just very exciteable, when its owner got it back on the lead it was jumping up in his face.

thanks for the advicex

GV9297 · #4 13-07-11, 02:30 PM

I too am waiting with baited breath for responses following my situation last Sat morning. I tried to get the monsters attention and walk on - but it was really difficult! I am so glad that Nat held the other dog as I dont think I, could have coped with two coming on to Deez let alone him!!

charlie · #5 13-07-11, 02:40 PM

Well stu I have t disagree with u as I deal with lots of fearful, aggressive dogs turning and walking away is a good way to go but there is a scenario t this method I use that encourages the dog bk into the situation it works very well also many dogs will react allot worse due t the fact of being on leash due t not being able t retreat otherwise flooding is a method that has t b used with the right dog not all r up t the challenge

#6 13-07-11, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie

Well stu I have t disagree with u as I deal with lots of fearful, aggressive dogs turning and walking away is a good way to go but there is a scenario t this method I use that encourages the dog bk into the situation it works very well also many dogs will react allot worse due t the fact of being on leash due t not being able t retreat otherwise flooding is a method that has t b used with the right dog not all r up t the challenge

What method would you suggest in this senario Charlie? We're progressing well with other dogs on lead but want her to feel as comfortable as she can in all situations.

charlie · #7 13-07-11, 02:51 PM

Heya if u would like me some idea on the background of ur dog and what methods ur using at present?

#8 13-07-11, 06:02 PM

Hi Charlie,

Sorry not replied sooner, was travelling home from work and wanted to take her for her walk before I replied to make sure we were still on the right track and no other issues came up.

For the past month I've been using clicker training with Ciara. So if I see a dog I will tell her to leave it if I can sense a reaction will come - for example if the other dog is barking at her, I then click and treat for her calm behaviour. If she starts to bark which has happened only a handful of times since I've started the clicker training then I will tell her 'leave it' in a firm voice. This usually stops the reaction so will then click and reward.

The clicker has been like a god send, she's really progressed in the past 4 weeks, and one of them was spent indoors as she was ill with kennel cough.

We do training at a GSD club once a week where she is calm in close proximity to other dogs while doing obedience, I also arrange one on one walking sessions with other calm dogs. I've started to ask passers by with dogs if they mind if I walk parallel with their dogs at a distance and this has worked a treat.

The difference between 4 weeks ago and now is so huge, I would never believe she was the same dog, we never used to get within 50ft of a dog before she was barking/lunging all over the place.

The only thing I'm unsure of now is what to do when dogs are running up to her off lead and she is still on lead, I try to avoid this as she's still a work in progress but sometimes it's unexpected and I find myself unsure what to do - hence my confusion and unsure-ness passing down to Ciara.

Any advice on what to do in this situation would be great, if you need any more info then please let me know

thanks again!

Melissa

MARYLOU30 · #9 13-07-11, 06:52 PM

Hi Melissa

I have the same problems as you if a dog runs up to Kirk except that now he is getting older, he is beginning to react more. I have stopped walking him in areas where there are a lot of unleashed dogs (just for the summer because of the nice weather dog walkers who have no control and let their dogs do whatever they want cos their friendly!). I still walk him in areas where there are other dogs just not as many irresponsible owners. Beacuse of his age (13mths) I am trying to avoid confrontations as much as poss. so that he doesn't learn to lunge or think to have a go first.

I would also be interested in your advice Charlie.

Louise

Stuart · #10 13-07-11, 07:10 PM

Everything depends on the dog coming towards you,..if you are sure that the attacking dog is about to do just that, then I think that turning your dog away is giving huge advantage to the attacking dog,..you dog is not able to defend itself, because you are pulling at his head...and as owners, very few owners could do much to help,... this is why some owners think the best way to go is to release their own dogs, to either fight [ in defence] or flight,.....there was a thread about this not so long ago, where this suggestion was agreed by more than one

If you think that you can manage to face the dog, or that the dog is simply excited then either meet the dog or continue to walk,... if the dog is right in front of you, then I would still continue to walk,..if the dog is not aggressive then there will be no problem,.. I wouldnt think

The problem is that its not easy to give full and complete advice, without being there, or seeing and knowing your dog,..situations like this are all unique