Hi. Well I'll start at the beginning. I have one staffie and one collie/greyhound mix (Nisha). She is a rescue dog whom we got last year. I started by walking them separately for training purposes and recently she started playing wonderfully with other dogs and would run around with them playing happily for hours! In January my staffie (Keira) got attacked and I had to work hard on her walks to resocialise her which recently succeeded. So my next plan (a little later then originally hoped) was to walk them together. Over the past few days I have been getting them used to it without distractions around (other dogs). Today on the way to the field a man and his dog was coming up the lane, I couldn't avoid it and was grateful that it was one that they both knew. .. Unfortunately nothing went well.. they both attacked (much to my shock!) . I think it was Nisha that instigated it as she reached the dog first and Keira reacted next. I managed to get them under control before any injuries would occur. But what I can't understand is why they would do that to a dog they normally would be pleased to see on a normal day (when I walked them separately ). They haven't shown any signs of anxiety with the group walk otherwise I would have stopped the group walks altogether. Does anyone have any advice and does anyone else have any experience in this?
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Dogs only social when walked separate
- Thread starter JennyI
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Because it just happened this once it is hard to guess what might be behind the behaviour. Does Nisha not like certain breeds of dog. Is she being jealous and protective of her new "friend". Did the other dog stare and make them feel uncomfortable?
Until you see a pattern it will be hard to know. Of course you do not want a pattern to develop.
For now I would distract them as much as you can when another dog approaches. It is always a bit difficult in tight spaces isn't it?
My new rescue will suddenly take against a strange dog. I have yet to work out any pattern except that mostly they have been black and small/medium. Perhaps he was attacked by a similar dog in his past. I will never know.
I had a rescue dog years ago that ignored other dogs for years and then suddenly started to attack some other dogs when away from home. We worked it out that they were all black and white dogs. We could not remember him meeting black and white dogs, previously, so put it down to a bad memory of black and white dogs.
Until you see a pattern it will be hard to know. Of course you do not want a pattern to develop.
For now I would distract them as much as you can when another dog approaches. It is always a bit difficult in tight spaces isn't it?
My new rescue will suddenly take against a strange dog. I have yet to work out any pattern except that mostly they have been black and small/medium. Perhaps he was attacked by a similar dog in his past. I will never know.
I had a rescue dog years ago that ignored other dogs for years and then suddenly started to attack some other dogs when away from home. We worked it out that they were all black and white dogs. We could not remember him meeting black and white dogs, previously, so put it down to a bad memory of black and white dogs.
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Hi
Difficult to cure as the dogs have already committed the sins and got away with it.
I have found that avoidance is most effective when I avert my eyes from both dog, as well as owner. I keep my eyes forward, and keep walking at a natural pace. Or turn around and walk in a different direction, In this way, my dog learns that when we see other dogs, we avoid rather than confront.
I do not let my dog obsess or stare intensely at any other dogs. Sometimes, my dog will drop into a stalking-down-position, stare, and wait for the other dog to pass. Some people think that he is such a good boy for doing a Down, when other dogs are coming toward him, but he is actually just waiting to pounce.
Dont tug and pull on the leads this makes the dogs lunge forwards making the situation worse, don't panic shout struggle with the dogs (hard to do) but they pick up your negative vibes and makes them a lot worse.
If people walking with their dogs stop and want to meet my dog, I ask them nicely to please move on, because my dog is easily excitable, you are sure to meet them again on walks and they will more than likely be vigilant.
Join a training class (let the trainer know about any problems your dog has)
Your dogs will be introduced to other dogs in a controlled enviornment, the trainer can see and advise on the best course of training for your dogs.
Being a rehoming trainer I find that this behavior is difficult at the best of times, but we are not infallable and some dogs with an antisocial behavior does go undetected, your dog should have been rehomed to a house with no other pets,,, but too late fo to worry about that now.
I hope some of this helps.
Shewy
Difficult to cure as the dogs have already committed the sins and got away with it.
I have found that avoidance is most effective when I avert my eyes from both dog, as well as owner. I keep my eyes forward, and keep walking at a natural pace. Or turn around and walk in a different direction, In this way, my dog learns that when we see other dogs, we avoid rather than confront.
I do not let my dog obsess or stare intensely at any other dogs. Sometimes, my dog will drop into a stalking-down-position, stare, and wait for the other dog to pass. Some people think that he is such a good boy for doing a Down, when other dogs are coming toward him, but he is actually just waiting to pounce.
Dont tug and pull on the leads this makes the dogs lunge forwards making the situation worse, don't panic shout struggle with the dogs (hard to do) but they pick up your negative vibes and makes them a lot worse.
If people walking with their dogs stop and want to meet my dog, I ask them nicely to please move on, because my dog is easily excitable, you are sure to meet them again on walks and they will more than likely be vigilant.
Join a training class (let the trainer know about any problems your dog has)
Your dogs will be introduced to other dogs in a controlled enviornment, the trainer can see and advise on the best course of training for your dogs.
Being a rehoming trainer I find that this behavior is difficult at the best of times, but we are not infallable and some dogs with an antisocial behavior does go undetected, your dog should have been rehomed to a house with no other pets,,, but too late fo to worry about that now.
I hope some of this helps.
Shewy
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