Emerging Problem that I need to correct

[Caledon]

Sorry, this is long, but I'm trying to give as much informaiton as possible.

I was hoping that I would never ever post in this section. I read it often educating myself in how to prevent problems. I've taken my dog to obedience school since she was 3 months old and have completed three levels, with the 4th one starting soon. I've meet weekly with former OB class members to proof our dogs during the summer.

I have exposed her to many different situations, and introduced her to many dogs. I thought I was doing a good job. She is spayed and is 14 months old.

Now I believe I have a problem emerging and want to fix it. I'm trying to reflect back to see if I can identify signs that I may have missed.

History:
I used to visit dog parks, but stopped after my trainer advised me not to. I have visited pay to enter play centers with supervised staff. I have had several leash free walks with friendly dogs, and frequent off leash hiking areas. Never ever had an issue (except for my dog growling when another dog tried to mount her). She normally sphinx downs when she sees some (not all) off leash dog approaching (size doesn't matter), waits and then approaches.

We have had unpleasant experiences with other dogs. She has been charged and bitten by a Jack Russel Terrier @ Wooffest this summer, she did not react. She was attacked at a leashed beach in the Pinery by a leash free Golden who came out of the water after her. She did not react. She has been charged, lunged at and snapped at by various small out of control dogs that seem to be all centered in my neighbourhood. She never used to react.

I think my problem started at the end of August when I was camping at Grundy lake. I have never seen or heard so many aggressive dogs before. When we would walk we were charged by many dogs, who meet the end of thier tie outs. She never reacted until one. I didn't see it coming and two dogs charged, lunged, growled etc. when we walked by. They were tied. This scared me and I let out a little very small scream. At the same time Dakota growled and barked in a way I had never seen or heard before. I told her enough and pulled her back to heel position and continued our walk. We did meet another dog that reacted the same way, but this time she did not react.

The next week we went on a leash free hike. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a dog who lunged, barked and snarled. This dog was far away as the owners were working on issues with the dog. We kept all the dogs away for a short time and then allowed them to greet, on leash. Dakota growled at snapped at two of the dogs (not the one that was having problems). She has never done this before. We let the dogs off leash and no problems, although my did get carried away in playing at one point. Time out worked.

I called my trainer and she said that Dakota was taking an attitude of "I'm going to get you before you get me". It didn't matter to her that these dogs were not the same dog. She told me to get Dakota out there walking with other friendly dogs, which I did meet up with a friend and everything was great. We meet several dogs on the walk and no reaction from her at all.

Current

Dakota seems to be focusing on some dogs on our walks. She will look at them in a way that I don't like. I've observed that these are dogs that are NOT under control by their owners. You know the ones - extendable leashes running, pulling, standing on hind legs, barking , owners arm fully extended with dog criss crossing.

When we see these dogs, I may do the following. Turn around and get her focused on me. Stop, move to the side, get her to sit and have her watch me as the dog passes. Cross the street if it is really bad to avoid.

Last night I took her to a very busy park and worked on down/stay/stand drill with heavy distractions. I made her down/stay when another dog walked by. Success!

The walk was perfect and I was feeling really good until this little white out of control dog was walking down the pathway. We stepped off the path and I had Dakota in a sit while getting her to watch me. It was working great, until the dog passed us and this woman allowed her little dog to appraoch Dakota from behind. Dakota reacted and barked. The woman ran down the pathway screaming. I just told her that she should not have allowed her dog to approach mine when it was obvious that I moved away to avoid her.

To my luck another small dog approached. Kept her in the same position and the dog passed without incident. A total non issue.

My conclusions
I don't think she is dog aggressive or leash aggressive yet, but could be on her way. I think she is either afraid or being protective of herself or of me. I have bought two books and am waiting for them to arrive. "Click to Calm" and "Feisty Fido". I will be talking to my trainer again. I need to nip this quickly. I plan on doing obedience and getting her CD and I can't have her acting this way - ever.

Please offer suggestions, comments and observations.

One more comment. She does not react to nice calm dogs as they walk by. The owners show no interest in allowing their dog to meet. I only get interest in owner's whose dogs I do not want mine to meet. I am now hesitant to allow her to meet on leash. I don't want her to react and potentially scar another dog.

[Brightelf]

I think you're doing everything right! (See?? I'm no help at all! ) Seriously, those two books are ideal for this situation! And, you've contacted your trainer. And, you try to get her out there with calm dogs-- it's when someone allows their dog to charge yours, that she seems to pick up on the nutty, overexcited energy and reacts. She may have begun to anticipate nutty behavior, and she may have begun to initiate it, as you suggest-- but I think you can work through these issues with the two books you mentioned. I have both. Feisty Fido is fantastic!

Sorry that I haven't any major advice. You are being proactive, careful, educating yourself, getting training support, and being consistant in keeping up with her socialization. Good job!!

I have a reactive dog, and am hoping for training support for him once I settle in USA. I am wishing you and your girl continued success. I am sure others will chime in with great advice and suggestions for you from here on out. Good luck!

[Jax08]

I think she reacted to your surprise that one time and she is relating certain situations back to that moment.

and this woman is an idiot

Quote:until the dog passed us and this woman allowed her little dog to appraoch Dakota from behind. Dakota reacted and barked. The woman ran down the pathway screaming.

Of course Dakota reacted when the dog approached her from the back.

I think you are doing everything correctly. Personally, I would halt owners who are approaching her and who do not have control over their dogs until she got over this hurdle. Maybe you could catch the owners who do have control to do a greeting with her?

[BowWowMeow]

It sounds like she's getting a little leash reactive and you're doing a great job of addressing the problem. Rafi went through this a few months after I adopted him. In addition to everything you're doing I taught him to go behind me or to the opposite side when he saw these crazy dogs, whether they were on or off leash. This helped teach him that I would take care of the problem dogs and he didn't have to worry about protecting himself (or me, which he has shown no inclination to do anyway!).

The whole focus, treat, redirect, treat protocol worked really well with Rafi.

[Caledon]

Originally Posted By: BowWowMeowIt sounds like she's getting a little leash reactive and you're doing a great job of addressing the problem. Rafi went through this a few months after I adopted him. In addition to everything you're doing I taught him to go behind me or to the opposite side when he saw these crazy dogs, whether they were on or off leash. This helped teach him that I would take care of the problem dogs and he didn't have to worry about protecting himself (or me, which he has shown no inclination to do anyway!).

The whole focus, treat, redirect, treat protocol worked really well with Rafi.

I usually keep her on my left side, swing out to the grass, and make sure that I do not let her pass face to face. I always walk on the left hand side of the sidewalk and make her swing out to the grass when we pass people. Never thought of putting her behind me. I think that if she were behind me that if she reacted I would not be able to stop her from making contact, or even coming close. When I step to the side I keep myself between her and the other crazy dog.

I wonder if I should step well off to the side, have her face me and as I walk backwards on a short leash, call her to come. (we do this randomly on our walks anyway)

I really need to correct this for two reasons - I want to enter Rally O/CD and continue on with obedience and start a serious Aglility program (last one was for fun and not orgaized very well).

[BowWowMeow]

He was taught to go behind me when off leash dogs were charging us from the front. I would make myself big and scare off the other dog and he learned that way that I was taking care of everything.

Either way, using your body as a barrier is a good idea. It sounds like you really are in control of the situation and it should take a little while to counter-condition her. Rafi will walk by the nastiest dog on a chain or behind a fence now and he automatically switches to my outside leg and keeps on walking. When I was doing the focus/treat thing he would automatically sit and look at me whenever he saw another dog.

[Caledon]

Thanks Ruth - got it! I will keep that one in mind.

[Caledon]

I've been working very hard with her all week but we have not seen many dogs. I saw 2 small out of control dogsr walking down the sidewalk and I moved to the curb, and put her in a sit. These dogs were growling and Dakota immediately did a down and was perfect as the pair of them passed by growling and lunging at their leash. The woman thought it was funny that her little dogs were acting this way around a GSD, and I just told her that I thought her dogs needed to learn manners.

I introduced her to a few calm dogs and no reaction from her, besides her old self. My neighbour brought his Collie out and we introduced them. (poor thing has cushings and has lost most of his fur). He tried to mount her but she just moved, no growl or snap, just a lot of play bowing.

Still haven't received those books. Amazon.ca is taking a long time.

[Jax08]

Originally Posted By: MaryWwoman thought it was funny that her little dogs were acting this way around a GSD, and I just told her that I thought her dogs needed to learn manners.

And the look on her face must have been priceless!!

[Riley's Mom]

Considering she's been attacked several times by out of control dogs, it's no wonder she reacts to them now the way she does. Seems to have no trouble w/dogs under control. I think she's afraid and that your trainer is right "I'll get you before you get me" considering the history this makes the most sense to me.