Baron in the park! a small rant and some questions.

codmaster · 07-17-2011, 10:18 PM

So we are walking around the grass in a small park (people, not dog) near the house. I have Baron (3.5 yo male GSD - sometimes a little DA) on a 30' training leash and are working on long distance sits, downs stays, recalls, and waits. He is doing GREAT and even getting some admiring looks and comments from a lot of the many people in the park.

There are a number of off leash dogs away off in the distnce doing fetchs and stuff with neither of us paying a lot of attention (A BIG mistake as it turns out)

All of a sudden I hear someone yelling "Fido" Fido" etc. (dogs name!) and I finally look up and here comes this pitty (Lab?, mix?) looking black dog right at us. Baron is most interested but no DA, just looking. He is up to us before I can react and sniffing at Baron - a few seconds of mutual and BANG! Guess the other dog said something Baron didn't like and he snapped at him. The other dog let out a little "Yip" and darted toward it's owner thankfully.

At the same time, the owner finally got there and collared her dog and walked away (She actually said "Sorry" a number of times.) So I said "OK" and we went on about the training. Not much of a reaction from Baron other than maybe an extra look or two over there but nothing that I would really notice. He was still doing real well back with the training.

Now my question is this - many times folks on this forum and elsewhere have said when a similar thing happens, they jump in front of their dog and yell at the other dog to "Go Away" etc. He is not quite at the point where he will be trustworthy to "Stay" under this type of distraction. And I am not real sure that I could stay in front of him dancing around if he won't stay. So that would be tough.

Second, I believe that my tight leash contributed to his reaction - contributes to the lack of ability of either dog to be able to do the proper dog sniffing introduction, i.e. nose to butt etc. I would obviously also be very reluctant to try a real loose lead introduction as well.

Third, if I do jump in front and yell at the other dog, I really believe that Baron will take that into meaning "He is aggressive to this other dog" so I better be also and back me up OR, he may just think that it is OK to act defensively.

Anybody got any suggestions as to what might work best?

BTW, we are working very hard on the reliability needed to tell him to "Stay" and let me handle it.

Thanks!

suzzyq01 · 07-17-2011, 10:23 PM

honestly, I think as soon as I saw the other dog coming I would have said "Leave it" and started walking the other way and continued with the leave it command.

My dog has a very strong leave it command. I dunno. Depending on the reaction I may have gotten involved to separate them. Sounds like the dog was submissive to your dog and got the hint. It's a tough one.

codmaster · 07-17-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzzyq01

honestly, I think as soon as I saw the other dog coming I would have said "Leave it" and started walking the other way and continued with the leave it command.

My dog has a very strong leave it command. I dunno. Depending on the reaction I may have gotten involved to separate them. Sounds like the dog was submissive to your dog and got the hint. It's a tough one.

Yea, would have been good to try that - my problem also was worse since I really didn't notice the other dog till too late as I had seen the other dogs when we got there and they all stayed over there for quite a while (till I missed it). The "leave it" command could certainly help as he does know that one pretty good as well.

My own dog, I have never seen be submissive to any other dog, even when he was a puppy! And the other one fortunately was submissive. Otherwise it could have turned out a LOT worse.

Caledon · 07-18-2011, 09:20 AM

I've often wondered the same thing. I have been successful at stopping loose dogs from coming at us. I take it as "good, I'm glad they stopped and my dog did not react". I wonder if my do is thinking "she is keeping all those dogs away from me, so they must be evil, and when she does not do her job I will"

Others say that the dog sees you protecting them and you are the leader.

I will continue to do it because I would rather be safe than sorry.

07-17-2011, 10:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,759	Baron in the park! a small rant and some questions. So we are walking around the grass in a small park (people, not dog) near the house. I have Baron (3.5 yo male GSD - sometimes a little DA) on a 30' training leash and are working on long distance sits, downs stays, recalls, and waits. He is doing GREAT and even getting some admiring looks and comments from a lot of the many people in the park. There are a number of off leash dogs away off in the distnce doing fetchs and stuff with neither of us paying a lot of attention (A BIG mistake as it turns out) All of a sudden I hear someone yelling "Fido" Fido" etc. (dogs name!) and I finally look up and here comes this pitty (Lab?, mix?) looking black dog right at us. Baron is most interested but no DA, just looking. He is up to us before I can react and sniffing at Baron - a few seconds of mutual and BANG! Guess the other dog said something Baron didn't like and he snapped at him. The other dog let out a little "Yip" and darted toward it's owner thankfully. At the same time, the owner finally got there and collared her dog and walked away (She actually said "Sorry" a number of times.) So I said "OK" and we went on about the training. Not much of a reaction from Baron other than maybe an extra look or two over there but nothing that I would really notice. He was still doing real well back with the training. Now my question is this - many times folks on this forum and elsewhere have said when a similar thing happens, they jump in front of their dog and yell at the other dog to "Go Away" etc. He is not quite at the point where he will be trustworthy to "Stay" under this type of distraction. And I am not real sure that I could stay in front of him dancing around if he won't stay. So that would be tough. Second, I believe that my tight leash contributed to his reaction - contributes to the lack of ability of either dog to be able to do the proper dog sniffing introduction, i.e. nose to butt etc. I would obviously also be very reluctant to try a real loose lead introduction as well. Third, if I do jump in front and yell at the other dog, I really believe that Baron will take that into meaning "He is aggressive to this other dog" so I better be also and back me up OR, he may just think that it is OK to act defensively. Anybody got any suggestions as to what might work best? BTW, we are working very hard on the reliability needed to tell him to "Stay" and let me handle it. Thanks!

07-17-2011, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
suzzyq01 Master Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dracut, MA Posts: 634	honestly, I think as soon as I saw the other dog coming I would have said "Leave it" and started walking the other way and continued with the leave it command. My dog has a very strong leave it command. I dunno. Depending on the reaction I may have gotten involved to separate them. Sounds like the dog was submissive to your dog and got the hint. It's a tough one. __________________ Gobles Sonar vom Shipwreck, CGC Dark Sable 100% DDR German Shepherd (4/1/2010) Frosty Onyx Glacier, CGC Grey/White Siberian Husky (8/29/2005)

07-18-2011, 09:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Caledon Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,786	I've often wondered the same thing. I have been successful at stopping loose dogs from coming at us. I take it as "good, I'm glad they stopped and my dog did not react". I wonder if my do is thinking "she is keeping all those dogs away from me, so they must be evil, and when she does not do her job I will" Others say that the dog sees you protecting them and you are the leader. I will continue to do it because I would rather be safe than sorry.

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