Re: Off-lead dogs&the leash-reactive dog ARRGGHH!!
We get this a lot. Kenya is not aggressive or leash reactive, but can get a little too nervy and snap if another dog approaches fast and I pull back. The reaction is caused by me, which I've come to accept. To diffuse this, I've worked on two things:
1. I've done a LOT more exposure with dogs in controlled environments. We have training 2-3 times a week, and before/after each training session we all allow our dogs off leash and let them check each other out and get their play-willies out so they aren't trying to get at each other during training. Just in the past few weeks, I've really learned to take a chill pill when it comes to Kenya and other dogs. She has played with ten different dogs in the past two weeks. There were times where she corrected other dogs (mainly one that tried to hump her) and times that other dogs fairly corrected her.
2. When we are out walking and there is an off lead dog approaching us, I asked for a sit-stay. To me, a trained dog will do the command in almost any situation. I ask for a sit-stay and I expect one as long as the approaching dog is not attacking. Some are very rude and/or vocal in their approach, but we've never been outright attacked. Kenya holds a stay, which allows me to let the lead remain slack (again, when I tense up and there is tension on the line, that's when she reacts) and gives me a chance to "read" the strange dog. If the dog appears friendly, I allow Kenya to break the stay and sniff at the dog while I dance around trying to keep the leash slack. If I'm not interested in the strange dog, I ask for a "heel" and we leave. The strange dog can follow us if it wants, I'm not going to catch it and bring it back to the owner.
I do not allow Kenya to give hard stares or prolonged stares at strange dogs even if they are rude and deserve it.
We get this a lot. Kenya is not aggressive or leash reactive, but can get a little too nervy and snap if another dog approaches fast and I pull back. The reaction is caused by me, which I've come to accept. To diffuse this, I've worked on two things:
1. I've done a LOT more exposure with dogs in controlled environments. We have training 2-3 times a week, and before/after each training session we all allow our dogs off leash and let them check each other out and get their play-willies out so they aren't trying to get at each other during training. Just in the past few weeks, I've really learned to take a chill pill when it comes to Kenya and other dogs. She has played with ten different dogs in the past two weeks. There were times where she corrected other dogs (mainly one that tried to hump her) and times that other dogs fairly corrected her.
2. When we are out walking and there is an off lead dog approaching us, I asked for a sit-stay. To me, a trained dog will do the command in almost any situation. I ask for a sit-stay and I expect one as long as the approaching dog is not attacking. Some are very rude and/or vocal in their approach, but we've never been outright attacked. Kenya holds a stay, which allows me to let the lead remain slack (again, when I tense up and there is tension on the line, that's when she reacts) and gives me a chance to "read" the strange dog. If the dog appears friendly, I allow Kenya to break the stay and sniff at the dog while I dance around trying to keep the leash slack. If I'm not interested in the strange dog, I ask for a "heel" and we leave. The strange dog can follow us if it wants, I'm not going to catch it and bring it back to the owner.
I do not allow Kenya to give hard stares or prolonged stares at strange dogs even if they are rude and deserve it.
