Bastard Bloody Dog

[ExitPursuedByaBear]

I have posted before about my springer's dog on dog aggression but I am reaching the end of my tether now. I went on holiday for a couple of weeks and since I have returned I just don't feel the same way about him. Walking him is such a nightmare and we are getting a reputation. This morning a woman screamed at me "You and that bloody dog again!". If I see another dog then I recall him and put him on the lead, which usually works OK, but today we were in the woods and I didn't see the other dog until it was too late. He doesn't hurt them (as such) but I feel so bad about it. I cannot possible keep him on the lead all the time as he needs the exercise that running around gives him.

He doesn't do it with all dogs. Some dogs he is quite happy to chase, and if they are faster than him then it is OK. Once he catches them though things sometimes turn ugly, sometimes not. There is no rhyme or reason as to his repsonse.

I don't know why I am posting really, as I know what I should do. I am just so miserable.

I see other dog walkers standing around chatting whilst their dogs play, and we are on the other side of the park like Billy No Mates.

Get a long line and don't let him off. He can still run around but means you have more control.

Hi Wide - thanks - but supposing he was on a 50m long line and another dog appeared - he would be 50 meteres away from me and still able to fall out until I managed to pull him back. (sorry - not deliberatley being negative)

Back to dog training. Literally go back to the basics and start again, it will be money well spent.

Yes back to basics.

If he's on a long line then he won't be able to follow the other dog if their owner removes them or if the run away. You can reel your dog in like a fish on a line.

My cocker has to be walked on a long line as the bugger won't come back for anything.

I do know exactly how you feel. Having a reactive collie dumped on my doorstep literally I have also been Billy no mates. Made worse as people know I am a dog behavourist and should have perfectly behaved dogs at all time! You also have to learn to ignore when people with no experience of reactive dogs know exactly the right thing to do and usually involves dominating the dog or hitting with a newspaper or alpha rolling!!!!!!!!

It is embarrassing when people turn away when they see you coming and tut loudly as your dog barks etc. However there is hope. My man is know ok! I know what he can and can not do - we go to agility together, we do working trials together and he would do anything for me. He is the most loyal dog I have every had (sorry fostered OH does not know he is here to stay!) Some things are just too much for him and we are still working on his reaction in some situations but we have got to a place where we can work with this.

First it is not your fault and owners who work hard with difficult dogs have to be very special people and I know you are

Ok what to do about it on a daily basis?

Does he like toys? If he likes retrieving then you can get him his off lead exercise by playing ball in a very wide open area where you can see for a long way off.

He can then be walked on lead in more dense areas where you can not see dogs around.

Also if you know anyone with private land you could let him run off there off lead safe in the knowledge that no dogs will be about. (not always possible though)

Training wise you need to look at Behaviour changing, so no punishment, no shouting. Your dog needs to change his reaction when he sees other dogs. It can take time but it WILL work.

BAT is fantastic link here

also try and get a copy of Stop here as it does sound to me like an over excited chase response.

The people who can help you are APDT if they can't whereabouts are you I should be able to put you in touch with a trainer who uses BAT.

Also try to think of what you can do with your dog - he is not all bad, does he give great cuddles, is he the funniest dog when playing with toys etc. It gets very easy to concentrate on his one fault (although mega) and forget that he is still your dog who loves all that you do for him

Oh another thought the ADPT trainer may have walks for just reactive dogs - they are fantastic as you can get together with other owners and in a supervised situation socialise your dogs and even talk to other owners!

Also another thought! One of my dogs who is know 11 was very reactive- he took a lot of work but now is so solid I use him as a teaching dog for other dogs who have aggresion issues. Things can be turned around - don't give up on him yet. Promise I will go now!

Oh minimuu thank you, for your advice and your understanding.

(By the way, I am not in the least bit special, and his behaviour is entirely my fault no doubt)

I do, on the whole, manage the situation. He is ball obsessed, so I can keep him next to me, off the lead, by keeping his ball in his throwy thing. It is just when we cannot see ahead, so, note to self, do not let him off the lead when I cannot see clearly in all directions. Although I do think it was his obsession with his ball which first started his aggression when another dog took his ball off him.

I think you are right about the over exicted chase response. He once found a sheep where it shouldn't have been and chased it past me, and I could see him trying to do these little nippy bites with his small front teeth on the sheep's coat (all ended well on that occasion). I think that is what he does to other dogs when he is chasing them and clearly other dogs (especially the small woosy ones) don't like it, understandably.

I will check out your links and try to get some perspective.

Thanks again.