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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog guarding me when our

48 replies

purple15 · 09/07/2017 14:05

I have an 18 month old Dalmatian girl. All has been really good so far. Her recall great, loves people and most dogs,

The problem is just in the last month or so she has got so I can't stroke or give treats to other dogs when out or she growls and goes for them.

This morning I saw a dog sitter/walker whilst out. She gave me some really good advice.
She said when I go to stroke a dog and she jumps in I have to tell her off in a very firm voice and carry on doing it. She demonstrated and it looks so easy.

Has any one else any advice to stop this behaviour. I don't want to end up with an aggressive dog that I worry when meeting other dogs .

OP posts:
Original poster
purple15 · 09/07/2017 14:07

Sorry that should say
Guarding me when out

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SparklingRaspberry · 09/07/2017 20:06

Do not 'tell her off' that is the worst thing you could do.

Next time you're out and see someone you know with a dog, before even approaching them tell your dog she's a good girl and give her a treat. Keep doing this as you get nearer to the other dog. Don't stop. Praise praise praise. Distract her with treats and praise, and she will soon cop on that she will be rewarded for ignoring.

If you start telling her off you run the risk of encouraging the behaviour. She may pick up on it and think your vibe is because of the other dog that is around you.

Original poster
purple15 · 09/07/2017 21:58

Oh thank you so much for the reply.

I have been doing this to keep her close to me. But when I try to stroke or give treats to the other dog she growls and goes for them.

The dog trainer I spoke to said in a firm voice say no and carry on giving treats and striking. She made it sound so easy and it worked.
All she said was no in a firm voice

OP posts:
Original poster
purple15 · 09/07/2017 21:59

Not striking
Stroking

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SparklingRaspberry · 10/07/2017 16:05

Thing is, usually when praising a dog you do it in a happy/excitable voice (well, I do anyway Grin )

So if you then start telling her 'no' in a very firm voice whilst giving her treats it's gunna confuse her. And from then on whenever you tell her 'no' be it over the field or in the house she's gunna think she's doing something right because she's gunna associate the word 'no' with getting treats.

I've always been taught by trainers to avoid using the word 'no' as it's used too often.

Does your dog know 'leave'? If not, start at home. Put a treat or toy on the floor and have another treat behind your back. As she goes for the toy/treat on the floor tell her to leave - praise and reward when she does! Trust me, after a few of these she will learn.

Then start doing it in the garden where there's destractions. As soon as she leaves whatever object you're telling her to leave, give her lots of praise and reward her.

hopefully once out walking her when you see someone with their dog tell her to leave it and praise her with treats again.

It's all about positive reinforcement. You want to positively praise her for leaving or ignoring another dog/object rather than punish her for reacting to it

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 16:40

Oh thank you so much for your detailed reply. I do say no
Which I will stop doing .
We live near traffic so when crossing roads I say wait in a really firm voice
Because under no circumstances
Can she go on the road and she responds to this
So I need to do this in the garden then move on with it for it to work on other dogs,.

Been for a walk this afternoon and there were six large dogs. My dog was circling and protecting me and every so often seeing them off.

I do want to go back to being able to pet and treat other dogs

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Wolfiefan · 10/07/2017 16:44

Why are you giving treats to other dogs? I would stop it.
She doesn't like being near other dogs. So avoid it. You need to find what she is comfortable with. So seeing dogs in the distance. Let her see them. Focus on you. Treat and walk away.
Her walk isn't about you petting dogs. It's her walk!!

Nancy91 · 10/07/2017 16:52

Mine was like this but is getting better. When another dog is approaching I start telling my dog "good girl" etc, I don't exclusively make a fuss of saying hello to the other dog, I stroke them both at the same time, so now my dog thinks that other dogs approaching us is a good thing and it means she will get a fuss or a treat, so she gets excited about it now rather than jealous.

They are very simple creatures and food can solve most problems for them Grin

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 17:12

All the dog walkers I come in contact with always give out treats. I just thought it was the polite thing to do.

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Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 17:16

Wolfiefan
I have always made my walk end up where there are lots of other dogs for socialisation.
And it is only recently she has started this guarding behaviour.

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Wolfiefan · 10/07/2017 17:42

Treating other dogs could trigger food aggression. Some dogs have allergies. If you keep offering treats they could come flying over to mug you.
Lots of dogs for socialisation? But she doesn't want to socialise. You are putting her in a position she's not happy with. Forcing her into this situation could end up with a fight. Put distance between you and her and what she finds stressful. Work on reducing the stress.

Nancy91 · 10/07/2017 18:17

I agree that you shouldn't give treats to strange dogs without asking but if this is a recent thing then definitely don't start avoiding other dogs, still walk past them etc and give your dog a treat every time you do this, and put on your cheery dog voice. Don't let this become a problem, nip it in the bud.

Is she spayed? That could be very relevant.

EezerGoode · 10/07/2017 18:23

I don't think giving other dogs treats is a good idea...I would be telling you no if you tried to do that to my dog..sounds like a lot of treats as well.ive got mine used to a bit of carrot as a treat.shes half pug.so I don't want her getting fat

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 18:23

They are not strange dogs. They are her friends who she sees every day .

No she isn't spayed.

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roundtable · 10/07/2017 18:24

I'd stop treating other dogs myself and gradually resocialise her with positive behaviour strategies.

I've had to ask my dog walking group to stop giving my pup treats as they were rewarding negative behaviour like jumping up which I don't allow. She was starting to harass one of the owners in particular who was terrible for it. The behaviour has stopped now generally.

roundtable · 10/07/2017 18:30

Not that I'm implying that's what you do, sorry. I just meant, it doesn't really affect anything to not give treats while you work on what's making her anxious.

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 18:35

roundtable
No offence taken. Just really welcoming any advice from as anyexperienced dog owners .

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Wolfiefan · 10/07/2017 18:40

They aren't her friends though. She doesn't like this situation. If you don't listen to her warnings then this could escalate.

villainousbroodmare · 10/07/2017 18:42

Is she on a lead when all of this petting and handing treats to other dogs is happening? It sounds like your frankly excessive encouragement of other dogs to move into her space is upsetting her quite a lot. I see an ugly fight in your future if this continues.

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 18:43

They were her friends and played with them daily from a young puppy.

Do you think this new circling behaviour has changed this .

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Wolfiefan · 10/07/2017 18:45

She's not a child. They aren't her friends. She doesn't like this situation. Stop putting her in it. I agree with villainous.

Original poster
purple15 · 10/07/2017 18:49

Never on the lead
That is why I'm asking for advice
Don't want an aggressive dog
And I don't want a fight.

Think what someone said about food aggression is really true. She is an extremely gready dog.

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Wolfiefan · 10/07/2017 18:58

So stop making her be surrounded by other dogs. She's not happy.

villainousbroodmare · 10/07/2017 18:59

The circling behaviour is your dog expressing extreme discomfort with other dogs moving into her/ your immediate proximity. The growling is her telling them to back off or she will feel forced to bite them. You are misinterpreting all of her fear and distress. If you wanted to create a dog who is defensively aggressive to other dogs on sight, this is how you would do it. It is terribly inappropriate.
Your dog trainer gave you stupid advice. Most dogs on leads don't like to be walked right up to other dogs as they have no freedom to assess each other and respond appropriately. Most trainers would not recommend this. Many owners don't know enough about it to realise what a tricky situation it creates.

villainousbroodmare · 10/07/2017 19:00

Okay good, she's not on a lead, but the rest of my reply stands.