Calming distressed dog

[SirChenjins]

What’s the best way to calm your dog once it’s distressed? There are a couple of collies locally that ChenPup absolutely hates and we usually manage to avoid them on our walks. Unfortunately we came across them on our walk earlier - they were coming onto the woodland trail we were on and were running about mad off lead (didn’t approach ChenPup but did the lie down then running in circles thing that collies do as we went past) and CP was on lead because we were coming off the trail and onto a road. There was nowhere we could go and so I couldn’t redirect him, we were trapped on a narrow path. He was absolutely manic, barking and going crazy so I put down treats to try and distract him, then did a bit of repeated walking/turning to try and calm him. Didn’t really work though ☹️ Is there anything else I can do instead - it must have been very distressing for him.

When they are that worked up they aren't interested in treats. Even my young Lab, when he was being seriously annoyed by a Staffie, wasn't going to take his eye off the other dog to eat a cube of cheese. I was lucky - a bloke came along and drove the other dog away. Not sure what I would do in your situation, but you have my sympathy, especially if it's not a one-off.

No, he was too far gone to focus - I knew as I was scattering them that it was a lost cause but I couldn’t think what else to do in the moment. Just wish the owner had put them back on lead or called them to heel as he’s well aware that ChenPup gets v upset by them - I’ve spoken to him before and he’s actually very nice, I just think he thinks ‘dogs will be dogs’ iykwim.

When my dog gets spooked I always get down to her level, speak in a calm firm voice and give her chest a firm rub. That seems to work for her. Most dogs have spots where a good firm rub is reassuring - our vet showed me that rubbing them just above the eyes often works too. Being on the same level is key though and agree treats won't work if they are spooked.

Sorry about the collie owner. To be fair to him, as you know that circling is what collies do.and most other dogs either ignore it or treat it as in invite to start a game of tag. Mine loves tag but has never play wrestled another dog as many do. If your dog dislikes it and the owner is nice you might just have to say sorry being herded freaks him.out can you put your dogs on lead whilst we go past. With luck they have good recall and he will be aware that not every dog wants to treated like a possible sheep. I am very aware my dog plays really well with other collies, labs, whippets and spaniels but she's rubbish with bull breeds, pointers, or big mastiffs etc who generally just look at her like she's witless if she starts to circle them and lie down. I generally put her on lead near breeds who don't enjoy her style of play to avoid situations.

Thanks for the tip about getting down to his level and giving him a rub - I’ll give that a go. I didn’t want to let him off lead at that point as we were close to the road - I was too worried about him bolting onto it in fright.

I know what you mean, our springer is noise reactive and no amount of clicking that blasted clicker will distract him when he hears a car/child/whisper of a fly's wings 🙄 not even his precious ball. However in the woods he's obsessed with chasing sticks, so a stick will distract him from anything. Is there anything similar you could use to distract him and get his attention onto you? Maybe you could turn around and walk the other way or in a different direction to change focus? Southend dog training reels have similar stuff

We couldn’t walk the other way sadly - he got very distressed very quickly and the path didn’t have anywhere we could divert onto for quite a while. It would just have been a case of walking in front of the collies while they looped around him. Unfortunately he’d lost his ball earlier on the walk so I didn’t have that option either, but tbh I think he was too far gone by that point to be interested in his ball (which he usually loves)

I have a similar issue and feel quite helpless when mine gets absolutely mental like that. I can't just turn and walk away as he lunges and pulls and barks until he can't see them anymore, this can take ages. Nothing seems to work.

You just need to remove them however you can if they are over threshold. They can't learn or hear you. We pick ours up (6 Kg ish) or encourage her away depending on the situation. You can ask for some focus when they've calmed but there is little you can do in the moment.

I would have called out and asked the collie owners to recall their dogs so you could pass as your dog is anxious.

If that's not possible, then short lead and just move away as quickly as you can - they can't learn when they're over threshold so there's no point trying!