Recent content by Chris J

Thank you all for your kind words. I have been looking after a friends dog for the last couple of weeks which has been very nice for me to restore some confidence in myself. I would like to share with you all a good example of how judgemental people can be with this sort of thing, someone...

I am afraid that last week I euthanased my dog, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was done kindly without a struggle, with compassion and dignity. I now spend several hours a day crying, I know I have done the right thing but it doesn't make it easy. Next week I'll scatter his...

Thank your for your enlightened reply CaveCanem. I understand why people do say things like "I had this dog and I did that and now he/she is fine". I work ad an animal rescue centre and all the volunteers like to say how wonderful they are with dogs, how they all like them and such and such...

It sounds to me like you have been on a similar journey yourself. There is a well known saying "Wisdom begins with the words I don't know". Your tone throughout this thread in all your posts has been non judgemental and compassionate. I respect that, I am going to give him another couple of...

I'm going to let you in on a secret about some security firms and the way they treat their dogs. This is a first hand account of what I saw in my youth at a vacated building. I had decided to go into this large derelict mansion one evening with some friends confident that I would be able...

I do train off leash with a couple of strangers in a field, it is interesting. He tends to charge at the stranger, usually jumping up. He is muzzled of course. Although this is OK with people, using a stooge dog in this way would be most unfair on the stooge. He is generally less reactive...

You see a well trained protection dog shoud be aproachable with the handler present. I have personal expirence with an ex-police dog and his handler, they are trained to greet in 2 ways, the usual sit whilst my head is patted way and the intimidating barking way. I had the stange experience of...

To answer a few more of your questions. Approach dogs in curves, I use a head halter to direct attention and not let him get locked into a fixed stare. We have tried a thunder shirt too (the t-shirt someone mentioned) and also calming caps. He will tolerate the calming cap in the crate in...

CaveCanem In answer to your question he is a Tervuren, Several trainers have seen him and all have said he is the worst they have ever seen, he is a lot better than he was when I got him. I am afraid that this one is not so simple as channelling he drive, my last Border Collie was a case...

I am in the same situation with my Belgian Shepherd except he is people reactive too. I didn't create this behaviour, I have done so much learning to try to help him but am coming to the same conclusion as you, it is really tough. I don't envy you at all my advice is this don't let anyone...