Another how’s best to handle this?!

[poiuytrewq]

There’s a guy in the village who has 5 big dogs and a terrier, the terrier is the same age as Cecil and they once played and got on fine. I’m sure the other dogs all used to be ok aswell til recently.
For some reason they have started going beserk when they see me Basil and Cecil (both small)
On a narrow road this is pretty intimidating for me so god knows what it’s like for them!
They are on leads but the guy has to kind of brace himself to keep hold which means we often have little space to pass.
They are not barking hello they sound and look like they want to shred us.
He never tells them off other than a humorous “guys chill not cool”
Up til yesterday we pass with Basil hiding behind me keeping out the way and Cecil his usual waggy self, wants to say hello at first, but realises they don’t so isn’t bothered.
Today he saw them coming. Hackles came up and as we passed, to be fair it only happened after a time of them leaping and yelling but he went back at them (he defo has more faith in his ability than I do taking on that lot!)
I told him off and actually gave him a quick smack, I really don’t want him snarling and snapping at anything ever.
So best way to handle this? I seem to be on the same dog walk time clock in the morning before work. I could skip that walk but that’s unfair and I’m happier going to work knowing they have had a decent walk.
Should I just turn and walk the other way as soon as I see them? Think we did that in puppy classes to avoid confrontation, let them look, turn before they react and praise?
He shocked me a little ?

 

[AmyMay]

Ignore, ignore, ignore. They’re displaying pack mentality. He’s just reacting to what he perceives to be a threatening behaviour.

And yes, just turn in the opposite direction.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I just don’t get why someone has to walk so many dogs when they are obviously having issues.
He continued to grumble at everything round the rest of the walk, a left in the wind was suspicious etc!
Luckily we just met another dog coming back to the house and he was fine ?

 

[AmyMay]

They possibly don’t have issues though.

 

[poiuytrewq]

They possibly don’t have issues though.

Well I count being barely able to hold them as they lunge snarling and barking at people an issue surely? It doesn’t look fun. Even if I see him with out my dogs he is being dragged up the road.

 

[twiggy2]

His response is likely to be nerves, narrow area unable to take the route of avoidance due to being on a lead, if one is hiding behind you he is doing his best to avoid the other dogs, telling them off is likely to make him more nervous and likely start to anticipate a negative experience, you need to have your dogs back and remove them from the situation or avoid it altogether, I would walk a different route in the mornings and avoid the narrow path, reassure your dogs whilst giving them space so they feel comfortable to avoid the reactivity in yours.

 

[MissTyc]

Definitely don't smack him for feeling scared. He's likely not wanting to have a go back at them/take them on/etc, but rather trying to say STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! in his own doggy way. That's actually probably what the other man's dogs are saying too. It sounds like an intimidating and unpleasant situation and one to be avoided if at all possible as your pup will certainly feel increasingly stressed (hence being more jumpy afterwards). If the man is really struggling to hold them, then it's only a matter of time before one gets free somehow. However, he is probably doing the right thing by reassuring his dogs in that moment. Telling them off could make them significantly worse as they will also anticipate the telling off.

Dogs don't have that many different gears for self-expression when they are restrained or in restrictive environments, so it's best to avoid. It is so annoying when your standard walking route is shared with an "enemy dog". We used to meet the same man and his dog every Saturday afternoon, no matter the time, and my terrier clearly decided that we were being stalked and probably attacked and became oddly defensive abuot it.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Well I count being barely able to hold them as they lunge snarling and barking at people an issue surely? It doesn’t look fun. Even if I see him with out my dogs he is being dragged up the road.

That's his problem, though, nothing you can do about it. I would either set off a bit earlier to avoid the pack, or take a different route, to safeguard your and your dogs' enjoyment of your walk

 

[Clodagh]

That's his problem, though, nothing you can do about it. I would either set off a bit earlier to avoid the pack, or take a different route, to safeguard your and your dogs' enjoyment of your walk

I agree with this, perhaps if you change your routine a bit you’ll avoid them. It will long term ruin Cecil’s temperament if he has to continue to see them off for you.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks all.
So I was wrong to tell him off, i feel bad for that, he’s pretty blasé at being told off so it’s not the end of the world I hope.
One getting loose is my worry!
It’s awkward because I can no longer walk the farm at the moment and am starting work earlier than usual hence being a bit tied to a time. It’s actually the road outside my house that we always meet, not a narrow path but it’s single track. I believe he walks them up it to the top and back again so avoiding has been difficult.
I could do crop fields on leads I guess. (Prev post lost Cecil in a fox snare in tall crops- that’s why I’m not currently doing the farm!) My work all changes in a few weeks so we just have to stick it out that long.
Cec is probably feeding off me to an extent because although I don’t think I show it my heart sinks when I see them coming.

 

[poiuytrewq]

His wife has asked me down for a coffee and to let the dogs play in the garden….. ?

They are lovely people but not on your life ?‍. As all probably gathered from past posts about Cecil I absolutely adore that little dog and it would be like throwing him at wolves ?

 

[SusieT]

So just look at this from Basils point of view- He is snarled/barked/growled at by a pack of dogs for a while everytime he meets them. He has wagged his tail, tried to appease them - no joy.
Next time he says actually this is scary, I'm going to make myself big. So I get ready, look big, protect my pack from this threat. Suddenly you tell him off and smack him. Do you think next time he will be more or less anxious? More or less likely to react?

So, next time before you smack him - think if I was shouting at a dog attacking me how would I feel if someone came and punched me for doing that?

What I would do now is next time you see them turn and walk the other way until there is somewhere suitable to pass. Take high value treats/ball with you so you can distract him to concentrate on you rather than anything else. Practice this before you meet them again so he knows you bring good things. Be his protector- make him feel safe and that he doesn't have to be the protector.
If you are having difficulty with reactviity to other dogs get a good positive reinforcmenet trainer- once you know how it is dead easy to redirect that focus but it needs commitment.

nb - the other man so long as his dogs are on a lead is well within his rights to walk them too.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks! As above that’s been pointed out and I’ve said I feel bad. In hindsight yes it’s obvious.
I also know he has every right to walk his dogs and never said he didn’t.

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks! As above that’s been pointed out and I’ve said I feel bad. In hindsight yes it’s obvious.
I also know he has every right to walk his dogs and never said he didn’t.

UI best bet there. A very antagonistic poster.

 

[AmyMay]

Can you not go out for your walk 20 minutes earlier?

 

[twiggy2]

UI best bet there. A very antagonistic poster.

Was a bit uncalled for wasn't it?
OP I am sure Basil will be fine and no lasting repercussions as long as he gets plenty of positive experiences again now.
I would avoid meeting up with them as the jnvite for coffee certainly makes it sound like they don't have a clue.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can you not go out for your walk 20 minutes earlier?

? you’d not believe! I have, this week!
I used to do horses, have coffee with OH and then take them, I’ve started skipping the coffee and taking them half an hour earlier…. He appears to have done the same ?
I’m just going to go back to lead walking on the farm. It’s not forever.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Was a bit uncalled for wasn't it?
OP I am sure Basil will be fine and no lasting repercussions as long as he gets plenty of positive experiences again now.
I would avoid meeting up with them as the jnvite for coffee certainly makes it sound like they don't have a clue.

It’s the wife who asks and to be honest she never walks them, or not that I’ve ever seen, maybe she doesn’t know. In which case she probably thinks I’m just being really rude by never going.

 

[twiggy2]

It’s the wife who asks and to be honest she never walks them, or not that I’ve ever seen, maybe she doesn’t know. In which case she probably thinks I’m just being really rude by never going.

Ah, maybe

 

[dixie]

His wife has asked me down for a coffee and to let the dogs play in the garden….. ?

They are lovely people but not on your life ?‍. As all probably gathered from past posts about Cecil I absolutely adore that little dog and it would be like throwing him at wolves ?

Why don’t you go without Cecil and then you can have a chat about the situation and maybe arrange to walk at different times.
It must be as annoying for him as well - or you would think so anyway.

 

[poiuytrewq]

That might be an idea, maybe next time they mention it, I think it’s actually Cecil not me they want to visit ?
The invites were for him and their JR to play.

 

[Sandstone1]

There’s a guy in the village who has 5 big dogs and a terrier, the terrier is the same age as Cecil and they once played and got on fine. I’m sure the other dogs all used to be ok aswell til recently.
For some reason they have started going beserk when they see me Basil and Cecil (both small)
On a narrow road this is pretty intimidating for me so god knows what it’s like for them!
They are on leads but the guy has to kind of brace himself to keep hold which means we often have little space to pass.
They are not barking hello they sound and look like they want to shred us.
He never tells them off other than a humorous “guys chill not cool”
Up til yesterday we pass with Basil hiding behind me keeping out the way and Cecil his usual waggy self, wants to say hello at first, but realises they don’t so isn’t bothered.
Today he saw them coming. Hackles came up and as we passed, to be fair it only happened after a time of them leaping and yelling but he went back at them (he defo has more faith in his ability than I do taking on that lot!)
I told him off and actually gave him a quick smack, I really don’t want him snarling and snapping at anything ever.
So best way to handle this? I seem to be on the same dog walk time clock in the morning before work. I could skip that walk but that’s unfair and I’m happier going to work knowing they have had a decent walk.
Should I just turn and walk the other way as soon as I see them? Think we did that in puppy classes to avoid confrontation, let them look, turn before they react and praise?
He shocked me a little ?

Smacking him is really not the answer. Turn away avoid them and praise your dog for not reacting.