What to do? - from a training point of view.

[Vicki1986]

What should i do in this scenario... My 9 month pups confidence has come along LOADS recently he is like a different dog since the sun has come out !! I feel now he is ready to go to some training classes this summer and there is some starting in july which i'm hoping to get along to - before now it really would not have been fair to take him into a room full of strange people and dogs it would have petrified the life out of him.

Dog is off lead, he is happily bouncing along, he's been playing with some terrier type dogs and met some people etc.

Get round corner and see a gun dog off lead playing ball about 30metres away.

I kept my dog off lead as gun dog was distracted by the game so thought not going to be a prob.

However my dog decided he was feeling rather brave and barked, wagging his tail and initated play from a distance [i really do not think he fully realised the size of gun dog, it was huuuge, and this is what he fears most, big dogs!!]

gun dog full gallop comes to play but my dog cacks his pants and runs off - so a game of chase ensue's however my dog is not playing he is terrified and screaming his head off doing laps off the park at lightening speed.

I kept calling him back but he was in blind panic and all to no avail.

What should i be doing in this sort of situation as obviously its not the first or last time this has happened and its not helping his fear of big dogs?

Rocky is one of those dogs who is can be meek on the lead but has soon as you let him off seems much braver - and as he is obedient - apart from when in a blind panick - i usually let him off in safe areas. Should i just automatically put him on the lead anytime i see a big dog off lead?

As i've said i will be seeking professional help soon i would just like to hear some opinions to help me in the mean time as i'm in a bit of a quandry about what to do for the best. I don't want to pander to him and make him a fearful dog, but he is very small so i do need to think practically to some degree.

 

[sloulou]

Sounds like he needs to socialise with some nice friendly quiet big dogs? Do you know anyone who has any? Then you could try introducing them while the big dog is on the lead and yours is off lead? somewhere that is neutral ground? then let them both off?

I think the first thing would be to find a nice quiet big dog that is friendly... so he gets used to having nice experiences with bigger dogs?

CALA will have more advice

 

[ihatework]

I'd probably pop him on the lead around big dogs but maybe ask the owner if their dogs are friendly and gentle and if they would mind them being introduced carefully

 

[CAYLA]

Agree wih WIDGET...he needs to get his confidence up in a smaller confined safe place with friendly well socialised dogs.

This is the scenario I described in the dogs of lead discussion...re a scared dog scarpering off at great speed....this is not a problem that only your dog suffers..this is a very common problem....it must be bloody terrifying for a small/less confident dog to see a dog of any size come running full pelt towards them from a distance...not knowing what there intentions are

This is a reason I always put my dogs on the lead....I would fel very bad if my dogs come running over to yours and yours did a runner...nothing worse...even if they are friendly and wanted to meet and greet....and it's only natural for the chaser to keep on chasing...making the situation worse.

Always get your little pooch on a lead until you get to a safe distance where a meeting does not involve a distance that gives the other dog to have a good run at yours.
I would sh1t myself if a big fella or anyone for that matter come running at me like a looney

take her/him to the training classes like you have planned and get her/him mixing with the bigger dogs.
But do not worry about the behaviour she displays as a safety mechanism when a dog comes bounding over to her/him...it's very normal...this is the reason I get my puppies on a lead if I see other dogs, I don not want them scared whitless by a free running looney dog

One thing I can say...is don't fuss or pander to her/him when she displays insecure behaviour....don't carry her/him or allow her to hide under you..just walk on as usual and dont give her/him any anxious signals

Good luck

 

[Vicki1986]

ok thanks for the advice all, CALA thats what breeder said in any situation he is getting nervous just be calm and firm and not fuss him so i have been carrying on with that from a small puppy. Ok will pop him on lead when see big dogs off lead, and search for a quiet big dog, all the ones i know are fairly boisterous, might ask breeder if we can go back to her house as she has big rottie that he grew up around.