We've all had it... the dreaded "don't worry! My dog is friendly!"... The slow saunter as you desperately try to keep your frightened dog away from the boisterous stranger dog. And most likely the lack of apology as they finally get a hold of their dog and walk away. Meanwhile, you know the rest of your walk is going to be spent trying to calm your dog down.
So next time you encounter this, here are some tips.
The biggest tip I can give you is to be alert.
Yes, I understand that you should be able to relax on your walks. I understand that you shouldn’t have to be on the look out, and that your dog is being good.
But this is life, and we all make mistakes. Perhaps the other dog slipped their collar or the owner dropped the lead. Perhaps it’s the dog’s first time off lead and up until now the dog has been great at recall. And of course, we have all met the owners that just don’t care! Nevertheless, we must try to be understanding.
It is better to be proactive rather than reactive. If you are aware of the environment, you’ll be able to predict other dog’s behaviour and deal with it in advance, rather than it being too late and the other dog is already all over yours.
2. Shout to the other owner.
Tell the other owner as soon as you see their dog coming towards you, giving them more time (and therefore more success) to call their dog.
But! Don’t say things like “my dog isn’t friendly” or “my dog is in training”. With this, you’ll simply get a reply of “don’t worry, MY dog is friendly!” Or at best, they’ll call their dog but with not much effort or hurry.
Instead, yell “my dog is contagious!” This is sure to get them to call their dog quickly!
3. Teach “get behind”
This is a cue where you can teach your dog to get behind you and therefore away from the other dog. It will allow you to handle that other dog much more safely with your dog out of the way.
4. Treats!
The friendliest technique to get the other dog away is to grab a big handful of treats, and throw them right at the other dog, in the hopes that they choose the treats over your dog. Try to aim the treats right at them, as it is likely they will be so focussed on the other dog they won’t see or even smell treats nearby.
Before you try this method, ensure your dog is behind you otherwise they too may go for the treats, and that could cause a whole other problem!
5. An alternative solution could be to pop open an umbrella.
It only needs to be small and lightweight and you can easily pop it in a treat bag / bum bag so you don’t get funny looks in the middle of summer! Ideally, the umbrellas with a button to pop it open work best so you aren’t fiddling around with a lead in your hand.
Use the umbrella in a defensive but kind manner, simply holding it at floor level so the dog cannot access you or your dog.
If you choose to use this method, ensure that you practise a few times without another dog so that your dog isn’t frightened of an umbrella suddenly popping open near them.
6. Contact a positive reinforcement training for further help!
If you would like assistance with your dog's behaviour on lead, get in contact! You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, or you can email me! You can also book in for a free call on this link: https://calendly.com/muckypupsdogtraining/free-discovery-call
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