Originally Posted by
Mum To Many
Its a one off, he has never done it before, so we won't be keeping him on the lead, which is why I'm asking for ideas, sensible ones, we don't let our dog/s harrass joggers it was a ONE OFF , please don't put ypur concerns about dogs chasing you on to one incident with my dog, if he was doing it all the time it would be different of course but he has only done it once , hes a rescue dog as is Betty and he has been with us for 16 months, hes 2 years old, so it has never been a problem before and we want to nip it in the bud, but it would be a total overreaction to never let him off the lead.
Actually, BigV does have a point.
The world is full of owners that make well meaning (and what they
believe to be genuine) statements such as "he has never done it before", "it was out of the blue", "its out of character", "its a one off".
But it doesnt alter the risk the dog is posing to others.
And all undesired behaviours start off as one incident.
Under the terms of the Dangerous Dogs Act, your dog could actually get put to sleep if the jogger took it to court - sadly these days, especially Bull breed mixes.
And from the jogger's point of view, as an innocent person going about his own business, it must be quite alarming for a strange dog to be having a go at home.
In both those senses, the one off argument isn't really relevant, and i do feel holding onto that point will only serve to cloud you from not thinking about the gravity of the incident.
But I do respect you for now looking at it seriously enough to be asking for help and advice.
From your information you have given, from your dog's behavioural point of view, it also isnt really a 'one off', as such.
Because you stated he has had an issue with this jogger for a while, so it's a 'progressive problem', not a sudden one off.
It sounds like, in your dog's head, he has been building up to inevitably have a go at this jogger, due to being worried about him for some reason.
You need to examine the whole history from this point of view, asking questions:
1) What is it about this jogger that worries him?
Is it his body language, speed, both?
Has the jogger previously suddenly dashed out in front of him before?
What does she wear? A hooded top?
Is it the jogger's sweaty smell?
Is it at night time?
2) What changes did you notice in your dog the first time you detected he had an issue with this jogger?
What was his body language like?
Did he have ears back? Ears erect?
Tail erect? Tail between legs?
Body stiff? Body sloped?
Eyes fixed/wide/starey?
Ears pricked? Ears down?
Licking of lips? Etc etc
3) What did you do to react to the first times you noticed the issue with the jogger?
Did you ignore it?
Did you make a big fuss and reassure him?
Did you tell him off?
Did you hold a tight tense lead?
Did you let him run closer to the jogger?
Did you put him back on the lead and distract him with treats or toys?
The last one is a good choice. There have been quite a few tips on this thread on how to distract him.
You need to make him feel positive around the jogger, without reassuring (which increases fear in dogs).
This means you need to be alert, but calm and confident.
You also need to combine these tips with putting him on the lead around this jogger, and I would definitely be concerned that this doesnt become a general problem around all joggers, or people in general, as you cannot assume it will just be a one off.
Especially as your partner has told you that he is also barking at our strangers.
Your dog sounds worried and nervous to me, which isnt good.
For that reason, until you understand the problem better, and have sorted out some sort of rehabilitation training, I would take the preventive measure of keeping him on the lead around all joggers (at the least), as half of ALL dog training is to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
Obviously, you and your husband need to be working together consistently.
Q4) would be what are you doing differently to your husband that means your dog behaves worse with him?
I would recommend you google APDT, CFBA, APBC, or UKRCB. for a good behaviourist or trainers in your area to see him out and out and assess him motivations and train you the best way to respond and solve, involving you and your husband.
Other issues like medical and diet and type of exercise could be relevant.
For example, if he has bad shoulders, did the jogger previously knock them? Or does he have a problem with the jogger after his shoulder hurts? ie, negative association and pain reducing his tolerance and making him more grumpy?
Is he on rocket fuel food such as bakers?
and it sounds like his walks are generally focussed around lots of adrenaline inducing running around activity?
This *'could'* keep his arousal levels high, making fear and aggression more likely.
You could incorporate a lot more calming 'brain work' activity, including on the lead, such ask scent-work, clicker training, scatter and find treat games, lots of obedience commands.