|
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11
|
|
Originally Posted by
Tangutica
You also said:
I have 3 comments to make about that statement.
1. How do you define 'normal reaction'? Are you just meaning that there are more dogs she doesn't become aggressive towards than there are those she does? Because it does sound as if your dog has been involved in quite a lot of 'incidents' bearing in mind her young age.
2. What do you mean when you say 'dominant dog'? In what way 'dominant' to yours? Bigger? Noisier? Appeared to SCARE your dog? Attacked your dog? (I don't think it would be that or you'd have said so)
3. What do you mean exactly when you say she 'defended herself'? Barked back? Lunged and appeared that she would attack if you let the lead go? What?
My advice with your dog would still be not to let it off lead where it might meet any of the dogs it has already been involved in scraps and altercations with. And in fact not to let it off the lead among other dogs until you are confident that it will not just take a dislike to one at random and hurtle off to it to have a go. Until you've done a lot more training and got to know it and how it reacts or better still sought the advice of a behaviourist.
Obviously you love your dog and you don't want to be thinking that it is your dog that is the problem. But ask yourself - in comparison to how many times your dog has caused a problem - how many times has yours been attacked without warning?
You've got yourself a dog that a lot of folk are 'scared of' and associate with attack dogs etc. You will have to work double hard to make sure it is well trained and reliable because at the moment it sounds to me as if it is totally unpredictable in its behaviour and you must be taking it out just praying and hoping that you don't run into any of its previous 'victims' (that's how their owners will see them!) or any other dog that it takes a dislike to!
*would just like to add that although you obviously feel bad about keeping your dog on a lead at all times, I don't think your dog will suffer from this. In fact many dogs are never exercised off or allowed off lead at all anywhere - especially if they live in town. Your dog is happy in your company and is happy to be taken out and walked and exercised whether on or off lead. It won't 'suffer' for not being allowed to run free.
Just your own desire to see your dog 'happily running free and having fun' with all the other dogs that are off lead in public places is not really a good enough reason to 'take chances' with it. Not until you are fully confident that it will behave itself and not suddenly take off.
Tangutica,
Again apologises for the long post.
Firstly the 3 incidents Nancy have been involved with are:
1. An American Boxer that jumped right on top of Nancy while they were playing and pinned her to the ground. Nancy didn't like it and reacted to free herself. Its owner said it was their dog's fault as he could get too boisterous. Afterwards both dogs where OK with each other.
2. Another lab who my dog walker was walking together with Nancy. He threw a ball and both dogs went for the ball from opposite directions and met head to head. Lots of snarling and growling no harm done to either dog. Again they went on to continue playing happily.
3 Can't remember the breed. Nancy went over to say hello and the dog snapped at her and she responded. Can't remember whether both dogs off lead or not.
I consider dominant to be where when Nancy approaches a dog when both are off lead and the other dog snarls and intimadates Nancy. Her reaction is to submit by croaching ears back and to then come away.
While Nancy does bark and lunge on the lead her behaviour towards this dog off the lead is considered by everyone that knows her to be totally out of character. Nancy is not a nasty dog.
Nancy is only ever allowed off lead when in a safe place, never near roads, farm animals, kids playing. She doesn't chase runners, joggers or cyclists on or off the lead, She likes to greet people when on her lead but ignors them when off lead. She likes to greet other dogs off lead and will with this exception either play with them if they want to play, go and have a walk and explore with them or if they showno interest leave them alone and come away with me.
I walk Nancy in our local park at a time when other dog owners who like their dogs to ineract with other dogs off lead are out and before owner who prefer to keep their dogs on leads usually walk their dogs.
I know Nancy won't "suffer" by being walked on lead and I know this is a very important part of her training. She is only 22 months and so still a puppy. However dogs are pack animals and the sheer enjoyment they get from playing with other dogs is wonderful to watch and they learn so much more from other dogs then they do from us.
I don't want any dog to be hurt by another dog and true dog fights are unusual. Dogs normally manage to sort out their pecking order without it developing into a serious fight.
Yes GSDs are a breed that a lot of people are scared of. However, this will never change while people are unwilling to get to know them and allow them to interact with their smaller dogs.
Maybe the problems with dogs that are repeatedly attacked is partly to do with the owners? I have met so many owners whose first words are "my dog doesn't like big dogs" only to watch as their dog then promptly starts a game of chase with Nancy! Sometimes owners can cause problems too.
I have no intention of going out of my way to meet the dog Nancy doesn't like. However, I will be addressing her behaviour on the lead which could be a protection issue and therefore my fault.
I hope that dog doesn't keep om being attacked, however maybe seeing if it still happens when someone else walks the dog might give a clue as to whether it is owner driven or somehing else. Just an idea.