I am just back from an enjoyable visit. I will call the lady Sally.
She has two entire male Rhodesian Ridgebacks – big dogs and a lot of testosterone!
On edge
They are well behaved and friendly in the house on the whole, though because of their size visitors may find them intimidating.
In company Sally is constantly on edge, keen that her lovely dogs don’t let her down.
Sally had Weston as a puppy three years ago, and then a year later she got another puppy – Sidney. Where Weston was a cooperative, gentle natured giant, Sidney has been the opposite from the start. He is highly strung and restless, and cries when Sally is out of sight. It just shows how two dogs of the same breed can be so very different.
The trouble is that now Sidney is mature, he’s leading Weston astray too.
Outside in the garden there is a lot of barking – initiated by Sidney. Weston seldom used to bark before.
When they see another dog
Sally’s problems are mainly out on walks, and especially when they see another dog. Both dogs pull and bark. Sally is slight in build and no match for the two dogs who she physically restrains by their collars and could so easily pull her over.
Sidney’s hackles go up. If he off-lead he would dominate and maybe bite other dogs.
Back to basics
So, it’s the same story as with many of my clients, going back to basics. Showing the owners how to teach their dogs that if they want to progress forward, it will only happen on a loose lead.
There is a direct correlation between dogs, tense on tight leads held by a tense human, being constantly corrected, and being reactive to other dogs. Dogs walking calmly on a loose lead are more likely to be chilled on seeing another dog.
Sally’s work will take time and patience, but will be well worth it in the end.
My clients that succeed are those who are consistent, where everyone who walks the dog is using the same approach, and who are prepared for it to take as long as it takes.
Sally has previously taken the view, which is opposite to my own, that exercising a dog for a sufficient number of hours will eventually calm him down; with Sidney the excessive exercise is proving to have the opposite effect, that of over-stimulating him.
