Little Chauncey is very friendly if initially slightly wary of men. If they take him out anywhere, to the pub for example, he revels in the attention……until another dog enters. Then he quickly morphs into a barking, lunging and snarling little monster!
The way to start changing her reactivity is not by trying to force her into a different behaviour but by addressing the emotion that causes the behaviour – fear. Along with plenty of positive reinforcement.
Other dogs should now only be associated with nice things – comfortable equipment, a loose lead and a happy, relaxed human – and CHEESE. Tilly adores cheese, so cheese could be reserved solely for associating with other dogs until eventually she will be
thinking ‘oh good, a dog, where’s the cheese?’!
What if your dog is too friendly with other dogs rather than frightened of them? Not all dogs like a little dog to rush up to them and jump all over them. So far Milly has come to no harm. Three-year-old Yorkie/Terrier cross Milly is an absolute delight – a Read more
When he’s out, Reuben has a mix of too much freedom – and too much restriction. He has unlimited access to acres of land, often coming back when he feels like it. However, on the occasions he is on lead, the lead is short – and tightened if a dog appears. I personally would be giving ‘more rope’ when walking on lead, along with a lot less freedom to freelance.
He changed vets and medication at the same time as that first move and the new vet flipped him onto his back and pinned him down to examine him. Since this, unsurprisingly, he has also became aggressive and fearful of the vet.
I took him to the front door but only when he was ready to come willingly, and opened it. We didn’t go out immediately – just stood there, waiting for him to relax. The lady and gentleman stayed behind in the hallway, watching.
I then stepped out a couple of steps, turned around with a bit of verbal encouragement and walked straight back in through the door again. I must have done this about ten times. Now Jack was visibly relaxing – particularly as there had been nothing other than a passing car to worry about and he barely looked at it. He was beginning to trust me – just a little.
A dog that is hyped up from the start of the walk, uncomfortable, with tense owner is not in the right state of mind to encounter another dog.
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 Read more