I'm sure this is a problem that most people have (or have had) so I wondered what other people usually do. If I see a dog a long way off (like across a field), I can call Lottie and she will usually come (if she hasn't also spotted the dog). Then I have the option of putting her on a lead and being dragged along until we get close enough to see if the dog and owner are amenable to a bouncy puppy jumping all over them or watching helplessly as she hares over to have a play. If she's on the lead she ignores all commands like 'watch me' or offers of treats etc, if she's off the lead, she ignores all commands to come back. I'm happy to put her on the lead if the other dog/owner are close but if they're quite a way away I have been letting her run over to see them rather than have my arms pulled out of their sockets. There haven't been any bad experiences yet but I do feel somewhat out of control. We are working through Total Recall, but haven't got on to proofing with other dogs yet. At the moment I find it hard to believe that she will come back if she's in mid-flight to see another dog but perhaps miracles can happen!
Re: Dogs in the distance... I have taught mine to stay within 20 metres of me. I don't put them on lead if I see a dog, I let them go and greet - but only when the dog comes within the 20 metres. Because they know that greeting and playing are allowed they are happy to wait. The way I taught this is by doing lots of hiding and about turn walks which has caused them to keep an eye on me at all times, even when hoolying about. They can't be sure I won't just disappear! I didn't think it would work with Gypsy as her attachment to me is nothing like as strong as Tatze's - but it did If the oncoming dog is on the lead I put my two on lead, as you never know the reason they are on lead - they could be needing to take it easy after an op etc.
Re: Dogs in the distance... I don't think dogs should be allowed to run over to other dogs - although I appreciate that most dogs do (and my dog was an absolute horror for running over to other dogs when he was younger) and usually no harm comes of it But, in an ideal world, your dog wouldn't do this, for quite a few reasons: the other dog might not like your friendly, bouncy Labrador charging up - not all dogs do the other dog might be injured and the owner is trying to keep it quiet the other owner might be training or doing something with their dog and they don't want to be interrupted the other dog might be aggressive if the other dog is on a lead it is very, very bad manners to allow your dog to jump round a person managing a dog on lead I try to have my dog stay with me unless I say "go free" - even when he is "free" though, he keeps within about 20m and doesn't tear off to other dogs. I will tell him to go free (and play) if another dog comes close to us and I think the dog has appropriate body language and is likely to be friendly. It is difficult to recall a dog who is running at speed away from you. A stop whistle is easier, I think. But your first line of defence, I think, is to train your dog not to leave you in the first place - this is much more effective than allowing your dog to constantly run to other dogs and then using your recall (I think this is the fastest way to ruin a recall - use it a lot to call the dog away from things it wants to do). Training your dog not to leave you involves you being interesting. Playing games, and rewarding your dog for staying with you. And you should think about managing your dog so it doesn't run over to other dogs, as this will defeat your training to have it stay with you and so yes, a lead or a long line helps you with this. The most effective way to train control around other dogs is to find a class or an instructor with dogs that will allow you to be in control of distance etc. while you practice. It's quite difficult doing this out on walks.
Re: Dogs in the distance... I find that where we live, on walks, people are relaxed about dogs greeting and playing. For example - this morning my two played with four collies, five labs and a puppy cocker spaniel, 21 weeks awwwwh! . All off lead, all we met coming towards us. They also met several other dogs who they didn't play with - because the other dogs didn't want to play. Two who just wanted to play ball with their owner, two grumpy terriers and an old ploddy beagle. I don't need to then tell mine to come with me where I'm going - they just do. My two speak 'dog' very well and if a dog signals it doesn't want to play, then they don't even try. They are fine with snappy, snarly dogs too - they just ignore them and walk on by. I think they speak dog well because they have met so many (we have lots of doggy walking reservoirs, woods and rivers round here)
Re: Dogs in the distance... I am wary of other dogs (but not in a nervous way) and usually check out the body language of the owner as much as the dog's. I am particularly wary of dogs on leads and will call out to ask if it's ok for Chepi to go over to it, or I ask if they are training. I tend to watch Chepi all of the time even if I am saying hello to another dog owner. I was always like that at play group when my children were small! I suppose I have come a long way since our first walks last summer - yay 8), then I just went by instinct but usually let Chepi go up to any dog, not wise really.
Re: Dogs in the distance... I'm afraid I'm a bit of a grump if dogs charge up - I'm always doing something with my dog, and I just don't want another dog barging in, distracting Charlie (he is perfectly friendly and more than willing to play, it's just I don't always want him to play, I try to walk away with him but it's difficult with other peoples' dogs bouncing round...). And I absolutely hated it when he was on lead and recovering from injury. I try to be a polite grump though. I think I owe other dog walkers a billion run ups (like I say, Charlie was an absolute horror when he was younger) so don't feel I can complain now, really. But I don't like it at all....
Re: Dogs in the distance... We are lucky like Mags. Most dogs walk off lead along our walks. H usually trots along 5-15 meters in front of me. I find when dogs are free to read each other's mood and to greet freely there is less trouble maybe it's because these dogs are more trusted to be friendly by their owners. If I see a dog on lead coming towards us I usually slip his lead back on! I know it's being judgmental but there are certain type of dog that I'd be more inclined to put his lead back on than others Occasionally I've had a lady go "Shoo, shoo!" When H is sniffing the bottom of little fluffy Fido, I get his attention and jog on a bit so he follows on.
Re: Dogs in the distance... [quote author=Jes72 link=topic=10282.msg151031#msg151031 date=1426948852] If I see a dog on lead coming towards us I usually slip his lead back on! [/quote] So do I. There are many, many reasons why a dog may be on lead. Only one of which involves aggression. Fluffy Fido's are usually the snappiest! JulieT - we occasionally come across someone who has a dog off lead, but is training them. If we do I slip the leads on my two. But, as a rule I enjoy a relaxed walk when the dogs are having a free run. Training is what we do in shopping centres and on buses etc
Re: Dogs in the distance... I do appreciate that most people think it's fine for dogs to run up to other dogs - it's normal, that's why it happens to me so much! And, like I say, my dog used to be a horror for it (so huge slack needed for people with young dogs, from me, anyway although I never thought it was ok). It is weird though. People wouldn't dream of interrupting me - a complete stranger - if I were reading a book, or sunbathing, or doing yoga or anything else I might care to do (and indeed people doing those things on the Common are generally left alone). It would be very rude for them to walk up, say, and slam their hand down on my book, saying "I'd like to play with you". But if I'm training my dog, it's fine...apparently! And if I try to disengage the dogs, usually say "awww....they just want to play!".
Re: Dogs in the distance... [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10282.msg151008#msg151008 date=1426939250] My two speak 'dog' very well and if a dog signals it doesn't want to play, then they don't even try. They are fine with snappy, snarly dogs too - they just ignore them and walk on by. I think they speak dog well because they have met so many (we have lots of doggy walking reservoirs, woods and rivers round here) [/quote] Oooh to have such a dog… it would be a dream! Maisie is gradually getting better and better about other dogs, but she needs a lot of help to speak "dog" and has a hard time reading the "I don't want to play" signals. So I have to constantly police her interactions, which is quite tiring! But she is getting better. Maybe a month or two ago, she would immediately leap up on the other dog's head to have a sniff (with her two front paws on their shoulders/head).. this is quite off-putting to any dog to do at the start, even if they're friendly! She is very good about doing a nice proper sniff now before she starts trying to play. We're working on calm walk bys and trying to learn that an on leash walk is not the time/place to play with another dog. We don't have nearly as many off leash dog spaces as those of you in the UK seem to. There are designated dog parks of different levels of business, but otherwise, your dog is meant to be on a lead at all times. Of course you get the horrid owners who don't put their dog on a leash just on the regular side walks next to a road AND let the dog trot way ahead of them so often Maisie and I are walking on a leash, as we'r emeant to, and a dog is trotting up, absolutely zero sign of its owner. I don't mind dogs hoolying up to us when we're in the off leash dog park area, because that's the type of area it is… but on the road, it's very irritating.
Re: Dogs in the distance... I'm a grump about this too I too think it's really unwise, and rude, to let your dog run up to another dog that is on a lead or is off lead in the distance. Julie has listed all the reasons why. That other dog might need space and your dog's 'friendly' approach might totally stress it out. If that happens, unfortunately it's your fault, not the other dog's fault. Also, don't let your pup/dog drag you anywhere - especially not towards a massive reward like another dog to say hi to. That's unfortunately an effective way to train your dog to pull on lead. I'd put a lot of effort into training a 'look at me' response in non distracting environments, starting at home indoors, so that eventually you can get her attention away from distractions like other dogs. You will need to gradually build up to that though, slowly increasing the distraction factor
Re: Dogs in the distance... [quote author=Oberon link=topic=10282.msg151096#msg151096 date=1426965858] Also, don't let your pup/dog drag you anywhere - especially not towards a massive reward like another dog to say hi to. That's unfortunately an effective way to train your dog to pull on lead. [/quote] Ugh this reminds me of yesterday when my dog and the landlord's dog met as we were coming and going. I allowed a quick meet, a bit of a polite play, then the play turned chompy (they can't seem to play nice together for very long) so I was like, well, we'll get going. Get Maisie a bit away, Maisie is sitting/lying down to see if that behaviour works to get her another play. That's fine, we want to go inside anyways once the other dog is gone. My landlord can't seem to pull her dog away and instead lets the dog pull her over to us… DESPITE me saying we were done, moving away, etc… I just wanted to ask her what she thought she was teaching her dog - like, does she not realize that teaches her dog that if she wants to go to something, pull as hard as you can and that results in you getting where you want? I mean… I feel stupid too when I walk somewhere and Maisie is pulling to go see someone on the street and I stop every time she pulls and wait for a slack leash, then start walking again, and get 1-2 steps before we have to start again, but that's what you have to do.
Re: Dogs in the distance... I don't let my dog say hello on lead - it's just clearer for him. He used to be a nightmare on his lead, and he is still not great now going by other dogs - nothing dramatic, just will go to the end of his lead and look very hopeful - so I just think it is best to have a clear, straightforward rule. No saying hello on lead. I find myself saying "no, we won't say hello" a lot and "NO, WE WON'T SAY HELLO" quite a lot too...
Re: Dogs in the distance... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10282.msg151114#msg151114 date=1426970013] I don't let my dog say hello on lead. [/quote] Same here. They don't speak DOG well on lead, dogs use their whole body to 'speak' and the lead restricts them. I have a strict 'no talking on lead' policy, which is re-enforced at our training classes where the dogs are expected to ignore each other.
Re: Dogs in the distance... Bella's only 6 months nearly but she wants to say hello to every dog we see so if I don't distract her before she sees the dog, off she goes, couple of times she will come away when called , rare , but did happen twice but usually she wants to go say hello. I don't mind when other dogs come say hi either but she is a pup and I want her to meet as many dogs as possible. Although lead does go in if I see another dog on lead. Just out of interest is it lots of 'focus on me ' training to ultimately achieve this?
Re: Dogs in the distance... 'Focus on me' is most definitely a good friend in this kind of situation And, after that, 'look at that dog but then immediately focus back on me'. Roast chicken is also your friend here
Re: Dogs in the distance... [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10282.msg151169#msg151169 date=1427011519] [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10282.msg151114#msg151114 date=1426970013] I don't let my dog say hello on lead. [/quote] Same here. They don't speak DOG well on lead, dogs use their whole body to 'speak' and the lead restricts them. I have a strict 'no talking on lead' policy, which is re-enforced at our training classes where the dogs are expected to ignore each other. [/quote] Maisie has very very few opportunities to visit with dogs *off* lead - would you still suggest no saying hi on lead at all?
