omg, I just took Bonnie out for a lead walk, and she completely lost the plot, started jumping up at me, snapping at my arms, totally over threshold. She’s 11 months old, has just been spayed, has her stitches out tomorrow, so she’s been confined to short lead walks for a few days, (no walking at all for 7 days). So I can understand she’s frustrated with me for having to stay on the lead around the pavements, no running loose in the forest, but she just went totally bonkers. I can home in tears, I feel bruised all up my arms and hands, shocking. My back and my arms are aching where she pulled so much. I think I’ll be black and blue tomorrow. We got home and as we walked in she did it again, so Ive put her in her crate to chill out. When we were on the walk she pulled the whole way, my hands hurt from rope burn off the lead. When she did this I tried to walk her quickly to sort of walk her out of the tantrum, but she kept jumping and getting her leg tangled round the lead, such a nightmare, so I had to keep stopping to sort that out, which meant she’d go for me even more! Oh I’ve come home so upset. Should I have dealt with it differently?
Hi Caro A, it must have been very distressing for you and your dog. My sympathies. I would like to focus on what you might do when you take her out next. I would purchase a cotton lead rather than rope. It would be a lot easier on your hands if she should start pulling. Second, carry a rope tug toy to direct her biting to the toy rather than you. Third, ask your vet when she can go on a long line. Take a ball with you and play with her so that she has an opportunity to expend some of her frustration and energy. There is also an entry on this site on boisterous behaviour. It might prove useful to read the entry for an account of why she resorted to such behaviour, and suggested handler approach.
I can see how upsetting that is. @selina27 went through something similar with her dog about a year ago - and she has come through and so will you. She might be around to give you some advice. In your case I suspect it's mainly frustration due to limited exercise and hopefully things will improve once you can get back to some off-lead forest time.
Thank you, hubby just took her out and she did the same to him too, actually probably worse as he's come home covered in scratches with his tshirt torn, looks like he's been walking a lion! I'm seeing the vet tomorrow when she has her stitches out, i will ask if the spay can cause some kind of hormonal meltdown...?? I know she's frustrated with being on the lead, but her behaviour today has been so appalling i'm now worried about letting her off! She used to do this months ago, but we thought we'd moved on from this horrible behaviour. I think she desperately needs an off lead run around, with games and throwing etc, too much pent up energy. I will let you know what they say, thanks for your advice.
I think it can do, depending on what part of the cycle the spay took place in, if the hormone levels drop suddenly. but I'm sure your vet will be able to tell you. Yes, @Joy is right, I did have trouble like this with Cassie, and yes we have got though it, these days I can't believe it ever happened. It might be worth asking your vet if they can recommend a behaviourist.
Hi, We've had the same thing with our Barney. We found 2 techniques that help- 1. If both of us are there - the one not holding his lead walks ahead and he normally settles and wants to catch up after a bit. 2. if I'm on my own I stop and hold his harness so that he is held against my legs. Again after a bit he settles. Sometimes need to repeat a couple of times!! Hope that helps.
Hi Yes the vet said that she will be having a hormonal adjustment at the moment, but to expect her to settle down a little over the next few weeks. But also, once her stitches were out the vet gave us the all clear for a decent walk, so we took her straight away, she had a nice run around and then some time on the lead to walk home, and my goodness she was like a different dog. She walked to heal really nicely, then in the evening at home she was a pleasure to have around. Since Monday I have noticed that she seems to have moments as a real calm softee, and then is really wired. I guess it’s really quite a big deal to upset your hormones so drastically, and she is slightly unbalanced still. But she definitely benefitted from getting back to proper excersise, that’s for sure.
