Two nights ago, my two were both on lead, just me handing them, and were going crazy with the snow, plus seeing lots of their long-lost (human) friends from last winter that are turning up again. A couple I hadn't seen yet, who also have a dog, came out of their place as I was walking past, so I stopped to say hi. Their dog came over and so chaos ensued with me trying to keep two leads from tripping me up as I simultaneously tried to avoid standing on any one of three dogs. W&S were also going mad over the guy, who thinks he's Dr Dolittle because all the dogs love him - which obviously has nothing to do with the treats he's always doling out! So, you can imagine the picture. Jumping up, tangled, not listening to anything. Just chaos. I dropped Willow's lead because I was too tangled, at which point, she jumped into the open boot of their car to try to get to the shopping bags of food in there. ARGH!!! The guy said, "So, training's going well, then?" I could have slapped him. Fast forward to this morning. I was walking up the road with Shadow, after a training session, and he was walking beautifully to heel. I noticed them coming towards me, down the street, so I thought, "this'll show you". Shadow also saw them and moved a couple of steps ahead, so I stopped briefly, he trotted back into place and we carried on, until we were nearly at them. I stopped, Shadow sat without me saying anything (when he's walking at heel, me stopping is his cue to sit at heel), and he just looked at them whilst we exchanged initial pleasantries. I then released him to "say hello", which he did beautifully. I then walked away, grinning, and Shadow got an extra big breakfast
I'm gushy with them today Just been on a lovely walk, where they stayed super close the whole time (in exchange for lots of treats and playing fun games in the snow). We were just on the home straight, about 150m from home, when I spotted the two village dogs that I really don't like, between me and home. With one dog, I might walk past them, because I can keep myself between one of mine and those two, but I wasn't prepared to risk it with both of mine, so I turned back the way I had come and went on a kilometre detour up the mountain. I got about 150m up the hill and let W&S off their leads - no way would they turn back for the dogs. Then, we walked past some other, kennelled, dogs, who barked at mine. That alerted the two nasty ones, who belted towards us. Oh. My. Days. With Shadow being protective of Willow, this could kick off big time and I'm all alone with four dogs - two of which are about twice the size of mine. But! Yey! Shadow came to me when called, instead of engaging, and I managed to hook his collar. I then did what I would never do with mine, made myself as big as possible (which still isn't very big, but hey ho), took a really assertive step towards them - just the one, because I was holding the collar still! - and shouted GRRRRRRRR!!!!! GET AWAY!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! at the other two. That stopped them right in their tracks. W&S looked completely shocked, having never heard me be like that before, heh. Willow got behind me and Shadow seemed quite happy to be there, too. The others backed away, so I started striding away from them, with my two following. I let go of Shadow and he trotted happily of in the direction we were going. The two dogs followed us a little, but again I turned, stepped towards them and shouty-growled. W&S stayed right behind me, without me holding on to them. I don't like being nasty to other dogs, but I was really scared about what I would do if anything started. I'm so proud that W&S stayed behind me and trusted me to take care of it. And I'm glad it worked!
Well I say well done!! I'm afraid I'm very protective of my boys and other dogs who are getting growly get short shrift from me. It's for their owners to socialise and train their dogs. Mostly I stick to a loud "That'll do" or if I'm very cross a "What do you think you're doing" while looming over them. This usually brings the owners rushing and apologising to sort things out which is all I'm after really, them taking responsibility for their own dogs
These dogs are really unpleasant. They're either shut in the back of the owner's pickup all day, or let roam loose. He was nowhere to be seen. It drives me mad. Especially when other people then have a pop at me about dog poo on the roads - I always pick up, but I get the stick for things done by the likes of his dogs! Grumble, grumble.
Phew!! Good one, Fiona! Scary situation tackled with great success. You should be proud of yourself and the pooches!
