Today puzzle decided to snap at another dog when it came towards us, it had a pass by sniff of the treat but nothing else. Puzzle thought that this deserved a telling off with an 'air bite' is what i would call it, no growling just an air bite. Other possible reasons are that it was a german shepherd and seems to have a hatred of them for some reason as she will come running back to mummy when she meets one off lead. This incident happened on lead as the other dogs owner had 2 other dogs with him that he put on lead when he saw us so to respect him i put her on lead as well. First time she has ever done this to any dog except when been in the back of the car, which is fine as she regards the car as her own territory which is fair enough, she gives warning growls and snarls at passing dogs when boot is open, barley is the same so no worries about that as he most likely has taught her how to do it.
Re: Snapped at another dog So she had a treat and another dog approached? For her to give a warning growl/snap isn't unusual in those circumstances...
Re: Snapped at another dog Obi has a thing about German Shepherds too. Something about them.... I really wouldn't be worried but I would still be proactive in clicking and treating for quiet tolerance when another dog hoves into view. Doesn't hurt to take the initiative to create strongly positive associations around other dogs
Re: Snapped at another dog I have a dog who isn't keen on other dogs being in her face. Could you ditch the treats til other dog had moved on? The reason I say this is that she could be thinking that the other dog is going for the treat too. If there were no treats around would she have reacted like this? I would keep treats in your pocket, maybe keep one hand in your pocket and make Puzzle look at you and just walk on past the other dog. Treat when you have gone past. If my girl is being hassled by another dog, in a jolly voice I tell my girls to come on and we move away from situation. Being on the lead definitely makes the situation worse although I know you did it as the other dogs were put on. My WCS air snaps at other dogs if they won't leave her alone! I don't worry as when she is trying to get away from a dog and is running with tail between her legs she needs some way of telling them to LEAVE ME ALONE!! Hope this helps. Chloe
Re: Snapped at another dog If Puzzle was on a lead she may have felt threatened by the other dog. Lady is really mild mannered but occasionally has a "go" if she meets an in your face other dog also on a lead. I think it's just putting plan B into operation where plan A is be submissive and plan B is get in first because flight isn't possible because she's on a lead. Shouldn't worry about it I think it's pretty normal.
Re: Snapped at another dog Quite a few dogs don't like others being 'in their face', especially bouncy ones. Tatze gets quite a few warnings because of this, but that is all they are imo - warnings to behave!
Re: Snapped at another dog Really useful replies. Charlie has never done anything like this - he has never snapped or growled at another dog, and I'd be a bit alarmed if he did (maybe just because I think it's unusual rather that it actually is unusual, given the replies). I like Rachael's suggestion or rewarding for being tolerant of other dogs though, I think that sounds a sensible precaution.
Re: Snapped at another dog I agree with Rachael, we treat for positive behaviour around other dogs and I guess that is a bit of BATing ???. Annabelle, it might be useful for your training to look at Jen's BAT tips they really have helped us. Charlie doesn't like dogs in his face no more than I would like anyone getting in my face. Keep going x
Re: Snapped at another dog Riley is sometimes on the receiving end of a growl or an air snap as he's a bit pushy I generally don't worry about it as long as the dog telling him off leaves him once he behaves himself. This is totally different to the incident when he got bitten as those dogs rushed up to him and weighed straight in ignoring his appeasing signals.
Re: Snapped at another dog Thank you for the replies [quote author=Lisa link=topic=6090.msg79567#msg79567 date=1400546081] So she had a treat and another dog approached? For her to give a warning growl/snap isn't unusual in those circumstances... [/quote] no she had not been given a treat before hand. Barley is protective of his treats and will snap at other dogs if they have a sniff of them but we can't stop him from doing that as he was brought up to fend for his own food and guard it, he rarely snaps at other dogs now as we are much more careful. [quote author=Oberon link=topic=6090.msg79575#msg79575 date=1400548291] Obi has a thing about German Shepherds too. Something about them.... I really wouldn't be worried but I would still be proactive in clicking and treating for quiet tolerance when another dog hoves into view. Doesn't hurt to take the initiative to create strongly positive associations around other dogs [/quote] We have been doing that anyway as she had started to get into the habit of jumping up every time she see's a dog so we are trying to break that habit by rewarding her for calm meetings of other dogs with a click and treat when the other dog has moved on. [quote author=rubyrubyruby link=topic=6090.msg79581#msg79581 date=1400566724] Could you ditch the treats til other dog had moved on? The reason I say this is that she could be thinking that the other dog is going for the treat too. If there were no treats around would she have reacted like this? I would keep treats in your pocket, maybe keep one hand in your pocket and make Puzzle look at you and just walk on past the other dog. Treat when you have gone past. [/quote] treats are always kept in a treat bag that is on my bum belt (bat belt as dad refers to it) and is always shut when i don't have my hand in there as she will try to stick her head in there and steal treats if i am not careful. I could not survive on a walk with her without treats, treats are desperately needed for rewarding good heelwork and recall away from exciting things. [quote author=David link=topic=6090.msg79593#msg79593 date=1400569258] If Puzzle was on a lead she may have felt threatened by the other dog. Lady is really mild mannered but occasionally has a "go" if she meets an in your face other dog also on a lead. I think it's just putting plan B into operation where plan A is be submissive and plan B is get in first because flight isn't possible because she's on a lead. Shouldn't worry about it I think it's pretty normal. [/quote] She is a very submissive dog by nature, most of the time she rolls over when a dogs says hello to her, and that is on and off lead. This is the first time she has done this. [quote author=Boogie link=topic=6090.msg79598#msg79598 date=1400569989] Quite a few dogs don't like others being 'in their face', especially bouncy ones. [/quote] Thats the thing though, it was an elderly german shepherd that had a quick sniff, nothing invasive, just a who are you and i can smell some food kinda whiffy sniff then trotted happily on, it did not barge up to her or stick its head in inappropriate places just had a good whiff then went on its way. This dog certainly was not bouncy. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=6090.msg79621#msg79621 date=1400574358] Really useful replies. Charlie has never done anything like this - he has never snapped or growled at another dog, and I'd be a bit alarmed if he did (maybe just because I think it's unusual rather that it actually is unusual, given the replies). I like Rachael's suggestion or rewarding for being tolerant of other dogs though, I think that sounds a sensible precaution. [/quote] Thats the thing, it is out of the blue for her and not like her at all, she is not a very confident dog by nature and has taken ages to build up her confidence on walks about going more than 10 or so meters away, and since having major on going problems with barley after dogs have gone for him i don't want her to turn into a nasty dog. [quote author=charlie link=topic=6090.msg79639#msg79639 date=1400577622] I agree with Rachael, we treat for positive behaviour around other dogs and I guess that is a bit of BATing ???. Annabelle, it might be useful for your training to look at Jen's BAT tips they really have helped us. Charlie doesn't like dogs in his face no more than I would like anyone getting in my face. Keep going x [/quote] I have been reading that thread and gaining some tips to use for barley, with people and dogs. Both dogs get rewarded for positive behaviour around other dogs due to the issues barley has, and can't just reward him without rewarding her so they both get rewarded if we are walking together. [quote author=bbrown link=topic=6090.msg79649#msg79649 date=1400580962] Riley is sometimes on the receiving end of a growl or an air snap as he's a bit pushy I generally don't worry about it as long as the dog telling him off leaves him once he behaves himself. This is totally different to the incident when he got bitten as those dogs rushed up to him and weighed straight in ignoring his appeasing signals. [/quote] The dog did go off after she snapped at it, but more of a wander off not running away
Re: Snapped at another dog Hmmmm - may be a bit of resource guarding sneaking in there? I linked to Pippa's page, but then realised that was about humans not dogs. There must be a way to show her that other dogs are not after her food .... except that they may be, of course ---- arrrghhh! Teaching them to share food may be the best, but that would mean having lots of friendly dogs round to teach it carefully ...
Re: Snapped at another dog I didn't mean not have treats on walk but meant keep them out of the way so she didn't feel like she was guarding them. I wasn't sure whether you had treats in your hands. I keep my treats in my dummy bag and I have had labs trying to get in there for the treats they can smell!! Chloe
Re: Snapped at another dog Sounds like she may have been having a bit of a grumpy moment. If she doesn't behave like that usually I wouldn't worry. Like you said she isn't too keen German Shepherds. Could even be because the other dog was an older dog, puzzle may have picked up that the other dog maybe a bit grumpy and got her guard up?
Re: Snapped at another dog Hi annabelle Some dogs just give off vibes that other dogs don't like. Perhaps puzzle just took offence to this particular dog. Harry one of the family rescue dogs is very good with other dogs but occasionally he will meet a dog that he just doesn't like. Hackles go up etc. As she has a thing about German shepherds anyway next time you spot one coming BAT it. If you start BATing all German shepherds that you meet she will start to associate them with treats. I'd also BAT all dogs even ones you know she likes and gets on with. That way she will get into the habit of associating dogs with treats. Once she's looked at you and had her treat she can then meet the dog if it's a dog she would normally interact with. Having done a lot of reading on this subject : I think BATing dogs even with a none reactive dog is a good idea. The behaviour of looking at you and therefore away from the oncoming dog is a calming behaviour. It gives a calming signal to the approaching dog as well which might be vey useful if the approaching dog is reactive. I bet puzzle was just having an off day she is too much of a sweetie.
Re: Snapped at another dog Everyone else has given you lots of good suggestions as to why this might have happened but thought I might just add - could she perhaps be feeling a bit hormonal? I think I remember you saying she had a season a few months ago, but the hormones can start to kick in again several weeks before the season actually begins. Just a thought. My mums dog is snappy with people for about a month before she comes into season, and my Penny is on high alert pretty much all the time as her hormones are totally out of sync - she has short seasons so is pretty much PMSing all the time!!!
Re: Snapped at another dog That is a good point. She is due a season soon as she last came in at the start of january
