I've been working really hard on Harley's reactivity with other dogs and she has come on leaps and bounds. I know some of her triggers such as a dog running fast up to her and jumping all over her, and certain breeds - Whippets (especially if they come from somewhere out of sight and run straight in front of her) and collies. I have been randomly putting her on lead during walks so it's not just when I spot a potential trigger. Once on lead she now calms much quicker and will walk past all dogs and ignore them. Today, nice walk in the woods, I spot a very bouncy dog straight ahead, pop her on lead, keep walking and the other dog owner ignores this and encourages her bouncy dog to come say hi......I call over asking her to call her dog back and say my dog is on lead for a reason......her reply was 'but he's friendly', my reply was 'mine might not be'. She ignored this and let her dog come over. He started jumping over Harley who growled, I tried to walk away with Harley......dog follows and owner ignores it! He then jumped again at Harley, she growled then told it off. The woman then runs over and says 'you need to control your dog'..........I was speechless. Near the end of the walk I see a collie....pop her on lead and move off the main path to let them pass. Harley sits lovely, watching me whilst I treat her. Collie runs over, I call asking the couple to recall their dog and say she's not good with collies.......they call to their dog 'get out of her face Poppy' and continue walking leaving their dog pestering us. Harley growls, gets ignored then she lets rip when the dog doesn't get the message. Owners still walk off!!! Eventually when they are out of sight their dog runs after them! I'm so frustrated that so many people are so ignorant. It puts us back everytime something like this happens. I am getting fed up of people being so ignorant. I walk in quiet areas on purpose. arghhhhhhhh
This really most unfair and totally out of order , I feel your pain . Unfortunately , there will always be those people who don't give a damn about other people or their dogs , as long as theirs are charging around, tiring themselves out . I also worry about dogs bouncing over to Nelly , Sam ignores them completely but I get very concerned that they could jump on Nelly and cause her harm , especially given that her rear end joints aren't so great . Sorry that this is happening to Harley x
That's so irresponsible of them Naya. I think you should SHOUT at these owners in future as you have tried being polite. I think so many owners just don't understand dog etiquette at all and put our dogs in anxious situations which they feel they have no way out of but to react to it. I have the same problem with Charlie and it sets our training back too and makes me angry I wonder if training the "behind" cue would help Harley as she will then feel safe being out of the way of oncoming dogs in turn telling her there's nothing to worry about I am protecting you? I hope you are OK Naya. xxx
@Naya, I'm so sorry this has happened , thank goodness you can let off steam here, People can be so thoughtless and rude sometimes and don't appreciate the hardwork some of us put into our dogs. In my case being the owner of the bouncy go up to everyone dog, as you well know . Brings it's own problems Do hope lovely Harley is ok now.
Ooooh, that is so b****y annoying and unfair to you and your dog who are doing the right, courteous thing. There's no answer to this, very unlucky to meet these types of people. Can't help wondering if compulsory dog training classes, with a test at the end - for owners - are bought in there may be fewer 'thoughtless (kind term) dog owners around. Yeah, I know, dream on I hope Harley is Ok and not too upset by this.
One thing, the owners may be walking off as it's the best way for some to get their dog to leave you and your dog.
Very true, it is for my dog, but I wouldn't leave her there if the other dog and owner are clearly unhappy.
People are just ignorant sometimes. There you are, saying 'my dog does not like being bounced at, and may BITE yours, she is on lead for a reason' - and they just ignore you??? Drives me bonkers, this sort of thing.
Oh god, don't get me started, I can feel my 'why oh why can't people either control their dogs, or have them on a lead, or at least be CONTRITE and APOLOGETIC when their dog won't listen???'
I would second this. At least be more "in your face", step in front of Harley and hold your hand out like a policeman and say NO! And, to the owner, "Take your dog away". No pleases, which sadly can be misinterpreted as "it doesn't really matter, but I would prefer it if you could". I also tend to exaggerate and say "My dog isn't friendly" or "My dog WILL bite yours", instead of using "might". I'm not a naturally brusque person, so I struggled with this at first, but I'd rather a few people got offended than caused Shadow to react.
Yes, I have done this to dogs I know to be trouble, it can stop them in their tracks. I don't care what owners think of me, I want to protect my dogs, like Fiona I did struggle with this and used to ask ever so politely but after several attacks on my dogs I step up. xx
Thanks all for you suggestions. I'm definately going to have to be firmer with people. I will practice being a 'policewoman' @snowbunny I like your idea @charlie of teaching her 'behind'. I will have a go at this. As you say @Karen , I wouldn't be so p****d off if they actually apologised and done something about it. @selina27 - Harley is pretty tolerant as you know, and is quite good at just giving a warning growl or bark to get them to stop. It usually works, but owners like you do intervene and remove your dog which really helps.
Sorry this happened to you. On the bright side, from what you've said, Harley has made leaps of progress so you know all your training is working - despite the occasional sausage head!
@Naya Kate @Beanwood posted a video for the October Forum Challenge which shows how to teach the "behind" cue. x
@Naya I’m so sorry to read this, I’m so cross on your behalf. I’ve been teaching Mabel the behind cue for a while now, basically because on a small section of our riverside walk the path is really narrow and she tends to take up all the space and other people can’t get passed but it could be really useful for Harley to learn. On a different note I think you should feel so proud of both yourself and Harley sounds like you are both doing really well.
Ugh! Sorry that you had to deal with this. People can be so inconsiderate - it's ridiculous! Not quite as bad but when I was walking Stanley on Friday another black lab came bounding over out of nowhere and they started playing. I was happy to let them have a little play but the other owner was screeching for her dog to come back so I called Stanley back and we went to carry on with our walk. The other lab comes charging over again so Stanley started playing and they ended up near this woman who shouted at me "can you get your f***ing dog". I was like because her dog had approached mine both times. So I called Stanley again and popped him on his lead and her dog follows AGAIN! I can't tell you how much satisfaction I got from shouting back "I think it's you that needs to come and get yours to be honest"
