You just know it

[Casey Laurie]

What is it about some people where you just know your dog is going to react defensively toward them?


I was walking Lilly back from the corner where I pick up my son from school. On our way back this woman was walking in our direction and one look at her and I knew there was going to be a problem. There was something a little off about the way she carried herself. She wasn't a large woman but for some reason she seemed to take up the entire sidewalk. Since I'm trying to teach Lilly alternate ways of dealing with stressors, I slowed down and tried to get her attention. I could see her looking at this woman and her body stiffened a little. I was able to draw her attention for a few moments while the woman passed and all seemed ok. As she passed, she gave Lilly a very odd look. Everything seemed ok as she was passing, but just as she passed us she turned back toward Lilly with her arms out. For a split second I saw her as Lilly might have seen her; a behemouth with flailing limbs. Lilly freaked and I'm not sure if she lunged or if she was trying to bolt but she did give that same little growly bark from this morning. I immediately said "no" in a calm but firm voice and had her sit, then petted and praised her for sitting. We walked at a slow pace the rest of the way back (we're talking less than 100 feet) and by the time we got to the corner she was much calmer.

This is so unfortunate. She really seemed to enjoy the walk there as short as it was. There isn't a lot of foot traffic this time of day. Why do people do things like that? She must have been ill or something for a grown woman to behave in such a way.

[Joanne Brady]

Casey,

I ask myself that very same question over and over again and still can't come up with an answer. I had one woman tell me that she just assumed that all animals in our neighbourhood were "friendly" - she was delivering flyers and since she never had a bad interaction walking up on to anyone's property past other dogs, she doesn't expect to have any problems walking up to any dog or on anyone's property. True a lot of the dogs in our neighbourhood are small, nonetheless, the only dog that I have been attacked by was a Jack Russell Terrier, a far cry smaller than my Rotts. I also wonder why people reach out to a strange dog and try to pat them on the head. This sets Amari off. If anyone asks to pet Soleil, I tell them to hold their hand out, palm up and flat, below the level of her chin and let her sniff. Right now, only 4 people get near enough to Amari to pat her. I had friends visit a few weeks ago and the male half spoke using lots of exaggerated arm motions, scared Amari half to death so she gave the low growl and barked a couple of times; something we have to work on.

I can envision Lilly's reaction, Amari has the same one when she see's a strange dog, squirrel, cat, bird and so on. You both did so well in the fact that you were able to re-direct her, have her give you a command that she understands and then treated her for the desired behaviour. Lilly actually did quite well under this stressor. There are times Amari gets just so overstimulated, that the only recourse I have is to get her outta there as fast as I can and then try to have her give me a command that she knows some distance away from the stimulus.

I think you and Lilly did a very good job in an unexpected situation. There are always going to be those times, hopefully infrequent, where things like this are going to happen. By constantly training Lilly what to do if she feels stressed (look at you and it will be okay, I'll get out of this with mom's help, mom wouldn't let anything bad happen to me), she will hopefully be able to manage her stress.

Good job you two.

Joanne

[heathea]

You did do a great job redirecting your dog.

I hate stupid people, I really do. I have 1 shy and 1 very friendly (larger) dog. Most people in my neighborhood run away from my dogs (on leash with me in control, the people are just stupid), however some ask if they can pet, I always agree and instruct them as to how (palm up for sniffing, etc.). Last week some (idiot) adolescent boys ran away and then asked from across the street if they were friendly. I said they are generally friendly and could be petted if done so in a calm manner. They came up and, I kid you not, the one kid began poking my big dog in the face with his finger. She of course (cause she is like this) ignored him and tried to lick his finger, which made him run away again. If I see him again and they ask if my dogs bite, I will say no, but I do.

Now, on a lighter stupid people note, there are some very friendly smaller children on my street and 2 or 3 have come up to me and politely asked to pet my dogs. They have done it correctly and so on, however I always have my dogs sit prior to any petting. This involves me saying Life, sit. Teak, sit. and they do, then the dogs get petted and the kids usually get licked.
My husband came in last night from the back yard looking a little confused and said that there was a tiny (she is about 4 years old and my husband is 6' 5'', so to him, tiny) little girl at our back fence telling Life to sit while Life continued to bark at her. He couldn't figure it out, apparently Life couldn't either, she was barking while sitting.
Well, you can't say that the little girl didn't learn things quickly. Or my dog for that matter. :D