Diva

Thanks for posting Silvafyre. I need the help!

Same here. I've learnt to avoid some of the gun dog breeds that like to body slam.

I don't care whether or not they play but I want my dogs to recognise, and to be able to respond appropriately to, the range of normal dog behaviours and the range of ways dogs can look - small, big, tail, no tail, fluffy or not, alone or in a group. I value having dogs that can calm a fear agressive dog that we may come across on a walk with their body language, that know to lie down to play with little dogs, that don't bother the oldies, but that can recognise serious agression when we encounter that too. I think good exposure helps them get to that point and I don't know how to help them get there without providing opportunity for controlled exposure to other dogs. So I want them to get lots of dog experiences while young enough to get the most out them, and for them to learn dog social skills which I am not sure they can learn just in on-leash interactions. Once they are adult I tend to rely just on the dog sports we do and the friends we have to maintain the familiarity and stop making the effort to set up encounters. I also think off-lead running with another dog is the best form of exercise for them, but as I have 2 dogs who do that with each other (a lot!) I don't look for that with other dogs. If they want to play, fine, but if they just want to indulge in some mutual sniffing of the same piece of dirt - well that has social meaning for them too even though I don't really understand it.

I totally agree!

My local park used to have an informal group of self-regulated regulars who met up at the same time each day. If anyone's dog was being overbearing or badly behaved there were a couple of the regular park goers who would not hesitate to have a quiet chat to the owners. It didn't have to be their dogs getting a hard time, they had the wellbeing of all the dogs in mind. Sometimes the owners of the difficult dogs would go off in a snoot, but so be it. The oval is big enough they could just move to another side. Sometimes they did work with their dogs behaviour and keep coming back, which was welcomed. Unfortunately that group has moved on now - but it showed it can be done if people are willing to say the hard things, politely, and to back each other up on unacceptable behaviour. I only occassionally caught up with the group as they met too early in the afternoon for me, but I'd take a dog down there every chance I got. Now if I'm passing the same oval it's a matter of checking out who is there - if I don't think they look like they are safe, I keep walking.

Explain to him that the dog can only listen to one person at a time, and you need him to think about that and step back sometimes so you can work with her too. I know, not easy to say that to his face if he's ego driven - but I think you are going to have to.

You also get good at teaching 'back up', 'out of the way', 'go to your beds', and 'no you don't fit there'.

Sounds like an obnoxious over-cocky male who needs to learn some respect (the dog, not your BF ) . When they do it to their owners it can sometimes be out of uncertainty, for example a slightly overwhelmed dog in a strange busy place may mark his owner. But marking a stranger I just take as very very bad manners!

That's a great atttitude. It will take effort to get her back on track and you will need determination and patience, but it is all very fixable. Forget about feeling embarrassed, dogs seem to have a great capacity for doing things we find embarrassing but the only thing you need to feel bad about is if you aren't trying to fix the behaviour.

A treadmill can help with the exercise side of things, but a walk is also about much more than exercise - it's exploration, new sights, smells and sounds, a world outside of the backyard, and time with you following your lead (hopefully!). Not saying that treadmill time might not help, but she remember needs the rest of it too.

She really needs to get out more. The less frequently you walk her the more exciting each walk is, so it becomes a self-perpetuating problem. She needs at least a daily walk, even twice a day. Once you get the pulling under control walking will be more pleasurable too.

+1. Ask her to sit to have her lead put on, no lead until she does. Have her sit at the door, no going through the door until she is sitting calmly, sit at the gate if you have one. If she pulls down the driveway, turn around and go home. Sit, calm, try again. Allow some time and lots of patience for this as she needs to process the new rules. Calm behaviour =walk time, silly behaviour=no fun. And take her to obedience classes as people have suggested. She just sounds like an excitable young thing, obedience will help her learn self control, and help you learn handling techniques which will assist you to regain control.

If the dog concerned already has a good relationship with you and with your dogs it might be a good solution for her, if you are up for the extra effort. It's not like a stranger asking, you sound close to your aunt and familiar with the dog. My only niggling concern would be what happens if you or the dogs (yours or hers) don't cope and there is not a way to get the dog back to her but the week trial would help test how it will go. Also you wouldn't necessarily want her thinking you can take her every time she travels, but that would just require you to be upfront about it.

I'll be there nice and early BMP, but you really don't want to see me handle a toy breed I do however make an excellent holder at ring side.

I'll be there. I've already lined pf up to handle a Borzoi, she'll be a specialist sighthound handler soon!

I don't know, but I've come across a few!

Poor little dog, and her poor owners for their trauma and loss.

Mine were attacked by 2 loose and unaccompanied adult GSD's a few months back. Scarey! Fortunately they handled it well and fought back enough to make the other dogs step back and think twice, because there was no-one else in sight to help. Glad you are all OK.

Oh no, that's disappointing. I hope it's not too bad.

I know it's no consolation pf, but we had a lovely peaceful walk tonight. The only yoyo with offleash dogs in the on-leash part of it took one look at the girls coming towards him (on-lead) and decided to turn down a side street. Or maybe it was seeing me coming towards him...not sure...

Damn right they wouldn't. They'd be lynched.

This spectator loved it the first time. But then you got good at it, you party-pooper.

As everyone else has said it's easy to adminster. Side effects for my boy included weight gain and a ravenous appetite - he went from being the most reliable dog you can imagine at not begging or stealing, to trying to eat anything not nailed down.

That is an excellent idea