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Its ok he's friendly

2K views 32 replies 20 participants last post by  Sarah1983 
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#1 ·
An article I found posted on a group thought would be good reading :>
"My Dog LOVES Other Dogs" | Paws Abilities

Its a great article it sums up some excellent points about doggy socialising a good read for the experienced or new owner.
 
#2 ·
Great reading thx for posting it
 
#3 ·
Couldnt agree more..

I heard this from someone this week as thier dog tried jumping all over Benny, my 13 yr old almost blind beagle..
When Benny finally lost it and snarled the other owner said 'your dog isnt very social is he'?

I didnt even bother replying, anyone that stupid isnt worth ruining our walk for.
 
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#4 ·
The world is not in favour of the dog that stand up for itself

According to many owners its ok to let your dog run up to every dog it meets reguardless of the dangers. Sadly my dog can't cope with an on lead greeting because too many people think its ok that she should be met by their dog despite my warning -.-

When I explain she finds it uncomfortable because too many dogs run up to her I usually get a look as though I just offended them.
 
#5 ·
So called 'friendly dogs' ruin so many walks dont they?:(
Good article and I totally agree, alot of people still seem to assume that all dogs want to be friends with every other dog they see and are abnormal or bad tempered if they dont.
Frankly I only have 1 out of 4 who is properly socialable! Adam loves to say hello politely to other dogs and even have a nice game of chase if its on offer!
Hannah and Heidi have no interest in other dogs and just want to be left alone.
Alfie is a Tarzan who strains at the leash and yelps at other dogs and as such he is never off lead!:eek:
 
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#6 ·
I don't think its because their never let off lead that they strain and bark at other dogs its because they have had too many charge at them and make them feel insecure so when they see dogs approach while they are on the lead the dog feels trapped it can use its flight instincts so their is only one other option left :<
 
#7 ·
"It's okay, he's friendly!" usually gets met with a "well she's reactive!" on our walks with Kizzy. I doubt half of the owners know what reactive means :/ It's incredibly frustrating sometimes. And yes, we do get the "your dog has clearly never been socialised" looks - but nobody asks about why she's reactive or where she came from (she's a rescue we took on at 8 months), they just hotfoot it away from the lunging, growling Collie.. often with their dog not following.

I think *some* people who've always had "easy" dogs just don't understand.

I've regularly come away from walks crying.. wondering why it's me getting the funny looks when I've tried to do everything right, put in hours of training and spent my fair share on trainers/behaviourists. Yet my mother has never taken her dog to training and she's perfect.

*sigh* Sometimes it's so disheartening. But you know what? I love my girl, warts and all, and I know I've done my best for her. And I hope she knows it, too.
 
#8 ·
Superb article.

Also well worth reading the first reader response and the utterly charming answer given by the blog author.
 
#9 ·
A great article, however I am inwardly cringing. That second sentence 'often uttered as a lunging, whining adolescent dog drags [his] owner towards my dog'. That was me about ten minutes ago :( Beau gets very over excited at seeing other dogs. I just walked him down the edge of the common as a very nervous BSD was playing with her three owners. He was whining and yelping and straining to get to her. The only thing I can say in my defence is that he was on a short leash (with his headcollar) and was being walked smartly well away from her being told to 'leave'. One of her owners did come over to explain that she is a rescue and very nervous of people and dogs, and I apologised for Beau's poor manners. He had a fuss with Beau, we had a few min pleasant conversation then I continued on.

I think I need to keep reading about my 'tarzan' dog!
 
#10 ·
Great blog entry she has written some really good stuff. Sadly these things never seem to be read by the people who need to see them. Unfortunately as long as the tarzans are seen and sociable and friendly by the dog owning public as a whole it will always be an uphill battle.

I think this is part of why I don't like the yellow dog project as it feeds into the whole "nasty dogs" attitude people have toward dogs that would prefer not to be charged up to. bounced at and upon.

A great article, however I am inwardly cringing. That second sentence 'often uttered as a lunging, whining adolescent dog drags [his] owner towards my dog'. That was me about ten minutes ago :( Beau gets very over excited at seeing other dogs. I just walked him down the edge of the common as a very nervous BSD was playing with her three owners. He was whining and yelping and straining to get to her. The only thing I can say in my defence is that he was on a short leash (with his headcollar) and was being walked smartly well away from her being told to 'leave'. One of her owners did come over to explain that she is a rescue and very nervous of people and dogs, and I apologised for Beau's poor manners. He had a fuss with Beau, we had a few min pleasant conversation then I continued on.

I think I need to keep reading about my 'tarzan' dog!
I don't think you need to cringe, you sounds hugely responsible and if everyone showed the same respect for others the doggie world would be a much nicer place for all. :)
 
#11 · (Edited)
"It's okay, he's friendly!" usually gets met with a "well she's reactive!" on our walks with Kizzy. I doubt half of the owners know what reactive means :/ It's incredibly frustrating sometimes. And yes, we do get the "your dog has clearly never been socialised" looks - but nobody asks about why she's reactive or where she came from (she's a rescue we took on at 8 months), they just hotfoot it away from the lunging, growling Collie.. often with their dog not following.

I think *some* people who've always had "easy" dogs just don't understand.

I've regularly come away from walks crying.. wondering why it's me getting the funny looks when I've tried to do everything right, put in hours of training and spent my fair share on trainers/behaviourists. Yet my mother has never taken her dog to training and she's perfect.

*sigh* Sometimes it's so disheartening. But you know what? I love my girl, warts and all, and I know I've done my best for her. And I hope she knows it, too.
tbh my collie has had enough of other dogs smacking him one so he's quite short with them now he used to be very social until a dog had a go at him which has made him very tense and nervous so I just avoid on lead greetings now not worth the hassle and I am not prepared too stress him out or push him over his comfort zone.it is upsetting though im considering using a muzzle as a visual deterrent and also peace of mind .
 
#12 ·
We expect an awful lot of our dogs. Would we want a strange person rushing up to us in the park all excited gabbling away? No, but people think dogs should like it.
Would we want a strange bloke rushing up to our young daughter, slobbering kisses and trying to touch her inappropriately? No, but people think dogs should like it.

If someone's dog is bouncing up even in a friendly manner to another on a lead who is showing an 'aggressive reation' why do they shout 'it only wants to be friendly' instead of calling it back, when their dog is possibly at risk. Answer: Because they can't. By saying it's trying to be friendly they are putting the fault onto the other dog.
You wouldn't let your child rush across a busy road to get to the ice cream man and expect all the cars to stop 'Because she likes ice cream'

The fault is not with the friendly dog or the reactive dog it is with inadequate recall training.
 
#13 ·
Very good article.

I'm fortunate this time round to have a adolescent dog that loves others, but has good manners and approaches relatively calmly displaying all sorts of calming body language. My last one was absolutely the opposite and normally placid dogs would snap and snarl at her when she was apparently standing quietly. I feel her body language was somehow faulty and she didn't really know how to handle situations and behaved aggressively with other dogs. I thought it was my fault as I hadn't socialised her enough, but over the years found out that a number of other people had retrievers bought from the same breeders with the same or similar problems, so a problem in the breeders lines it seems.

So, seen both sides of the coin and it's hard on you, as the owner, to deal with and greatly upsetting at times.
Isla is becoming less of the over the top excited youngster which is hugely gratifying. Mostly it's her temperament, but I found that making her sit and try and calm down before she was allowed to sniff noses helped her to interact more quietly and calmly and I am now less worried if she does spot another dog on the horizon which she must go and say hello to as I know she will do a gentle sniff nose and come straight back to me (well nine out of ten times :rolleyes:)
 
#14 ·
Great article.

There's a one year old collie cross (looks to be collie x springer) who lives down the road from us, he always charges up to Lyra and is far too harsh as he's probably three times the size of her. Does the owner put him on leash? No. She just stands there whilst we try to get Lyra, who's by this point quivering with fear, out of the way from the other dog.

This is a dog that bounds up to all other dogs, and she lets it wander around the roads with her offleash...???
 
#15 ·
A great article, however I am inwardly cringing. That second sentence 'often uttered as a lunging, whining adolescent dog drags [his] owner towards my dog'. That was me about ten minutes ago :( Beau gets very over excited at seeing other dogs. I just walked him down the edge of the common as a very nervous BSD was playing with her three owners. He was whining and yelping and straining to get to her. The only thing I can say in my defence is that he was on a short leash (with his headcollar) and was being walked smartly well away from her being told to 'leave'. One of her owners did come over to explain that she is a rescue and very nervous of people and dogs, and I apologised for Beau's poor manners. He had a fuss with Beau, we had a few min pleasant conversation then I continued on.

I think I need to keep reading about my 'tarzan' dog!
Don't worry, we'll be terrible together ;) Mine's not even an adolescent, he's 3 years old but will still whine at passing other dogs without being able to say hello and last week lunged at one (close quarters, no way to get space, they'd stopped and sat theirs so no choice but to walk Spen past and it was too much apparently). We've made great progress from the screaming, lunging, barking and spinning he used to do at the sight of a dog but he's definitely still a work in progress close up.
 
#16 ·
Tarzan dogs are the bane of my life! While I have nothing against the dog itself, I have everything against the mentality that comes with it.

In PAH the other day with my Lab Lola, she was sat by my side while I browsed the toys, the whole time there was a woman at the other end of the aisle with her spaniel literally choking itself, straining and whining and barking to get to Lola. The owner just stood there grinning like a dingbat and said "He always wants to play" to which I responded "She couldn't care less about other dogs, I'm all she is bothered about"

She finally walked away, only to see her again later in the line at the till. While she was paying her dog again was straining and whining at full length lead, across about 3 other people to get to Lola. She did nothing but laugh and call her a "silly sausage" Then let go of her dog and like an elastic band it slapped bang straight into Lola, who snapped her teeth and growled at it. Cue the horrified stares at me because my obedient well mannered dog told off the spoilt brat :rolleyes:
 
#17 ·
It all starts as puppies, especially in puppy class. Owners think socialisation means letting them leap about with other dogs.
I try (!!) and teach my class the 3 second rule: Let them sniff for 3 seconds - loose lead - (after this the exited ones either leap on the other or snap) then take them away.
Maybe then, repeat. When they have greeted the other dog calmly maybe let them off to play.
 
#18 ·
Met four this morning :(

A Husky who's owner asked if it was alright for her dog to say hello as it was pushing it's nose up Alfies rear end.

A young Black Lab who sprinted at full tilt straight towards us and proceeded to try and jump all over the old boy:(

A Collie cross who was actually quite respectful but insisted that it wanted to play

A fully mature Black Lab which also came a full speed straight for us. This one Alfie did object to and I found myself explaining that he wasn't vicious, just to old to put up with full on assaults................Why wasn't it her explaining or even better apologising? :confused:
 
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#20 ·
Interesting article those people's views may change with new rules as if anyone sees their dog as threatening they can report it... maybe more people with over-the-top dogs will keep them on a lead!!
If anything the law works against those who are on lead doing the anti social behaviour. If people don't understand dog behaviour well a reactive dog could get reported.

The law will not take sympothy on why the dog is reactive.
 
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#21 ·
If anything the law works against those who are on lead doing the anti social behaviour. If people don't understand dog behaviour well a reactive dog could get reported.

The law will not take sympothy on why the dog is reactive.
I don't know how the new law reads (and doesn't really apply to me since I'm not in the UK anyway).

That said, I think if you have a reactive dog you still have a responsibility to do your best to keep your dog from harming another dog.

Bates is not reactive, but he has no problem correcting rude behavior, and if the dog objects to a fair correction, Bates has no problem upping the ante and making sure his point is made. IOW, if your dog jumps on my dog's head uninvited it may very well lead to my dog poking a few holes in yours.

I see it as MY responsibility to prevent my dog from poking holes in other dogs no matter how warranted that hole-poking may be. This is in part why I have put far more in to training with Bates than with other dogs, because with a dog like him, I need him to be able to listen and defer to me even in high arousal/excitement situations.

Ideally, he does not get in to those situations to begin with, so to that end, owners of uncontrolled dogs may find *me* aggressing against their dog to keep him away from mine ;)
 
#22 · (Edited)
It's not even the 'tarzan' dogs - Zipper just simply does not like greeting dogs when he is on lead, it doesn't matter how polite they are.
But great article :)

If anything the law works against those who are on lead doing the anti social behaviour. If people don't understand dog behaviour well a reactive dog could get reported.

The law will not take sympothy on why the dog is reactive.
I haven't read anything that indicates that the new law works against an onlead dog :confused:
Which bit have you read that indicates this - I may of missed something
The only thing I've seen is about attacking service dogs - but knowing my dog can be lead reactive I walk away from all service dogs
Any person can already report a dog in public if they feel threatened or frightened so that hasn't changed as far as I'm aware
Why should the person that is being harmed care why your dog is reactive - it is up to us as responsible dog owners to keep them under control
 
#23 ·
I don't know how the new law reads (and doesn't really apply to me since I'm not in the UK anyway).

That said, I think if you have a reactive dog you still have a responsibility to do your best to keep your dog from harming another dog.

Bates is not reactive, but he has no problem correcting rude behavior, and if the dog objects to a fair correction, Bates has no problem upping the ante and making sure his point is made. IOW, if your dog jumps on my dog's head uninvited it may very well lead to my dog poking a few holes in yours.

I see it as MY responsibility to prevent my dog from poking holes in other dogs no matter how warranted that hole-poking may be. This is in part why I have put far more in to training with Bates than with other dogs, because with a dog like him, I need him to be able to listen and defer to me even in high arousal/excitement situations.

Ideally, he does not get in to those situations to begin with, so to that end, owners of uncontrolled dogs may find *me* aggressing against their dog to keep him away from mine ;)
This - if a dog harms a dog or human through fear due to previous negative experiences for example, it isn't the poor victim's fault. I HATE people who let their dog do as they please and just trot out "he's a rescue, he's a rescue" or "he was attacked" etc - it's not a waiver that allows free rein of whatever behaviour the dog wishes to exhibit.

I will explain to people who have let their dogs jump at Kilo and I why I have repelled their dog and why Kilo has melted - but TBH it's futile. All they see is friendly dog approaches other dog and owner - owner is a grumpy bitch and dog is "nasty" :mad:.
 
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#24 ·
This - if a dog harms a dog or human through fear due to previous negative experiences for example, it isn't the poor victim's fault. I HATE people who let their dog do as they please and just trot out "he's a rescue, he's a rescue" or "he was attacked" etc - it's not a waiver that allows free rein of whatever behaviour the dog wishes to exhibit.

I will explain to people who have let their dogs jump at Kilo and I why I have repelled their dog and why Kilo has melted - but TBH it's futile. All they see is friendly dog approaches other dog and owner - owner is a grumpy bitch and dog is "nasty" :mad:.
To be fair, I can be a bitch, and my dog can be an azzhole so if that's what people get out of the interaction, oh well :lol: It may, just may, give 'em pause and save a nicer dog with a more patient owner from having his head jumped on. Probably not, but this bitch is also a hopeless optimist :D
 
#25 · (Edited)
To be fair, I can be a bitch, and my dog can be an azzhole so if that's what people get out of the interaction, oh well :lol: It may, just may, give 'em pause and save a nicer dog with a more patient owner from having his head jumped on. Probably not, but this bitch is also a hopeless optimist :D
I'd say I'd join the club, but I'm the bitch and my dog seems to be channelling Ghandi. While she might be a turn the other cheek, trembling, pacifist I'm not happy to watch her in such discomfort.
 
#26 ·
I actually don't find myself that bothered by these kind of owners with "friendly" dogs. Rather that than an aggressive dog running at my two and attacking them!

I've often thought I'm to laid back on walks though. And yes, I do have a DA dog that hates dogs in her face, so am fully aware of how frustrating it can be. But I've come to realize that if you're walking in places you're likely to come across other dogs, it's something you just have to be prepared for.

Regarding people reacting differently now the new law is in effect. Seriously? The types of owners we complain about are probably not even aware there are such laws in reference to dogs!
 
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