Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:58 am Post subject: Grrrrr! Annoying Incident Yesterday. Advice Appreicated.
Well, as people who have read some of my posts may realise, I have a few problems with some aspects of Charlie's behaviour, namely fear aggression. Fine with children, but generally unhappy at approaches by adults he does not know.
I have been working with behaviourist advice, and clicker training him using the click and treat method to get him to walk past oncoming strangers in a more relaxed frame of mind and it has generally been going well.
Then, yesterday, I was returning from a walk with Charlie, generally happy with how it had gone and just a few doors from home there was an elderly lady delivering leaflets for the local church. She asked me if she could hand me one directly. I advised her very politely that it would be better to put it in my postbox because my dog is a nervous type and likely to react badly to a direct approach. She totally ignored what I had said, and said very stridently "But I am just going to hand you a leaflet dear" and in a few split seconds strode up to do it, standing just two inches from Charlie, who was already growling and posturing, and waving her leaflet in my face. I had to act fast, as Charlie's body language was all wrong (cowering, hackles up, growling, gearing up to leap defensively plus also beginning his signature barking tirade). I was scared in case he carried it through. She had not listened to me, and had planted herself absolutely towering over him and I was forced, with just a split second to spare, to shove myself in between them to propel Charlie backwards and away.
Charlie did not manage to make any contact because I got there first. Why won't some people listen though? What could have happened does not bear thinking about. I know she meant no harm, and I know she did ask me if she could come up to us, but she was already advancing on us, refused to listen to my clear warning and barged on in anyway.
Grrrrrrr! If an owner says do not directly approach my dog as he is not happy then do not do it. It felt like a whole morning's training had been destroyed in seconds.
Sorry for the rant. Just needed to get it off my chest.
Charlie is fine. We are working hard on positive training, and in fact I am off out now to do a bit more whilst I can do it child-free.
I am just wondering if anyone can advise me on how I should have reacted, as I am afraid I may have given Charlie the mistaken impression that there was something to be afraid of. I had to act fast, though and had no time to think it out really.
I think from the way you describe the situation Helen, what more could you have done?! She didn't leave you with much choice but to get between them. Perhaps you could have turned and walked off in the oposite direction completely ignoring the woman? I don't really know Hopefully someone better will be along shortly to help you
I think Lucy is right, the only other option after a warning and what you did, would be to walk away.
My GR occasionally acts in a similar way, he does not like people who stop in front of him and then approach him for some unknown reason and I think if placed in your situation, whether right or wrong.. I'd have done the exact same thing!
Fingers crossed this doesn't set you back with his training, I know how frustrating it can be when things go so well and you feel you've had a great session for it to be blown away in seconds!
I wondered about walking off and completely ignoring, but was trying not to appear rude - we live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, so you have to be a little bit careful. I couldn't win in the end.
Had a good session today though, and he responded well to his clicker. In fact more to that than to other people. Your GR does sound very similar, Kimberley. I just don't like the uncertainty of it, so I am trying to work with him.
Helen.
Last edited by Topseyt on Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:43 am; edited 2 times in total
Oh blimey Helen, how frustrating and what a shame after things were going so well. I dont see what else you could have done though. Hope you have a good walk today with Charlie
I have exactly the same problem with my Izzie she gets very nervous of strangers, so I always courteously say to people, please dont come close to Izzie as she is very nervous but the amount of people that still come over to her because they are convinced that they can 'turn' her so people come close, she lunges forward and bark and then they accuse me of having a vicious dog despite the fact I warned them - it makes me so flamin angry as all the work we put in with her goes to pot IF she gets the chance to show her nervous side
I am now walking away from people - yes its rude but Izzie is my priority and I would rather upset a stranger than her
I am with you Sarah. That is what I will do in future, I think. I too have had that reaction. With the work I am doing things seem to be improving, and this is our first setback so I will learn from it.
Hours or days of training can so easily go to pot in seconds, especially as I haven't long started Charlie's new regime.
The problem can be that everyone automatically assumes it is safe to approach a lab. Many probably are safe, but some are not as we know because they can be nervous.
Sorry to hear this and hope Charlie is ok! Unfortunatly I think most of us have encounted situations where other people have ignored a warning or acted in an inappropriate way towards our dogs. Also, as someone has already mentioned, they see a lab and think they're ok!
You couldn't have reacted in any other way without being rude to the woman, especially when something happens when you least expect it to.
Good Luck with Charlie x
____________ Kimberley,Sheppy and Amber
Amber/Shep
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What could have happened does not bear thinking about. I know she meant no harm, and I know she did ask me if she could come up to us, but she was already advancing on us, refused to listen to my clear warning and barged on in anyway.
It felt like a whole morning's training had been destroyed in seconds.
Some people just don't have a clue.
Hopefully someone better will be along shortly to help you 
