Labradors Forums banner

Protecting your dog

911 views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  JayJay13 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi folks,

Murphy is now 17 weeks old and in his 2nd week of kennel club training and is picking things up very quickly.

We have started to take him to a local woods which is very popular with dog walkers, although it’s still a short walk for Murphy we still bump in to other dog walkers and the majority are friendly and responsible, unfortunately we have had 2 run ins in 3 days.

Friday a lady was walking 3 dogs put 2 on the lead as we approached each other but left the 3rd off ( a black Labrador 5 years old) at 20 feet away she says he’s alright and that’s what yours will be look like in four years, the lab comes within 2 feet and goes for Murphy showing teeth and growling luckily I got there 1st. And told the woman if you can not control your dog keep him on the lead, in which she replies he’s only like that with younger dogs ��*♂

We have just got back in the house where 4 dogs were barking and bounded towards Murphy( 1 was a Labrador other 3 a right mix and match of large dogs) I quickly scooped Murphy up and as they was jumping up me I yelled to the owner to call his dogs back ( who was a minimum of 100 feet away) who replied don’t pick your dog he needs to socialise, once again I replied if you can’t control your dogs keep them on a lead.

Why do people automatically think because you have a puppy it’s your 1st ever dog! Murphy was not phased by any of this an continued on his walk happy as can be

I guess the question is what is the correct thing to do in this situation, I don’t want a bad experience to have a bad lasting influence on Murphy, yet I don’t want to do the wrong thing.


Also if the worst does happen how do you protect your dog

Thanks Mark.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
The temptation is always the other dog and it's owner. But really, the focus should be on your dog. Such situations can affect a puppy, altering his approach in similar situations for the rest of his life, and believe me, similar situations occur will occur throughout his life. Your job is to see that it has the minimum effect on him.

The old car accident saying comes to mind. "He was dead right as he toddled along. But he was just as dead as if he was wrong!" Being in the right does not enter into it.

Yes the other dog and owner could well be in the wrong, but really, that does not enter into it. The more you make of it the more your dog will think that something serious has happened, and the more apprehensive he will be next time, possibly leading to fear aggression.

My approach is always the same no matter who is to blame. A loud, "OIE! Pack it in you two!" (Even if my dog has not said a word!!) The essence is to take charge of the situation and to make it plain to both dogs, (but particularly my own) that I wont tolerate that kind of thing. The even handed approach. One think I don't want, is for my dog to start to think I'm backing him up, sort of him and me against the world. I want pup to think, "Leave it to dad, he'll sort it." And if my pup runs up to another dog and gets growled at the, "Serves you right you silly pup. Teach you to keep your nose out of other dog's business next time."

John :)
 
#3 ·
As always everything you wrote makes perfect sense John and appreciate your time to reply, and we certainly don’t want an aggressive dog caused by anything or any situation.

I understand similar situations will occur, as I wrote in my original post this isn’t our 1st dog we have had dogs all our life and have had situations before but not when they was pups hence the request for advice and guidance, you put perfectly when you said “ Your job is to see that it has the minimum effect on him.”

today’s situation of 4 large dogs bounding towards him and with owners having poor recall skills was not a nice situation for Me or Murphy to be in and would like to think I made the right decision to pick him up and certainly can not think of a better option to have taken. (I would hope this rare situation and to be very unlikely to happen again)
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top