Dog Greeting Problems

[topschnauzer]

Hi, I am a new member to the forum from Cumbria and first time owner of a black miniature schnauzer, she is perfect in every way except greeting dogs on a walk. She is not aggressive in any way but the barking and constant pulling towards dogs makes me nervous that other dogs or even owners might interpret this as aggressive behaviour. She has attended puppy obedience classes and is fine with the dogs from the class but any new dogs we meet on a walk she is difficult to calm down. After being attacked by two dogs and being only 7 months old I am scared that she may be confused on how to act around other dogs.

Any advice is welcome, thank you

[zeta1454]

Welcome to the Forum

Is your puppy pulling and barking whenever she sees another dog on a walk or just when you actually meet "face to face"? It is very common for dogs on lead (especially if uncertain or anxious) to bark at other dogs even when they are absolutely fine off lead playing with them. The fact that they cannot "escape" if a situation is frightening or the other dog becomes aggressive means a restrained dog is more likely to bark as a warning. Some dogs also bark with excitement when seeing another dog at a distance and again this may be more likely if they cannot "meet and greet".

In any event, you do need your mini to be able to walk calmly on lead, focus on you and not be distracted by other dogs. There is no need initially for her to meet with other dogs. What is important is to have her concentrating on you, rewarding her for this and, if need be, get her to sit and wait quietly until the dog has passed by. Once you have established that she focuses on you, remains quiet either walking on or waiting, you can move on to "meet and greet" ( if your mini wants this and if you know the other dog is safe and friendly).

Dogs generally socialise best off lead and if you have the opportunity to exercise her at times with other dogs in a safe environment where she can run and play I would not worry about letting her meet dogs on a walk when she is on lead. Dogs can be unpredictable and just one traumatic experience can have a lasting negative effect so, as she has already suffered an attack , I would be especially cautious about new interactions for the present

Puppies from a nurturing and positive home usually learn how to behave around other dogs from the early weeks at the breeder's home so much may depend on her start in life. Puppies that miss out on this for whatever reason may give out the wrong signals or may be unable to interpret signals from other dogs and this can get them into trouble. The attack she has already experienced should not have confused her necessarily as to how to act around other dogs if she did have a good start in life. As you say, she is fine with dogs from her class so I don't think this is the cause.

Take plenty of high value treats with you when you take her on a walk (tiny pieces of cooked chicken, cheese or broken pieces of dried sprats or liver cake etc) and whenever you see a dog approaching get your little one to focus on you and either walk on or sit or stand until the dog has passed by. I would move across the road to be on a different path if possible at least initially to avoid close contact and to help her concentrate on you and the food reward.

If you feel that you do not have enough control with her pulling on a walk, you could also try a head collar or a double lead. There are a variety of head collars or "gentle leaders" which can help to calm a very excitable or strong pulling dog to calm and focus. These are not substitutes for training but can be used alongside the focus training if you are struggling to control her.

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It will take time and patience and you should also do these training exercises to get her to focus on you on a regular basis anyway, every day, at home and anywhere you are out, even without distractions. The more often you practice this, the more likely she will be to respond in more challenging situations. Good luck

[topschnauzer]

Hi, thanks for the advice I will begin a structured training routine soon. She is unable to physical contact with dogs at the moment as she is recovering from having a deep skin cyst being removed from her head but once she is well, the training will begin. Thanks again so much for the support