Welp, it happened…what started as a great trip,
full of fun, opportunities to learn more about Nose Work and grow together as a
team, has hit a snag. A snag that could have easily been avoided.
Duke
& I were walking downstairs and into the lobby of our lodge (where we will
be staying for the next couple of days while at camp). He was next to my left
side, in the heel position.
We walked
past a pillar and then suddenly, a bark, a growl & a dog was on him.
Someone came over to offer assistance. As soon as she helped to get the one dog
off, another dog was on him. Not one, but two dogs (breed is not important but
they were Border Collies) had attacked him in the middle of a very public
space.
Adrenaline
does strange things to memories so actual details of the event are still a
little hazy. After the other dogs were under control and taken back to their
rooms, I checked Duke over. He was covered in other dog spit, but luckily no
puncture wounds or visible injuries. I am extremely thankful for the person who
came over to assist – she was more worked up than I was. I am also thankful
that this attack did not happen to a smaller dog, a dog with thinner fur or an
older dog, as I am not sure what the outcome would have been.
The owner
of the dogs came back out and one of the first things she asked was NOT:
“Is your dog okay?” – if that is what you are thinking… No, she asked
first: “Is your dog intact?”
Like that
was the excuse she had been hoping to hear as to why BOTH her dogs attacked
another dog (who was minding his own damn business walking with his mama…). She
also didn’t even realize that her second dog had entered the fray…c’mon….
Apparently, she had clipped her leash to the collar tag ring and when her dog
lunged it snapped. Not sure how the second dog got loose…
This is
also not just me and my dog. I’ve seen countless social media posts sharing
similar stories.
Just the
other day someone on a AKC Rally Obedience group posted about dog-dog
aggression during trials and competitions. How many dogs are attacked by other
dogs at conformation shows, agility trials, obedience trials? Many responded to
the post commenting about dogs attacking other dogs during obedience group
stays and that the AKC needs to change this in competitions and do away with
it.
HOW ABOUT
TRAIN YOUR DOG and have the expectation that your dog behaves in public if you
are going to compete, trial, or take your dog outside of your home?!
Let me
repeat that one more time – let’s train our dogs and have the expectation that
the dog behaves out in public.
If you
are unwilling to, or simply cannot, consult with a trainer who will use a
balanced approach, as you cannot toss cookies at aggression and expect it to go
away. OR keep your dog at home.
It is
ridiculous that I cannot take my dogs out into public without fear that we will
be attacked. This incident did not result in any lasting physical trauma, but
the next one might. While there may not have been any physical trauma, mental
and emotional trauma will be there. My generally happy-go-lucky guy has been
nervous and jumpy around other dogs since the incident, so we will have to put
in some work around other dogs, especially those resembling Border Collies.
WE NEED
TO DO BETTER - somewhere we as a culture have completely lowered our
standards and expectations of our dog’s behavior, however, at the same time, we
have also increased our expectations of incorporating them into our everyday
lives – taking them with us on errands, to the work place, hiking, etc. Those
two things don’t mix well.
We are
more permissive and are allowing RUDE, PUSHY, DEMANDING, and AGGRESSIVE
behaviors. We have also decided that tools (prong collars, chain collars,
electronic collars) are the problem, when the real problem is the above
thinking – I won’t even get into the thinking that aggressive behaviors
(resource guarding, handler redirection, small dogs growling, barking &
lunging at big dogs) are cute and we need to post them on social media trends
(cue *eye roll*) in this post – allowing our dogs to behave like a$$holes in
public because we are too scared to tell them no.
You
betchya that both my dogs are behaved out in public and I hold very high
expectations for their behavior. If I think my dog will be unable to handle an
outing, I don’t bring them – “gasp!”
That is
why my shepherd remained at home this week as I knew all the dogs, people, new
environment and managing of both dogs would be too much for her and me to
successfully handle.
On our
trip Duke is waiting for permission to enter and exit our room, exit the car,
walking in heel through the hotel and up stairs, remaining calm and quiet in
his kennel – and guess what, we are still having FUN and our relationship
remains great, even if I must remind him of the expectations! He has furniture
privileges, sharing of my meals, and all the snuggles he could want. He is also
prancing around working for his meals like nobody’s business.
How about
giving firm & FAIR consequences for behavior choices a try and see where it
gets you? Who knows? Opportunities just may open up for you and your dog
in a way that they have not before.
Meghan
Poinsett is a Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant at Front Range K9
Academy. https://k9counselor.com
