We need to DO BETTER!

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