jack getting protective on lead *ok now*

[amy]

updated: after some work, this behaviour has now stopped


hi everyone.

since we got cassie i think jack is getting overly protective while they're both on the lead. he has several times barked or poss growled while out on walks. so far this has been:

- barked at a boy who stopped to greet them (i said he could say hello cause neither of them have ever objected to this before),
- we left a fenced park in the dark as an onlead staff came in and both mine wanted to run over and play so i was waiting by the road to cross when the dog came up behind us (still quite far away) and jack kicked off "alarm barking",
- today mine were on lead when coming round a blind corner a terrier on an extendy lead ran across their path and they both pulled toward (he's always done that to say hello/play) and jack made a low noise like a growl, but was not obviously behaving threateningly, but i don't know, it happened v fast.

in many other ares they are doing very well, they adore each other, cassie's settling more and more each day and learning to sit on command, and has been let off in secure places and her recall's been fantastic. they just share a fixation on other dogs, sometimes it's hard to compete for their attention! cassie is enrolled in a basic training course starting in a couple of months.
amy, cassie and jack.

[dominique]

Might be worth talking to a behaviorist so that you can nip it in the bud now. As for the struggling to get attention thing, there are a variety of different methods that you can use but I can't say which would be the best for your dogs as I don't know them. I've seen metal disc's used, you throw them on the floor quite hard which distracts the dog and then you give a command and reward, or the favorite one at the moment seems to be a rattle tin/plastic bottle which you shake once loudly to get their attention, command and reward. But to be perfectly honest I don't know whether I'd try them without the advice of a behaviorist first as you don't want to make things worse.
Have you tried walking Jack on his own again to see if the behaviour changes back to normal?
It is worring when you have that settling in period with a new dog as you the behaviour of your old dog can change subtly. But it will settle down eventually and by that time you'll probably have no nails left where you've bitten them all off
Hopefully you'll get some good advice from someone on here.

[shellie3]

Amy...that sounds as if they're both picking up on insecurity/anxiety in you....they don't feel that YOU are in charge.

You need to get back to being Top Dog....so they don't need to be! Check out your own body language and try to be calm/assertive with them....let them know that you are the boss and they don't need to be. I would respond immediately to any growling etc with whatever sound/movement you use to indicate NO to them.

I expect they are picking up on your 'overwhelmed' feeling and they will be happier if you can take charge again!

Good luck! ;D

[Lisa]

Amy are you walking both of them on your own or are your parents walking them with you? I think that its alot to be honest for you to be taking on yourself and Jack is going to be naturally protective due to your anxieties and also now the pack is larger and if your vulnerable needs protecting. I think you should do some walking of both on their own and until you feel confident have some else walk with you when the two are being taken out together. That way you can have Jack and someone else can have Cassie. If you dont get it under hand and quickly it will escalate. Talk to your parents about involving a behaviourist to show you the right way to deal with the dogs so as not to make the problems any worse.

[greylove]

I had this problem with Lily after getting my young Elsa. She has improved a lot now after I worked on basic obedience away from the problem, and taking REALLY good treats out with me (cooked liver, heart, chicken) and every time we spy a dog (her particular problem, luckily not people) I would make a weird squeaky noise to attract her attention or call her name and treat every glance at me. Repeat zillions of times. Now, she sees a dog and sits and turns to me, but I have to remain aware or she will quickly slip back - we have not reached nirvana. Try to set yourself up so that you can spot a problem from far away rather than having masses of stimulation close to. That may mean driving to a place that has fewer dogs/people/worrying things for your dog. Start small - dog/person far away - and work very slowly up. It takes time - weeks and months. Don't be discouraged as it will work in the end. Just try not to overwhelm your dog with stuff he can't deal with at the time. Good luck!

[amy]

Just to update:

I have been doing seperate walks and working on a watch me command with jack and this behaviour seems to have completely stopped ;D he's met lots of different other dogs on and off lead both alone and with cassie and been totally fine, and i reward him for good behaviour,. they're both walking really nicely on lead together at heel on either side of me as well as i've been working on this too. must have just been a settling in blip, although i'm not going to get complacent. so, yay!

[Nettie]

Well done Amy!

[greylove]

Brilliant!!!