Stalking......

[krissibaby]

Louie has taken to 'Stalking' certain dogs on our walks, he crouches right down, or he'll stand stiff and looks like he's mimicking a gun dog. He'll then spring into action and hearl himself at the dog, quite scaring it and the owner!! The others (Krissi and 'Jackchi'...Harry) will gang up aswell.
This doesn't happen when meeting all dogs, it seems like he selects them. He is generally a happy, soppy big silly boy, with no aggressive tendencies.
Why does he do this?

[vickyb]

Gracie did this, mainly with border collies, I think she thought they'd play chase as she wasn't nasty, just over exhuberant. A lot of firm no's and distraction with sweets, putting her on lead to meet the dog seems to have worked and now she understands that she stays with our pack when I tell her. It was as if she went through a bit of delayed excitable puppyhood x with a bit of a teenage bully and liked to bowl them over

[Carol 47]

,This so brings a smile to my face as I can clearly see him doing it, and, the reason i can, is that my Sophie does exactly the same , she crouches right down and very slowly rises like the Phoenix ,staying stiff as a board,and then, all of a sudden she leaps forth and goes in for the kill ,grabbing Bryns neck and pulls him over . I suppose I am lucky as she only does it too him ,and,he dosnt mind as theres no malice,its just all a game to them ,plus, no one ever gets hurt. Hope Louie is getting on ok though .

Carol xxx

[missysmum]

I too have a very similar problem with Missy and Chester

They are both fine with pretty well all other dogs of all breeds, large and small. They are gentle and tolerant with puppies and respectful with oldies. For instance yesterday they played and mooched and ran with about 8 other dogs including Shi Tzu, King Charles and Border terrier pups and three Dachshunds. Absolutely perfect dogs ;D

However, like you say, there are 'certain' dogs, one in particular, that they make a bee line for (at about 30mph) barking and being generally intimidating

Oskar in a 7yr old Lab, who, actually, used to be very badly behaved. His owner is German and known to be a bit difficult. She has made the situation worse by grabbing hold of Oskar and swinging at my two with the lead and trying to kick them I have told her that the best thing to do is remain calm and a firm 'No' to Chess n Miss 'til I get them on the lead. She has then proceeded to tell me that my to are dangerous and could give her Oskar a heart attack ( ) She has spoken to her Vet in Germany who has provided her with a 'pepper spray' - think it must be similar to 'mace', which she wants to use on my dogs . I have absolutely forbidden her to do this.

When (if) I see her first I put mine on the lead with a view to walking with her (they are fine and polite with Oskar in this situation) but now she just races off in the other direction.

I hasten to add that my two have NEVER hurt another dog.

I spoke about this with another Lurcher owner (who I walk with regularly and with whose rough coated hound, Crisp, my two have a lovely race around playing Lurcher games). Anyway, his take on the matter was - - Certain dogs are natural born card holding 'victims' and other dogs will sense this and take advantage.

Fortunately, I don't see this Oskar very often and if she won't co-operate with me then I just don't know what to do.

Of course, my pockets are jammed with treats (sossidges, ham, chicken etc) and they love ball chasing. I am doing loads of training with them ie. NILF (thank you Lisa) nothing in life is free. They have to sit before I play ball with them, lay down and stay and heel off lead for certain parts of our walk. I use the command 'geently' when around small dogs/puppies to reinforce good behaviour. I also use whistle then treat technique to encourage quick return.

Well, I have rambled on for ages. At the end of the day, I have no answer really but as long as our dogs are not agressively attacking others I suppose that all we can do is continue to work at it and realise that, occasionally, we will meet 'victims'.

[Flaperoo]

Flash does this too. Roo follows him. I know they mean no harm and have caused no harm, but others don't.

I ALWAYS muzzle my dogs who can go offlead to reassure owners and this helps.

When we were out yesterday a staffordshire bull terrier that Flash decided to stalk and chase, with Roo in pursuit, run them both tagged . On the flat the SBT had no chance on straight speed alone, but the SBT's lower centre of gravity and greater manoeuvrabiity, meant that Flash and Roo were knackered very quickly. I love most SBT owners, nearly all the one's around here love meeting greyhounds because we are probably the only owners outside the BT breed that will allow socialisatin with SBTs

If you run the risk of your dogs stalking I would muzzle on all offlead walks. This means you keepyour own dogs, other dogs/pets/wildlife safe

Mx

[DianeB]

My Millie does this to Jack and always has done. She turns into a sheepdog and poor Jack scuttles along looking back over his shoulder occasionally as she creeps up on him on her belly from behind. It's not a problem, but i wouldn't let her do it to anyone elses dog. Mikey (son) does the same thing to Millie too and it makes her wild with excitement

[krissibaby]

Thanks for all your helpful comments..............glad to hear loulou is not the only grey that does this!! xxxx