Scared of other dogs

[Tigra]

We have had Minnie now for 18 months...she has always been a shy little girl but on the whole sociable and friendly with other dogs and especially humans !!...but we have noticed over the past few months she is getting very scared of other dogs...not so much the little ones but any her size or bigger.

She is always on the lead and is very happy like that. Several larger loose dogs in the park have come up to her in a fairly threatening manner and that has worried her...but now even walking round the block if she sees a dog approaching she pulls back and visibly shakes. Just now we met another dog (also on lead) and I stood chatting to the owner..we kept the dogs well apart, but the other dog made a movement to get closer to Minnie, and she absolutely shrieked with fear ears flattened and growled, twisted round and was obviously so afraid. The other morning just walking round the block a large poodle ran out of it's drive way barking at her...it just wanted to sniff, but she was again, so scared.

I am at a loss to know why she has become this scared..having been OK when we first got her..can anyone please offer any advice.? I'm sure she really needs to get up close and personal with some dogs and learn that they aren't all horrid...but she just doesn't even want to try. I'm worried that she is becoming quite neurotic about going out..she gets very excited when we get her lead and collar out, but as soon as we are out of the gate she starts this fretting....glancing round to see if anything is following etc. I hate to see her this worried.

Help !

[Nettie]

Whereabouts are you?

Sent from my HTC One S using proboards

[Tigra]

Hi Nettie...we are in Epsom

[Nettie]

In that case can I recommend you contact either Penel or Laura at Dog Communication: www.dogcommunication.co.uk/ - have a look at their website. They use teaching dogs to teach other dogs how to behave and socialise in a controlled, safe environment. They have various groups of dogs including one called Shy Guys which I think Minnie would really benefit from. They use paddocks in Banstead which isn't too far from you. I'd highly recommend them as I think FrancesD on the forum would too. Initially you'll need to download a questionnaire from their website, they also will want a short form completed by your vet to say she is healthy. They'll then want to meet Minnie to assess her to see which group she would benefit from the most. I can't recommend them highly enough.

[wings]

I can also recommend Penel and Laura at Dog Communication. I have been there with our dog Sammy, who needed to learn some manners in approaching other dogs. They have various groups for various purposes, and a very careful approach to make sure your dog has positive learning experiences.

[Tigra]

Thanks for your replies..and I've had a look at the Dog communication web site.
Minnie has been fine with other dogs for a long time...it seems the past few months she has become so nervous.....I'm sure due to the approach and look of the ones she has found intimidating...on two occasions a long haired alsatian..a large mastiff..the large poodle and several others. She is absolutely fine with my son's retriever (huge and hairy) but he comes to stay with us often and they sleep together...I think she's braver walking out with him. I have wondered whether she needs another dog for company..not sure. She is a very loving and tactile dog..loves cuddles and hugs and being stroked, and of course I love to give her that attention..so I've wondered if that is a problem, but can't think why.

Our previous greyhound girl didn't like other dogs at all...but she would completely ignore them unless they got too close and then she'd "huff"... but she wasn't a timid or shy girl. We must have spent an absolute fortune on trying to socialise her in classes etc. but she was having none of it...she was quite happy just to keep away from other dogs.

Minnie seemed to quite like other dogs and has happily sniffed and been sniffed so I don't think she is naturally scared...but has become so and learnt the wrong things.

Thanks for reading !

[Nettie]

Well DC could teach her its all ok and build up her confidence however its up to you whether you contact them or not.

[gazer]

Hi, have you thought about joining a 'greyhound walk' in your area.  They can be helpful, just tag along at the back or walk with someone who has a very laid back dog, who would obviously not be a threat to your girl.

Other breeds can be quite scarey to greyhounds sometimes because they look so different and act quite different to greyhounds alot of the time.

When out and about with Minnie try and get some space between her and other dogs and praise her if she goes past ok, take some treats with you to keep her distacted when needed, although if she's really upset she may not take them.

It can be horrid when you have a fearful dog, but keep trying with her and keep us posted on your progress.

Jacqui

[jodav]

Poor Minnie. Some on-lead dogs can sometimes get scared when they can't display the calming body language they would like, when a loose dog approaches them because the lead restricts them. Doesn't take much for a problem to develop. I agree with Gazer that a greyhound walk could help Minnie if you can't take up the Dog Communication course. I go on a group walk once a month and sometimes see timid dogs that gain confidence by making their introductions first with a rear-end sniff. Understanding the Silent Communication of Dogs by Rosie Lowry and On Talking Terms with Dogs Turid Rugaas are good reads as well.

[julies]

The thing to remember is that when scarey dogs came up to Minnie she couldn't get away, she was on a lead and the only thing she could do (eventually) was to be very scarey back then (usually) the other dog goes away and voila being scarey works for Minnie so she'll use that again in the same situation .... I would not let loose dogs approach her when she's on the lead, take her out with her dog friend to give her confidence and take lots of high value treats to encourage and reward her with.. the DOg Group sound great and well worth a try.

Greyhounds have usually never seen another breed of dog then we retire them and they have to cope - you need to build(re-build) her confidence up slowly and try not to get her into situations that will set her back - greyhound walks are very good too.

Julie

[Tigra]

Thanks again for your replies and help. At the moment we have "borrowed" our son's dog for a stayover and I think he gives her a bit more confidence when out as he often deflects any approaching dogs.

I'm in two minds about going to a class. As I said we did that with our last greyhound girl...and it did her no good at all...in fact horrendously at one of the sessions she was badly attacked by another of the "pupils" and ended up with 61 stitches to her neck and back...so as you can understand I'm a little wary of those type of groups now...I do see that if she mixes with a calm group it would help her....but then we go to our local park where there may not be such "nice calm" dogs and we're back to square one !

My husband retires literally tomorrow..so we'll be able to spend a bit more time and effort taking her out and about a bit more...and with bit of luck this awful weather will buck up !

Many thanks

[Nettie]

Tigra I have to say that Dog Communication groups are nothing like any other training class you will have been to. Why not just phone and have a chat to see what you think, of course, this is entirely up to you. Wishing you and your husband a happy retirement.

[julies]

Tigra

Trust me - I run a training class and have never ever had an incident like yours so - as Nettie says, not all training classes are the same. I always suggest to new people that they come and sit in without the dog for a week or two and decide if they like what and how we do things before bringing their dog.

My Gap lurcher was a nightmare with other dogs when I got him so I didn't take him anywhere he would have loose dogs running up to him - that just reinforces his fear and confirms his view that if he flattens them they go away so that's an excellent way to deal with scarey dogs. If your local park is full of rude, off lead dogs who cannot be recalled by their owners and continue to scare your dog I'd suggest you walk her somewhere else - I'd also take a squeezy bottle full of water with you if you have to walk where there may be other loose dogs- if one apporaches, tell the owner your dog is frightened and ask them to call it away- if they don't/can't then spray the APPROACHING dog in the face with water to scare it away but bext to avoid the situation completely.

Regards

Julie

[Tigra]

Thanks Julie..we are careful where we walk her...having had our last greyhound girl not liking other dogs we are used to avoiding !

..The past week we've had our son's dog here for company and hopefully given her a bit more confidence. As I said earlier she didn't start out like this, it seems to have been lately that she has had a few large dogs approaching in that sort of "stalking" manner some have (i.e. alsatian, mastiff type etc). She is fine with smaller dogs and also puppies..so maybe this is just a bit of a glitch and she'll soon be bolder.

I don't want to keep avoiding dogs again as I don't think she'll ever learn then that a heck of a lot are really friendly, it's just those few who aren't !!!