I have three golden retrievers (mother, daughter & g.daughter) mother and g.daughter love going past the butchers especially when it is open, the daughter doesn't take her mother's lead and like it she has the upmost horror of the shop. First time we went past it was closed and I am so glad I had a good hold on the lead otherwise she would have just run across the road in sheer panic, ears back tail thro' legs, never ever seen her like that.

Have tried going past from the other direction but it makes no difference - talking doesn't work because she wont listen with her panic.

Any ideas on how to get over this horror, or do we go a different way.

Well Yaps, I read  your post with interest and if it was me I would just avoid the shop.  If my dog doesn't like anything I just avoid it.  Sometimes avoiding things isn't a good idea but if its only a shop then I don't know if its worth pursuing it?  Maybe its the smell?  Don't know, sorry I'm not an expert but if my dog isn't happy about a situation then I just lead him another way.  I'm sure someone else will advise.

CG

I tend to agree - perhaps whereas most dogs think of bones when they walk past a butcher's shop, yours smells the blood and gets worried ? I think i would probably just go another way if it was easy to do, if not try to distract her from it.

Lindsay

Your post made me smile, though I know its not funny if your girl is frightened. Mine do their best to "nip in" the butchers, and also (embarrassment) Any pub they pass :O

My afghan dragged me into a very posh furniture shop once, cos she saw a really comfy sofa in the window :D I was mortified, and so was the assistant! fortunately I managed to stop her getting on the actual sofa.....

I had a dog years ago that was like that. He wouldn't even go near any stall selling bones, hooves, pigs ears, fleeces or other skins either. It made shows interesting trying to get from the benches to the rings! He wouldn't eat any meat unless it was very well cooked and disguised. His reaction was to bark and/or growl at these shops and trade show stands.

One of my hounds is like that when the kennel-huntsman calls in when wearing his slaughter/skinning overalls.....she growls, backs off & is really scared. Yet when he comes around for supper in his smart togs she greets him with a friendly tail wag....it must be the smell I guess.

I think mine must be related to your lot as they do that as well :p

Hi,
My Sibes used to love the butchers, someone stole them from their kennel and when they escaped they made straight for the butchers, they rolled in beef fat YUK!. After that the bitch went to the pub, her Son waited outside, they were eventually taken to the local vet who thankfully I had contacted. My Son was at my house looking after them at the time. He felt awful about them being taken. This was quite some years ago but at the time my bitch, who was a rescue, loved lager. Not that all rescues are this way inclined.
Now on the other hand the Mastiff I have now was terrified of shop awnings. I used to sit her for half an hour every day just looking at them and ignoring her reaction. People looked at me as if I was bonkers but it worked after about two months she started walking past no bother. The only thing is they don't use the awnings in winter so I have to do this every spring. We live in a little tourist village so every shop has an awning in summer so if I didn't get her used to them every year we couldn't walk her in the village. Each year it takes less and less time for her to get used to them but it still takes at least a few days.
If the shop you go past is on your usual route why not ask the butcher to come out and give her a treat?
Of course this would only be viable if you live in a small village as I do.
D4wn

Yappy,

How does your girl react when you are preparing raw meat?  does she 'hang around' all hopeful? ;) or does she disappear??
Has she ever eaten fresh raw meat??  Had a chew on a nice juicy raw meaty bone?? :) If not you could try giving her a little bit to see if she likes the smell and taste.  If it is the smell then maybe she just needs to get used to it.  If that's the case I would start off with some half-cooked meat and gradually give it more and more raw until she's used to it and hopefully that will cure her :)  If its not the smell of the meat then sorry - I'm stumped :(

Regards
Dill