I have read a lot on here about what can happen after a pup has had a bad experience, can I ask what should I do if myself and future pup encounter a bad experience what should my reaction be during the experience?

It is bound to happen around here as there seems to be an awful lot of under socialised dogs (they seem to be in the majority) snapping, growling, leaping up on the lead towards my dog, it's fine now with my current dog I just tell him 'no play' he looks disdainfully at the other dog and a bit gutted but walks on!

Also if we are at a puppy class and things get 'out of hand'?

Anita

Hi Anita

An impossible question to answer because you don't know how you will react during the experience, what it will be and how it would affect you both.

With regard to a puppy class, things should not be allowed to get "out of hand", the instructor should be able to keep watch and know enough to prevent this happening. If things do start to get a bit lively then the pups should be put back on their leads till they have calmed down and only then let off again a couple at a time so that they can be closely supervised and learn their manners - which is what puppy classes are about I think.

Christine

I did have a bad experence last week in the park with Zac my pup, a male dog on a lead tried to attack my pup only the intervention of my husband grabing the other dog by the neck saved Zac a real nasty bite. But we just made a lot of fuss of Zac and he was fine it was me that was left shaking.

Hi Anita

Try and distract your pup with a treat or a toy or talking in a silly voice from another dog lunging on the lead towards him snapping, so he is concentrating on you and is looking at you.
If he has been frightened by the experience then act like nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Don't cuddle him and make a fuss. This can be a big mistake as it will encourage him to be nervous. His confidence can grow by taking his cue from you - and if Mum is acting cool then perhaps there's nothing to be afraid of after all!
Your reactions are important and if you scream and shout and freak out then you may be training him that it's ok to do the same. It doesn't matter what other owners do it's what you do that's important. Try and think first. If it's at a puppy class you can go and pop him in the car and then come back in and sort them out!!!
If he spots something he thinks is unusual on a walk or anywhere else you may see him look up at you to see what reaction you are giving. Don't react!
If he balks at something then encourage him gently but firmly to continue. Try not to pick him up. He has to do it himself one day!
I've said 'may' and 'can' a lot because his own genetics are a contributor to his temperament but the above will help with a lot of puppies upbringing.

Good Luck with yours :)

Anita, I think that Christine is right in as much as you really don't know how you will react until it happens. Try to keep in mind that your dog will react by how you yourself handle the situation :-) I agree one hundred percent with what Lara has said and won't repeat it but, would add that 'incidents' don't always have the negative affect that you might expect. It all depends on the dog, what happens and how you react. Relax and enjoy your pup, don't worry about something that may never happen ;-)

Agree with the advice already given, and would add too that I believe that when a pup is well socialised and has met lots of situations/other pups./people, if or when they do have a bad experience, they are that much better at shrugging it off themselves as a "one off".

Unless i feel a dog is really aggressive, or really terrified, i tend to leave dogs to work it out themselves, and they get good at body language and at basically communicating with their own kind; we as humans can tend to interfere too much as others have said.

Best wishes
Lindsay

Thank you everyone:) I don't think (or I hope) I won't come across a situation as drastic as Patricia's - I hope your pup is OK and glad you had someone to help. It was more the 'little' incidents I was thinking about - I will now be And practice the disdainful look my dog does so well:D Along with distraction etc when the time comes.

Thanks again.

Anita

Thanks he is fine and a really sweetie, .at the time we had no time to distract him
just had this bloody huskey jump him and go for his neck! but zac did not even wimper
so all was well ..

Patricia

:D

Hi Reefer,
What I end up doing when I come across other dogs that are not in control.... I usually put my girls into a sit/stay looking at me & with their backs to the other dogs. They get very upset when another dog is misbehaving and actually flinch when the owner yells at it. It's worse if it is off leash. Chienne will actually start moaning, and then escalate to a scream from the anxiety. So I give them someone else to focus on ... me.

I can keep an eye on the other dog/handler and on mine at the same time, but I can react if I have to by picking them up. I find if they're at a sit/stay, usually the other owner can pull move his lungeing dog by us faster than if we were to just normally walk past the other pair. Especially on narrow paths. I know what my dogs will/won't do. I have no idea about the other "guy."

I'm very leery these days about other dogs/owners...with good cause. But I'm willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. As long as they are in control of the situation when they get about a foot away from us.

toodles

Hello Eoghania

Thanks for your reply, storing all this info up.......

Anita