Molly has a problem with joggers.  She thinks it's okay to terrorise them, especially ones that are frightened of dogs!

Seriously, it's becoming a bit of a problem when out walking, if she sees a jogger, off she gallops, hackles raised like a camel, woofing and huffing at them and will ignore me for a few minutes.  If the jogger appears confident she will back down and return to me quite quickly, but if they're nervous she won't leave them until I can get close enough to demand a 'down'' and then she becomes very submissive.  I will usually tell her off and put her on the lead at this point. 

It's almost as if she thinks the woods are hers, and how dare anybody else, without a doggy pal, use them.

Several people that I walk with have suggested a citronella spray collar might be useful.  I really need to stop this behaviour as it gets a bit embarassing, keep having to appologise for her bad behaviour.  I would add that 90% of the time her recall is excellent and she's still a baby at 18 months old.

Any suggestions appreciated

The first thing is to make sure it doesn't happen again by keeping her on the lead if there is any chance of seeing a jogger and, if you do happen upon one suddenly, make sure you keep plenty of space between you and them - ie don't carry on walking towards them, turn back if you have to until you get to a place where there is enough room to pass without her reacting.

Then take her somewhere that she can see joggers but at a distance where she will not raise her hackles or woof and huff.  Unless there is a favourite jogging route locally, this one is going to be tricky and it might need to be set up with a few fit friends!  What you want to happen is that from her safe distance she has a look, sees it's a jogger but doesn't react.  Reward this and make it her new habit around joggers.  In fact, joggers will come to mean nice things - praise and treats, or whatever reward she likes best.

As she gradually comes to accept that they aren't evil monsters, you will be able to reduce the distance.  If she goes back to huffing and woofing, you have gone too close too fast.

What definitely won't work is standing with her on a tight lead whilst they pass or trying to get joggers to reassure her whilst she is woofing.  Also, if you spray her with a citronella collar whilst she is looking at the jogger, there is a danger that she will think it is the jogger that caused the nasty thing to happen.

Good luck.

Hi Mrs Mop i agree with the first post but you could also put her on a lead and as the jogger gets near ask them to walk past your dog and if you have the confidence give the jogger a treat and say to them is it okay if my dog approaches you in her own time and when she has a positive aproach to the jogger get them to give her a treat and give her loads of treats in that way she learns their no threat and you have a easier life when walking her.  You could do it with friends or family who she hasn't met and get them to jog past her when your walking.  Be consistent though and dont reward negative behaviour, ignore it and the better she'll become Best of luck.

Warm regards Susan

Hi there

I agree totally with Lillith.  My rescue dog Bazil used to have a thing about joggers so I know exactly where you are coming from.  I used to put him on a lead as soon as I saw a jogger and get him to sit beside me holding a treat.  When the jogger passed he got his treat.  I had the same problem with bikes and got a young friend of mine to come on our walk on his bike.  Baz was absolutely fine at the end of the walk as he had got used to the bike.  Good luck.  Just to say though there is no overnight solution to this problem and, in the meantime, you really have to manage it well and basically have eyes in the back of your head to see what is coming before she does.  A jogger could take exception to what she is doing which could land you in trouble.  I'm sure it will work out if you stick with it.  Agree completely about the citronella spray.

Kind regards
Annie

PS:  What breed is she?

PPS:  Susan, I agree with what you say but I always found that the joggers I met were in no way interested in "walking" past the dog and only a few actually didn't shout obscenities when I apologised for his behaviour.  If the joggers in your area have better manners and don't think that the woods belong to them that would be a good idea.

I can understand what your saying but most joggers are aprenhensive of jogging past dogs i did have the same problem with my Westie Charlie he hated them and he would try to bite them and abit of respect from both corners goes along way, he now thinks that they have a treat for them so he see's them as food not to eat them ha ha just their treats, it's well worth introducing your dog to everyone and you get rid of that unwanted behaviour that no one wants from there dogs.  I've done it with the postie the milkman otherwise i can't get no letters.  If the dog doesn't see these people as a threat they're great, i remeber years ago when i had a dobermann prince and he would go for bikers joggers the lot until he met them then they weren't just someone jogging past or bikers they were their friends.  I think you'll find most joggers are quite easy to approach, well they are around here anyway.  It all goes back to socialisation really.

warm regards susan

Of course if the JOGGERS give the treat you may increase the problem............. you may reinforce the behaviour if it is rewarded by the jogger.......

Be aware that under the DDA your dog does not actually have to BITE anyone, just make the person reasonably apprehensive.

You would be better of IMHO reinforcing calm behaviours by treating your self and working on improving your general control and recall