Are now my least favourite thing!  My new red dobermann girl Soli came home yesterday, she ahs some socialisation issues - puppy classes were abandoned (she wouldn't emerge from under the chair) so as a result I've now got a 5yr old with very poor social skills.  Her first line of defense is offence - she's not out-and-out aggressive, just very insecure; she'll stiffen up, then start barking and leaping around trying to see off any dogs that come near (that is, within about 20-30 feet for a big dog and slightly less for a little one).  I know how to work on this issue - she's very similar to my brother's dog, and I made great progress with her before I moved away - but it's other people that are the problem!

I took her to the park twice today, just for half an hour each time on lead, to start working on leash control and her reactivity to other dogs.  On the first trip, a guy came towards us with a weimeraner and - despite me taking her as far to one side as I could, and her starting to kick off - didn't call the dog back until it started back at her, hackles and barking.  On the second, a guy didn't try to call his shih tzu back, even though Soli was going bananas and I was struggling to hold her - he only called his dog when it was about 10 feet away, and I had actually had to almost *scream* at him twice to call it.  It wouldn't have been so bad if Soli were not a big girl - she must be 27" at the whithers (not sure, she's frightened of my tape measure :rolleyes:), and she's a little overweight as well, and a steam train on lead.  So rather difficult to hold on to!

When I went back with the other two dogs later, we were pestered by a labradoodle until I got my dogs in the car and the door shut.  The owner was calling but not doing anything else to get the dog back.

So, I'm not going to that park at weekends anymore - far too stressful for me and Soli, and too much temptation for Remy and Opi!  It's as though all the idiots walk their dogs there at weekends, during the week the better behaved ones are out and about.  Much better for counter-conditioning with Soli.  As for the other two - well, all three are going to get remedial recall training (must be the 5th or 6th time for Remy and Opi, but I never see it through to full generalisation), and I'm flippin well going to work through it right to the bitter end when I can recall them from any dog we come across!

Is there anywhere else you can take her where dogs are on lead ? I know it must be very frustrating for you, but im on the otherside where I dont have 100% recall over my boy when he spots another dog (he comes back once he has said hello :rolleyes: ) and it can be frustrating keep having to put him on a lead everytime I see another on lead dog, parks - imo - are for off lead dogs to play together and not for dogs who dont like other dogs.  Although to be fair I avoid parks as much as possible because there are just too many other dogs and I spend half my time screaming at Alf to come back :rolleyes:

Good luck with her though, I think its really commendable taking on a dog like that.

Normal walks at weekends are a real pain as half the world seems to be walking their dog at the weekend. Just wonder what walks their dogs get for the rest of the week as most are only seen out and about at the weekend.

I tend to go at less popular times now - 12.30 seems to be about the best as a lot of people are getting ready for their dinner then. And sadly I am one of those people who no longer mind wet weekends because the rain tends to thin the crowds as well - if it is chucking it down I often don't meet a soul. :)

Excuse my ignorance but what is a red dobermann, I thought they only came in black and tan and brown (dont know if its brown or liver!!) I didn't realise they came in other colours:rolleyes:

Same as brown and tan,liver and tan, people call them different things!!

The four recognised Dobermann colours are black, brown, blue and fawn, all with the usual rust markings that you're used to seeing on the blacks. (Fawns are often called Isabellas.)

Fawn and blue are fairly uncommon, and can both have coat issues I believe?

M.

They certainly can, blues are better known for it but my fawn boy is testament that they can have problems as well - he is almost bald on his body now, poor guy.  Bad skin too.  And uncommon is certainly right - Remy and his family (all blues and fawns) are the only ones I've met, and they aren't normally bred on purpose - the one breeder I know of offhand that does is not good IMO, they also breed albinos.  When they are bred purposefully - as Remy was - you end up with even worse coats like his, one reason why they don't tend to be bred for.  That, and on the show side it's extremely rare to get a fawn or blue with a good enough coat to show.

I do have a couple of other walks I can take them all on - out of the way ones, we'll be sticking to those while the recalls are being trained/re-trained.  In retrospect I should've known the afternoon walk was going to be bad - the morning one I felt was necessary so I could guage her reaction distance for the counter-conditioning.  That way I should be able to avoid getting too close to another dog to give me enough time to get food to her mouth!  I am fortunate in that my garden is big enough for the dogs to run at full speed if they want, albeit in big circles - so frustration at being on lead won't be too bad.

I would agree with the other poster that you should maybe start with road walking, where the other dogs you see will (hopefully) be on leads too, so the whole situation can be controlled. It must all be very scary and new for Soli, while she's still getting used to you and the other dogs it's maybe just too much to take her out to the park too.

nikita, the only thing worse than parks at the weekend is parks, mid afternoon at the weekend on a sunny day!  I love miserable days and first thing in the morning as it is like we have the beach/park/woods etc all to ourselves and don't have to worry about people who don't have control of their dogs. 

Try parks at lunchtime in the summer - the number of times George has bounded into the middle of someone's picnic.... :rolleyes:

Sunny Sunday afternoons! I refuse to walk my dogs then!