I'm wondering how I can help Scarlet to overcome her dislike of Boxers and GSD's. Is there anyway I can help my dog to tolerate GSDs and Boxers? I can pinpoint where the dislike of Boxers originated (the same bitch went for Scarlet twice and she's never forgotten about it) as for the GSD problem, well the only thing I can think that might have programmed her to be hostile towards this breed is that we used to always stand next to a rescued GSD at obedience training and he used to bark and lunge at Scarlet - but he never hurt her physically. I would really like to help her to get over this prob because I find now that I have to avoid these breeds when we are out because her reaction is always the same. She will look "spooked" when she sees them approach, she'll look away and if they continue to approach up to her for a sniff, then she'll turn and fly at them (bit similar to the way she behaves after a season when a dog comes sniffing the rear end). Things have become a bit "hairy" on occasions when the other party has been ready to have a go back and I'm a bit worried that she may end up getting herself ripped to pieces! - HELP!

Hi Mair

Poor Scarlet! :(

One way would be to find a really nice GSd/Boxer owner, wilingto help. Maybe even theone at club? Arrange to meet on a walk, but for the other dog to be not too close.

Ideally you don't want any reactin from Scarlet, except maybe a tinge of wariness. Doesn't she love that ball you eventually got hold of? As if she does, you could keep this lovely treat ONLY for when the other dog is near. If you "read" her you will know how quickly you can progress to getting closer and closer, unti she associates the other dog with nice stuff and eventually accepts jor at least tolerates it.

It may take sometime, weeks rather than hours if you know what i mean.

So you may have to buy the other owner some choccies or a drink!!!

Watch too how you react; don't tighten the lead, allow Scarlet to use her own facial and body language. Don't react if she does fly at them (If she does though you may have taken it too quickly.) Ignore her,get her under control and get her away.

Also don't let her think that her own lungin g ever scares them off or she may atart to do this to keep them away. You don't want her behaviour to be "successful" in her mind.

Finally try not to speak soothingly to her either as she gets cross as she may nterpret this as praise for her fear/aggression.

And try veryhard not to let her have any bad experience sat all with those ebreeds or any dog whilst you are training her or it could set it all back.

Well, hope that helps a bit Mair. What do you think?

By the way how is Ava, has she seen Scarlet do this at all?

Lots of luck Mair.
Lindsay

Thanks Lindsay, I am worried about Ava learning this behaviour from Scarlet, and I think I must be partly to blame for it because I do tend to tense up now when I see boxers or GSDs approaching and tend to scoot off in the other direction to avoid any confrontations. I did ask my trainer for help when this problem surfaced but she seems to think it's just something I'd have to learn to manage or avoid. In classes she'd just tell us to avoid the boxer and GSDs. Scarlet is not at all a dominant dog and not usually confrontational - she will usually clear off out of the way if there's something/someone she doesn't like. We always used to talk to a lady in the woods who owned 3 boxers who Scarlet got along great with up until the point when this other persons boxer started exercising in the woods too and it took a dislike to a few of the dogs (it went for Scarlet twice). After this happened Scarlet won't even entertain the idea of fun and games with the three boxer bitches that she used to have so much fun with, it's such a shame, I can tell by the look on her face and her stance that it's a fear thing with her. Up until now my reaction to this behaviour has been to tell her off - maybe she thinks I'm barking too in reaction to what she see's is a threat? Hubby reckons that she doesn't do this when he is exercising her, but she's quite protective of me, do you think that has anything to do with it?
By the way Linsday, I posted some pictures of my lot onto "Denvers gang" - did you see them? I'll be 32 tomorrow, if I get a party hat I'll post a pic of me wearing it!!!! (bet you can't wait!)
Thanks again
Mair

Hi Mair, Lindsay's right in what she's saying. I'd be very reluctant to just accept this behaviour because we are never in complete charge of circumstances however much we think we are, there is always the time when we go round a corner and find ourselves confronted by what we were trying to avoid. Try to relax. It's very true that our fears go straight down the lead. We see something and immediately we tighten the lead. we might as well phone the dog and tell it to panic! A tight lead means no line of retreat for your dog so what option does that leave? Stand and fight! This is the reason for the old story, "He's all right off the lead!" There is always dogs around who "Have a go" at our dogs and the immediate reaction is to make a big fuss of our dog, comfort it, tell it we love it and don't take notice of that horrible dog. This is unfortunately the wrong move! However much we want to reassure our dog the dog looks upon this reassurance as conformation that something momentous has happened and the more we make of it, the more our dog thinks we are worried by it, therefore there must be something to worry about! I tell my dog off!! even though she had nothing to do with it. the next time she sees something which worries her then her reaction is, "I'd better ignore it or I’ll get told off!" I must say, I feel so sorry for my dogs sometime but believe me, It works.

Best wishes, John

Thanks John, this has definitely given me something to work on, I'm very grateful for your advice.
Mair

Happy Birthday Mair ! Hope you have a great day :-)

Leigh

Thanks Leigh - think I'll start counting backwards next year (wish I could stay at 32 forever!)
Bye for now
Mair:D

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Maaaaiiiiirrrrr, Happy Birthday to you. :D

Just as well you can't hear me singing. LOL!

Have a great day.

Thanks ever sooo much Claire - that was brill!

hi Mair

Happy Birthday Rusty!!!

I loved the pictures, I have just been looking at Denver's Gang before coming onto here for a quick look-see.

You have a pair of really beautiful dogs Mair, you must be very proud of them. :)

Best wishes
Lindsay

How's your latest edition doing Lindsay? Do you plan to post any pictures of your pup. I looked up the breed in my "breeds bible" (Canine Lexicon) - they have quite a close resemblance to the GSD don't they? Pity you don't live in my neck of the woods because I could do with a friendly GSd type dog to help allay Scarlets little fear/behaviour problem! (mind you having said that we might end up with a Tervuren which dislikes Vizslas knowing my luck!)

Ah Mair,

It is a pity we are not geographically closer as I would have loved to help. (Excuse to meet Ava and Scarlet you see!!)

My Tasha would have been perfect as she was very confidentwithother dogs but also a peacemaker, and never worried if a dog took a dislike to her. Just turned her back and trotted off. She was also quite big, top size and weight for a TErv, so could have passed off as a GSD maybe for your girl. (Or maybe not, they're much cleverer than we think aren't they!!)

Have you ever heard of Turid Rugaas? She has written a handly little booklet called "On Talking Terms with Dogs:Calming Signals". From Crosskeysbooks.com. She also visits the UK doing practical demos and summer camps in Scotland. Sorry, I got off the point there but I was thinknig about the communication aspect of it all.

I'd love to put Banya in the Gang, we have some piccies coming back tomorrow I think. Trouble is I can imagine me wanting to put n photos of all the dogs i've walked, the guinea-pigs, and probably end up really upset because of my 2 Tervs at the Bridge.

Banya's so funny at the moment, I hope the piccies will show her how she really is, if you see what I mean!! Just now she's upside down asleep at the bottom of thestairs. :)

Best wishes
Lindsay

Hi Lindsay, yes I have heared of calming signals and Turid, I had advice on this from a local lady called Alex Abrahams and she told me all about the calming signals like yawning,blinking,looking away and even about not walking straight towards an oncoming dog but walking in a outward curve when approaching. When I took note of Scarlets reactions towards other dogs she is quite good with her calming signals and will usually get down when she spots another dog approaching, look away etc... When I tried the calming signals in the woods I must have looked a proper nutter doing all this yawnig and blinking, but if it works then it would be well worth it wouldn't it, think I'll give it a try again.
Look forward to seeing the pictures of your Banya, very unusual name that, where did it come from?
bye again
Mair

Hi Mair

I would love to see you yawning and blinkng in the woods, I am sure you did not seem TOO weird.....<BG>.

They do work well on some dogs particularly the visually-orientated ones like BC's. I got my uptight BC mate Ben to accept having his eyes wiped and acceptingdrops in his eyeswith these signals. He is a farm-bred collie and never has beenfussed over or groomed in the way most of us would as pet onwers (you should see his dew claws!!) and very snappy if "fiddled" with. But after 10 days he accepted the cotton wool and so on. I was pleased as he is fine except when being fiddled with, and then he is unpredictable. But it's pure fear. iIwas just pleased he could be "reached", poor lad.

Banya was, I thought totally original and out of my own head, but then DEs brings home a book called "The Banya". It is apparently the name for a Russian bath-house or meeting place for free speech.

I just think of it as a name, and try not to think of all those naked Russians sitting around chatting LOL!!!

BEst wishes
Lindsay

I have a "dog friend" in the woods who is Russian and she owns a beautiful black Russian terrier (huge he is) - I'll have to ask her about these Banyas (might impress with my knowledge!).
I think the "yawning" signal really does seem to work - used this to reassure Scarlet when we first bought Ava home, but the blinking didn't seem to make any difference. I did have a look on the website ages ago about Turids work - quite fancy a trip away on one of her classes - maybe when the kids get a little older i'd be able to go.

Hi Mair

Do ask your Russian friend abou the Banyas; could be interesting!! Wonder if she got her Russian Terrier from her onw country?

Best wishes
Lindsay

how does a dog know what breed is what?