Stressful Times ....
May 12, 2012
So it's exam time for me, and although I'm not feeling too stressed at the moment - Tilly is definatley picking up on it. She's recessed into her prey-drive towards smaller dogs again - and I'm going to have to sort it out!
The thing that is strange (but hopeful) about the situation is that she sniffed the dog, stood over it and then jumped on it. She doesn't do any damage, and it's all noise - but when I shouted, she jumped off and ran away like it was a game - so it isn't true aggression - in a way, she's playing with them.
If a small dog is running, she generally ignores it. If a small dog goes for her or barks at her she ignores it.
But if it doesn't move she gets confused. It's almost like "Why aren't you moving/barking/snapping?" Because she has been attacked so many times it's almost like she's come to expect it!
Anyway - I'm going to be more vigillant as to what dogs I see when walking and am going to see if there are any small dog meet - up or walks nearby that I could take her to to socialize her and make her more comfortable with smaller canines!
I'm also going to work on training a rock-solid recall so that she'll come away from dogs, squirrels, birds, food - anything!! I don't quite know how I'm going to do that yet!!!
The thing that is strange (but hopeful) about the situation is that she sniffed the dog, stood over it and then jumped on it. She doesn't do any damage, and it's all noise - but when I shouted, she jumped off and ran away like it was a game - so it isn't true aggression - in a way, she's playing with them.
If a small dog is running, she generally ignores it. If a small dog goes for her or barks at her she ignores it.
But if it doesn't move she gets confused. It's almost like "Why aren't you moving/barking/snapping?" Because she has been attacked so many times it's almost like she's come to expect it!
Anyway - I'm going to be more vigillant as to what dogs I see when walking and am going to see if there are any small dog meet - up or walks nearby that I could take her to to socialize her and make her more comfortable with smaller canines!
I'm also going to work on training a rock-solid recall so that she'll come away from dogs, squirrels, birds, food - anything!! I don't quite know how I'm going to do that yet!!!
Posted by Monique.