Viewing Single Post From: Hari snapped at me today

Viewing Single Post From: Hari snapped at me today
RJL	Jul 3 2009, 03:58 PM
Chatterbox Posts: 1,387 Group: Full Members Member #179 Joined: January 25, 2006	:flower: don't worry! As Tafia said, the main thing is that Hari listened to you when you responded to the snap. When you say you offered her a treat, you quite possibly just tipped her over her snapping threshold. The fact it was a snap is a positive - it wasn't a bite! She was just saying 'aaagghhhh - out of my WAY! I need to sort this situation out but I'm all panicky and :help: :cry: :help: ' when your arm came into view with the treat. What you can deduce from this is that when it comes to a situation of this magnitude (as far as Hari is concerned) a mere treat just does not cut it! Imagine the most stressful time in your life and what you might have said if somebody had tried to shove a polo in your mouth (the sweet - not the car) So - you need to be able to do 2 things. One is that you need to be able to get in there earlier in these situations to bring her focus back on you. Two - you need to stay calm (you have already proved to yourself that the firm, calm approach works and the flapping about offering a treat does not) Odd question, but when you go for a walk, are you just walking, or do you break off for some really fun games and opportunities for Hari to win herself some really quality time with you? Would you say that when she goes out she is anticipating a really fun time with you and the most high quality interaction she gets with you at any time - or is she switching off from you and getting tense and wary, waiting for the next 'situation' to flare up and worrying how she will cope, because you are just, well, wandering along? Walks should be the highlight of a dog's day and the chance to really have some fun - on or off the lead. If the lead is just a thing that pops on and signals that you are going somewhere, she isn't going to be happy intil she gets there. However, if the lead signals some real fun and things to do, like heelwork ( ;) which bores me to tears, but Dill likes it!) or picking up things you drop, or speaking on command or anything really, then you are getting the focus back on you. If you see dogs approaching, there is nothing wrong with asking that they are put on a lead and just be honest and say your dog can be aggressive - hence the lead. If the owners get smart, just politely ignore them: they are the ones who aren't in control of their dogs. It is hugely hard at first, but try to focus Hari on you earlier (and if you are already making focussing on you a feature of the whole walk it will be easier) If she does even so much as tense up and prepare to lunge, get the 'no!' in straight away. Don't try to distract her as she has gone mentally past that point and into 'fight, flyte, freeze or fiddle' mode. It is much, much more difficult than it seems to get the timing right sometimes. If she actually lunges - have a phrase like 'oh dear!' (or something stronger) and march her back home in disgrace, or at leat turn around and head back a few hundred yards, so she knows she's blown it! Of course, this will only work if you have already turmed walks on the lead into something every bit as entertaining as walks off the lead and the lead is no longer a sign for her to effectively get somewhere else and be responsible for sorting out any problems on the way. Rather, it will be a signal that you are both in charge of the situation and ready to have fun - if she follows your rules. I am sure you will get through this - you are doing an amazing job with her. :ok:


Hari snapped at me today · Training & Behaviour