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| george and harry ganging up on other dogs... | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 31 2009, 08:53 PM (89 Views) | |
| cruisingkerry | Mar 31 2009, 08:53 PM Post #1 |
Squeaker
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I'm quite upset this evening, I know Harry has a growling problem with other dogs and I know George likes to jump in when there's the chance of a fight but i'm trying to get them socialised. Tonight I took them somewhere that I know there's loads of dogs so I can work with getting them to take no notice of the other dogs and be able to socialise them properly. All went well, lots of lovely owners who were very understanding when I explained why I had them both on leads etc. So was really pleased with both me and them. Then i decided to take them to the beach for a run to burn off some energy. Anyway, George - no problem, came back when called etc, harry did the same then disappeared over a sand dune. Got george on the lead then went off to find Harry. he comes bounding along the beach witha staffy that he has obsviously been playing nicely with. Sees me and george and starts growling at the staffy. So I called him and had to get quite close to catch him so george starts having a go. Long story short, after a lot of shouting, grabbing and kicking my dogs from the staffy owner managed to get them away from each other. Both of them seem ok but Harry was really 'huffy' for want of a better word. he's got some hair missing from his ear and seems to be walking more slowly, not sure if he's just tired being an oldie and we'd already had a fair length walk before the beach. Next door neighbour gave me some doggy pain meds (her dog has hip displasia) and he has eaten his dinner and settled to sleep after a cuddle. Kind of thinking that I need to keep them both on leads, keep up with taking them just to places where I can socialise them, I'm even considering getting muzzles for them. I do love to see them off the leads running around but don't feel like I can trust them at all, one minute they're fine, the next they're raving lunatics! Does anyone have any words of wisdom or past experiences they can share with me, please! |
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| Tafia | Mar 31 2009, 09:07 PM Post #2 |
Total Gas Bag!
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Most terrier owners will have experienced this at some point. No easy answer I'm afraid - just training, training, more training and training. Whenever you see someone with calm, chilled out dogs - rush over and ask if they'll allow a meet and greet (this is as much for your confidence as for the dogs!) - the more you train, the more likely they are to actually hear you, at that point your about half way there getting them to actually do what it is you've asked. Make all training as fun as possible - there are some brilliant threads on here about recall training so do a search and have a read. Oh and did I mention training? Do it lots but in small, fun bite size pieces. ;) Don't worry about the dogs, I'll bet that you're far more shaken up than either of the two of them. Terriers basically just enjoy the adrenelin rush, whatever it is! Chin up, it's a dog thing and it happens. The only other suggestion is pour yourself a glass of red and maybe a bar of chocolate? Edited by Tafia, Mar 31 2009, 09:11 PM.
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| piwoodhouse | Apr 1 2009, 10:54 AM Post #3 |
Total Gas Bag!
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You've only had George for a few months and Harry for a few weeks so I really wouldn't expect too much too soon. It could be that the 'honeymoon' period is over and they're both finding their feet in this new 2 dog set up. If they are ganging up against other dogs, they may be trying to protect you in which case it's probably a matter of reclaiming control. Is it possible for you to do some training individually - if George got to Bronze level he'll be further down the line than Harry so they'll have different needs. I only ask as if they are exercising and training together they come to see themselves as a pack. I had all sorts of bother with my two in this regard and taking Widget to a training class on his own and reinforcing things just with him when out walking really paid off, but it took time to get there. You mentioned you had some success with a whistle for George - would there be any mileage in finding one with a totally different sound for Harry so they each get their own exclusive call sounds? |
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| cruisingkerry | Apr 1 2009, 01:06 PM Post #4 |
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Squeaker
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you're right, I think it is the pack thing, they're great in the house together and when we're out and they're on the duplex lead they potter along fab together. Also I think George needs more exercise than Harry because of the age difference too. I must say though that there's some fantastic dog owners out there who are happy to help get them better socialised and I always explain my problem to them and thank them for their help afterwards. Thanks for the feedback |
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| Linda & Fred | Apr 1 2009, 05:20 PM Post #5 |
Chatterbox
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I would walk them separately for a while, it could be that they are more relaxed if they don't feel they are competing with each other (or 'packing' together). It could be that you need them to bond more closely to you, not each other, especially if both are quite new to you. You could also try not approaching if Harry starts growling at another dog when he sees you - go the other way with george and work on getting him to realise that his pack is dispearing and he should catch up! If you do have to go and fetch one dog, try to leave the other one tied up to something. I realise that's a bit difficult on a beach though. It does come - Fred, the dog from HELL, is now helping me socialise other dogs. :D He can still be a bugger though - he's got a sore paw and I had to muzzle him and ask a passer by for help just to see if there was something stuck in his foot... Vet's tomorrow so they can fight him to inspect it. |
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| cruisingkerry | Apr 2 2009, 12:33 PM Post #6 |
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Squeaker
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took the boys out separately this morning and both did really well :ok: . I don't think I've ever seen george so well behaved, i was so proud of him! I think I've done them both an injustice by treating them the same, you're totally right, they're both at such different stages in training and getting to know and respect me and of course the difference in age means they need different things. Just a thought, will it make any difference to them if I take the same dog out first each time or should I alternate who goes first. george went mad when i first went out with harry, what do you think? |
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| Linda & Fred | Apr 2 2009, 06:53 PM Post #7 |
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Chatterbox
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I usually take the least pushy one out first if I've got two to walk and can't do them together, but that's normally a m/f pairing. What the age/size/castration status of the dogs? When I'm walking my little 'packs' they sometimes all wee on the same spot, and if with your two it's obviously one of the dogs who covers the other dog's wee all the time, I'd do that one first. If your dogs are close in age, size and are both entire or done then it can get a bit more complicated. Or, you could just alternate which one, so they don't get used to one of them being first all the time - that helps if you have to leave one behind for other reasons. |
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| roo roo | Apr 3 2009, 10:36 PM Post #8 |
Total Gas Bag!
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just when you think youve got them trained they go and do something that makes you realise just how pathetic you are as a human being when it comes to training a dog! :blush: i say this cos Razzle amazed me the other day as she had gone up to 2 staffies and they played nicely for ages (all younger than her)and then a stick was introduced by the staffies owner and thats like a red rag to razzzle.any stick thats around is HERS!(well anything at all thats around is hers!) :rolleyes: she snatched the stick off the staffy bitch, a tug of war developed, the staff let go, razz ran off with it, then the staff ran up to her an razzle promptly jumped up and bit the staff on the nose and wouldnt let go! :woohoo: i was so embarrassed :blush: shes never done this before.she got told off very smartly and she knew she was in disgrace as she spent the rest of the evening on her very best behaviour.(look mum im a little angel really) :angel: have to say the staffies were so good natured and didnt retaliate once.which made it even worse as i felt awful that they had been so good and my little horror was being such a madam :blush: |
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| cruisingkerry | Apr 4 2009, 08:55 PM Post #9 |
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I totally agree with the embarassment factor, I don't even feel like I can use the 'they don't usually do this' any more. have been walking them separately when I can. George is about 3 and castrated, Harry is about 14 and recently castrated. And yes they do wee on the same spot, sometimes at the same time, sometimes one goes first sometimes the other. I tend to take Harry first because i know George can wait for a poo and wee longer than Harry also Harry being older means he doesn't want to go as far or as long as George. I'm sure it'll work out great, they're great together, even been playing today in the house together, normally Harry shies away, probably not used to playing, certainly doesn't know what to do with toys, same as George when he first came to live here. Thank for all the advice and letting me know other dogs do the same thing, very reassurring! I'm |
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