Advice Wanted On Confrontation

[Sticks1977]

I was out walking 'Fraser' (our chocolate labrador) who has just turned five months of age. He has been really great on his "walkies" so far and is hardly pulling the lead at all when we are going on our daily walk through the neighbourhood.

Normally he is very happy and alert when seeing people come out of their house or seeing someone on the other side of the road. I am also teaching him to sit whenever we come to a road crossing and lately he is starting to sit without me having to tell him - I just slow down to a stop, look down and he is sitting there next to me.

Anyway... we were out walking last night just before dusk and I noticed another dog about 10 metres ahead of us sniffing a plant or two and he was off his lead. A young boy was walking him and he had the colar and lead in his hand. This male dog - who I later found out to be called "Lollipop" - came bounding up to Fraser and initially I was unsure of what might happen.

Lollipop ended up sniffing Fraser, and as Fraser is used to other dogs from the socialisation part of training at ADT he didn't seem to mind. However Lollipop ended up a bit rowdy and perhaps he hasn't been "getting any" as he tried to 'mount' Fraser from behind. I tried to pull Fraser out of the way while the young boy who had caught up to us was attempting to get the colar onto his dog (who was a little bit bigger than Fraser).

I could see that the young kid was struggling so I held his dog by the scruf of the neck while trying to also keep my attention on Fraser to make sure that he was fine. Lollipop again attempted to 'mount' Fraser just after his colar was fastened and I again pulled Fraser out of the way as I would think this is something he would not be enjoying.

I did not make a fuss over Fraser after the incident, we (handlers) both stood there roughly 2-3 metres apart and Fraser was wagging his tail and seemed happy - I think he mainly wanted to play. The other dog was obviously 'rowdy' as he had his "lipstick" out (it wasn't hard to notice!) and then I proceeded on my way with Fraser continuing our walk.

Was the way I handled the incident OK? I was not sure whether I should have handled the other dog... Fraser seemed fine on the rest of his walk - he met a few more people along the way that took an interest in him and asked how old he was etc. and he seemed happy with them.

Seeing as though Lollipop (funny name for a male dog!) was off his lead, is there anything I can do in future to make sure that Fraser is not harmed? I think I was lucky on this occassion that Lollipop did not turn on him and start to get viscous and after the event I was rather angry that the young boy had his dog off lead in the first place - ANYTHING could have happened and luckily both dogs are seemingly fine.

Regards, Shaun (sticks1977)

[Erny]

Sounds like you did fine. Without being there to know the exact circumstances you were in, the only thing I would have been inclined to have done differently was to simply 'block' the other dog's advances on my own dog - rather than to have to be pulling my own dog out from the other dog each time.

Poor show that the owner of the other dog had taken both lead AND collar off. The collar should have remained on - this makes it easier and more efficient to take control of a dog when needs be.

Glad your early socialisation efforts have helped Fraser to be a happy, well-balanced temperamented dog. :p

As for making it more safe? IMO, you can't guarantee against life. The only thing you can do is work so that your own dog is well-balanced and obedient and sees you as a leader. And be vigilant (as much as you can be) when out on walks. Not that this happened in your situation, but also make sure your dog doesn't go around bends (where you can't see ahead) before you. Otherwise, just apply common sense ..... that's the most you can do. (Apart from never go anywhere.)

Edited November 15, 2007 by Erny

[percyk]

Hi Sticks

About the mounting thing - it's a dominance thing I think. Even desexed females do it so I dont think it's about 'not getting any" lol.

My young ones do it and I simply step in but the desexed bitch promptly tried to put every one of the young males in his place by doing this. She does not play aggressively but there is a tension about her sometimes when the younger dogs want to play with her. They play on her terms only.If she refuses, they submit - go down on their haunches , do the deference thing ( lol) with their paws and pull their ears right back.

When she is in the mood, she will happily mess with them!

[Kobayashi]

yeah, i agree with the dominance thing. Willow was always trying to mount the male heeler cross at puppy preschool, lol.