When a dog runs up to a pup

[swazzie]

I have a 15 week old Lab pup, I’ve owned labs before . 
So his  training is going well ,he’s super keen to learn , good eye contact and he has picked up commands easily .

My aim is to be able to walk him to school and back on loose lead , without reacting to other dogs or kids. It’s a short term goal and it’s a 7 min walk so appropriate for his age. So my approach has been to wait in an area near to school, not too busy so I can teach him to ignore passers by, I hold his attention and teach ignore if there is people or a dog walking past. 
I know you have to teach your pup to handle many variables but when dog owners see you are obviously training and still bring their full grown dog over to say hello- what do you do? 

now to say , I’m all for socialising but isn’t it obvious if you are standing to the side getting a pup to be calm - don’t bring your dogs over ???

[Mairead]

You are expecting too much from humans, not the most aware of species generally.

Best you can hope for at the moment might be to treat it as getting used to different people and dogs, but mention you are training and would appreciate it if they didn't come over next time.

The general public in my suburb usually avoided my dogs because a) they had been taught dogs = rabies and/or bites and thought that a dog panting was baring it's teeth or b) they thought they were greyhounds and so were vicious, why else would they have muzzles (greyhounds not my dogs). So I haven't experienced this problem myself, but I'm sure people with far more experience will be along to help.

 

Edited March 25, 2023 by Mairead

[swazzie]

45 minutes ago, Mairead said:

You are expecting too much from humans, not the most aware of species generally.

 

Ha ha yes I guess so

[Boronia]

Something like this

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dog+in+training+vest+do+not+pet&crid=2G1C3BCA4L2TU&sprefix=do+not+pet+dog+vest%2Caps%2C355&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_19

 

 

[Loving my Oldies]

You have to be firm and tell them to back off, you are in training.  Because there is a small park at the end of my street which I used to walk through in the days when my dogs were walked, I regularly had little children come running towards me, particularly as I walked several dogs at once.  I would put my hand up (like a traffic cop if anyone remembers them   ), call STOP and proceed to give the child and the parents a lesson.  All done with smiles and goodwill, of course.   And then pats were allowed.  Good humour all around.   

 

I think in the interests of bringing up a well adjusted and happy pup, you need to put your (perhaps) embarrassment aside and do what you have to do.  

 

Good luck.   

[swazzie]

Thank you, I’m definitely one  to speak up ,  I guess in this circumstance I didn’t  want to be too mean mum as it’s on the school run but your right I need to be firm.
 I can see why people almost take it as in invite  when you’re walking with a pup ,but when you’re facing the dog,  back to the people it  just amazes me . 

It’s actually not kids are the issue just the parents and kids with dogs. 
it’s been a minute since I’ve had a Pup so I guess I’ve forgotten what it’s like.

At the beach this weekend a three year old actually put her legs over the back of him, I definitely told her not to try and sit on a puppy back, in a nice way and to the parent when they eventually strolled over !!

 

[Loving my Oldies]

1 hour ago, swazzie said:

 

....in a nice way and to the parent when they eventually strolled over !!

 

I also experienced "the shock horror, how dare you stop my child" attitude.  Too bad.  They would be the first to demand your dog be "put down" if it bit the child.

[swazzie]

1 hour ago, Loving my Oldies said:

I also experienced "the shock horror, how dare you stop my child" attitude.  Too bad.  They would be the first to demand your dog be "put down" if it bit the child.

Yeah it’s stressful , I remember this with my last lab aswell, he was a child magnet but he was also calm from a pup.

This one like a chew on a finger - not mine but anyone else that comes past . 

[Dogsfevr]

Im my dogs advocate if nothing comes out my mouth i have let my dog down badly .If i do nothing i have let my dog down ,its not a puppy thing its a life thing pup,middle age ,senior life & not today .

If I say no  I expect anyone to accept that and walk away
I think people forget at times that when your out with your dog your not on public display your out enjoying your time .
My guys are showdogs so put up with anything but my walks are time out from the world 

Edited April 9, 2023 by Dogsfevr

[Amazetl]

I like the purple coat in the pic - loud and clear, people can’t miss it even from a distance. Some may still approach, some can’t help it, it seems.

 

I sometimes have kids running behind us to catch up shouting if they can pet my now 1 year old. Thankfully my big puppy (Golden Retriever) is not a jumper or excitable on walks or meeting people. I think some of that is nature but also I’ve made a point since the beginning to go out as much as possible and have as much as possible interactions. People would even hold her and pat her and get on the floor with her in their lap. But she was never an excitable pup in those situations so I admit I never had to really train her to be calm…

 

However, keep doing what you are doing and try to work through anyone or any dog coming up in the best way you can for your pup. It’s so essential to get them as much exposure to everything so when they are a big unruly pup everything is just normal and sort of even boring so they don’t react. I have a big senior Lab who as a puppy had people running over to us and it was just crazy at times and he reacted all excitably, became so hard that I didn’t take him out to populated areas much and now as he’s older he’s much better but it can still be a struggle if he’s going to get overly excited at someone who smiles at him. 

 

You’re doing a good job! 

[swazzie]

When we had our last lab he was so popular his entire life- I’d have kids come and wrap their arms around him- while I’m there going umm no no don’t do that please . But he was calm as a pup , this one is excitable - he’s calm at home though and he’s got great recall so I’ll take the wins .

thank you all 

[coneye]

Mmmm another double edged sword lots of them around ,,,  to socialize a dog  , what do you do , you take it out  , lots of walks ,   get it used to the noise of cars , roads , ect ect , you allow it to meet and mix with   other dogs and people ,  so when its older its used to them and a nice calm dog , if its a bit boisterous at 15 weeks    so what its a baby  thats something it will grow out of but  meeting and socializing  grow  with a confident streak    hopefully .

 

But when  you want to train a dog to be suspicous  , intolerant and sometimes aggressive , what do you do , start with basics are  , when people are coming towards you , shorten the leash , pull the dog close  make him wary   ,  decide excatly what your trying to do . 

 

I have had a couple of dogs i  would'nt let my wife walk  because she could'nt control them ,  both  were  a bit lead agressive when with her , i  watched and followe once   i could'nt undrestand because they were not like that with me , quickly spotted it was'nt the dogs it was her , if she seen someone else with another dog , she immiedietly    tensed , held the dog and shortened the leash , why i asked she said i'm scared in case  they fight  , she did'nt relize her fear fed the dog  and   they were sensing it and proctecting her , basicly people especeily people with dogs could not come near her they would get very leash reactive ,,  Yet with me they were great ,  , end result  i stopped the wife walking them on her own  they were just too big and strong to take a chance , so like i said be careful what you train them for

 

Better a freindly confident  dog thats good with strangers , than  the other sort

Edited March 29, 2023 by coneye

[Amazetl]

They say that dogs can feel everything about you through the lead…

 

My big Lab, when he was young he was leash reactive to an extent, but it was excitable, not aggressive. So trying to get to the person or dog to say hi. Very difficult for me with this big strong dog. He’s a very sweet kind boy but people see big dark dog and don’t know what he’s going to be like. 

 

So I started doing that when he was fully grown, would tense the lead and it would make it worse. I had to learn to just pretend like the person or other dog wasn’t there and just walk through with confidence and then he felt confident too and like we were on our way, no time to stop and play. He is very easy to walk now, still has that excitable face but is well behaved, but it was hard at times. 

 

You do need to find the balance because you don’t want the pup to grow up to be fearful of others and other dogs but you also don’t want them to see everyone as something to play with or jump on etc. In my experience no matter how hard it is, get them out there and exposed to everything as often as you can so it becomes just normal and boring. Of course teach them manners too and always ask the person if they can say hi etc. Not everyone wants it. Same for them to be asking you too but it doesn’t often happen unfortunately. 

[Deeds]

@AmazetlWhen you say fully grown what age was he when he calmed down?

 

I am currently in a similar situation to what you have described and yes it is hard at times.  

[Amazetl]

I would say we had a good routine happening when he was about a year and a half. But it took getting out there every day no matter how difficult a walk it might be. I used to do the same walk to begin with so he’d know what’s what and generally there wouldn’t be any surprises. It was worse if we saw another dog because sometimes he’d even happy scream which was very embarrassing. But just getting out there every day and getting him used to it and not allowing any reward for that behaviour really helped. He’s somewhat of an excitable/typical lab so just have to constantly monitor even when he’s now old if someone wants to make a fuss over him. Generally though he listens and I just don’t allow people to pat him or goo ga over him. 

 

All his crazy puppyhood behaviour (tearing my clothes, bruising me, jumping up, nipping) was over by age 2. He’s pretty lazy since then. 

[Tassie]

I'm increasingly willing to just say "Sorry, no" to people if it's not appropriate for one reason or another  for people and more particularly their dogs, to greet my pup.  (And with my previous 2 BCs, I would just say ahead of time .. Sorry, my dogs aren't super friendly, and move away if that was possible ... or do a 180 turn and go.   Both those dogs really liked most people and most dogs that they knew.   They were well adjusted, well travelled, and competed successfully in a number of disciplines, but I don't see the need for them to meet and greet or be greeted by every person or dog they meet.)

I'm quite happy to say "Sorry, I'm doing some training, could you give us space please" to anyone, and to say "Sorry, No" or sometimes just No .. if people let their kids or dog come too close without having asked.   I upset a couple in Bunnings one day, when as I was talking with a person who had asked if they could meet the puppy, and concentrating on my puppy having a lovely experience, and this couple pushed their trolley with some kind of designer pup eight up next to mine on the other side without even asking .. fully expecting the puppies to have a play date there and then.    Umm no, not happening.   I apologised to the person who had been visiting with my puppy and moved off.  

It is good to see that there are increasing numbers of people and children who ask first if it's OK for them to meet  the pup .... that gives a great chance for coaching both pup and kids.

And in answer to @coneye -   I have a trained "emergency turn and go" on lead for avoiding situations i don't want the dog to be in ... whether thats unwanted interactions with people or dogs, or with critters like snakes.    Trained as a game.

[JulesP]

The only time I've had people be considerate about not letting their dogs meet mine was when I was walking 2 obviously elderly dogs. People suddenly became very polite in not bothering us. I tried the 'my dog doesn't like other dogs' line for a while and I ended up with this psycho woman hating me and yelling at me for taking dangerous dogs out and telling other people about me. A friend tried 'I'm in training' vests and I'm not kidding but more people came up to her than before to ask about it, lol. Be firm, you have to do what is right for your dog but realise people may react badly about it. Some people might see and learn and also use the same techniques though, that is gratifying. 

[Kazm]

I have no problem in telling people/kids not to pat Molly. She is very friendly but very choosy. Some people /dogs she is super keen to say hi too but then there are others that she stubbornly plants her feet and will not move or interact with until they pass. Most kids surprisingly ask if they can pat her but I just honestly tell them she doesn’t like kids. And she doesn’t. Zena, her mum, was teased by neighbours we had at the time she was a tiny pup. 2 little 3 year old girls. They really were horrible and the parents were useless. It was something Zena remembered and forever disliked kids and by her reactions I believe it was passed onto Molly. Most people are fine. I only had one mum say to her 2 little kids - “ stay away from that vicious dog. Molly was barking initially when she saw them coming. I got her quiet and stood off the footpath to let them pass. 

[Deeds]

I usually just say"he's in training" and most people will just grab their dogs.  I'm happy with that as it's exactly what I would do if that was said to me.

[Amazetl]

It bothers me sometimes when people do ask and since I have a very nice friendly well behaved dog I say yes but then sometimes the person (adults and children alike) lean down and get in their face and pat them all over their face. Now I know my dog can handle that but it still worries me that at any moment things could change if they are uncomfortable plus I don’t think it’s fair, and if they think that’s fine and do it to another dog that does react...

 

It’s a good chance to teach people how to approach a dog but sometimes they are so quick. 

 

What does everyone do in that situation so the person isn’t insulted that they’re doing it wrong and has a positive pleasant dog experience? How to you teach them when they are so fast even if they’ve asked first?