(VICT) Re: Alex- Dog Attack
- From: "DIANNE B. PHELPS AND PRIMROSE" <d.bphelps@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2007 20:56:16 -0700
Sandy,
I have done similarly with Primrose, using the command, Leave it". When I am
aware of dogs in the area, I talk to my dogs a lot, telling them that they
are ok and having them focus on my voice and their work which has always
worked for us in the past.
For me, this method does two things. It helps my dog concentrate and walk on
by, but it also keeps me more calm and focussed on my dog instead of being
frightened of the other dogs.
Most of the dogs we see here in Napa, however, are with their masters,
either in cars or on leash, and, fortunately, most dog people here are
careful, something for which I am lucky.
I think you are right on track, and the yipping will probably stop as Alex
becomes more used to these disturbers on her route.
Dianne and Primrose
----- Original Message -----
From: <Infinitepaws@xxxxxxx>
To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 7:00 AM
Subject: (VICT) Alex- Dog Attack
> Hi all! I finally gave up getting the GDUI presentation to download on my
> computer and got permission to download it to cd at work. One of the
> reasons was
> that Alex was "attacked" while coming home the other evening and while she
> seemed to handle it fairly well, I was checking to see if there was
> something
> else I could do or could have done. BTW, it was a good presentation! it is
> at
> _www.gdui.org_ (http://www.gdui.org) on the front page to download as a
> audio file. Although if you have dial-up it might not download
> properly..which
> was my problem.
>
> One of the things I have talked about here was touched upon in the
> presentation. They said that many times a dog that is actively guiding and
> not paying
> attention to the other dog is less likely to be attacked and/or injured.
>
> I work actively with Alex on walking and working past fence fighting dogs
> when I can.. Luckily for me we have some on the corner on the way to the
> bus
> stop to practice with. Anyway, I have a cue called "On by" that is a cue
> for her
> to ignore their distraction and speed up forward. I use this on many
> distractions but it is most used for fence fighting dogs or other dogs we
> encounter
> on leash. It really helped the other day.
>
> Alex and I have to go to the store every other day to buy dog food since
> we
> are temporarily feeding kibble instead of raw and I cannot carry huge bags
> of
> dog food easily. The danes and Alex eat 20 lbs every other day. Anyway the
> idiot bus driver missed my stop and ended up letting us off 3 blocks past
> my
> stop. It means jaywalking a major street and walking up a really steep
> hill,
> but what the heck, gotta do what you gotta do. Anyway we were just coming
> to
> the top of the hill and were about 3 houses from home when two (I think)
> small
> dark dogs came running out from the front porch and tried to attack Alex.
> I
> was stumbling over them and they were under Alex's feet..I cued Alex "on
> by"
> and tried to keep going .. hoping the owners would get the damned dogs.
> Alex,
> bless her soul, tried to do what I asked and did pretty good considering.
> She
> just turned in her harness and pulled to look back a few times after we
> had
> gotten clear of them and the owners had corralled them..
>
> I hate owners who choose to have their dogs off leash and yet cannot
> control
> them with voice commands..If they had run out and the owner had voice
> control , they could have called them back before the engaged Alex. I
> firmly
> believe in the saying Unleashed is Unloved. Except where the dogs have
> earned the
> privilege of being off leash due to owner training.., anyway, off that
> soapbox...
>
> We got to the house and , since she had handled that so well I took her
> harness off immediately inside our gate and turned the sprinkler on.. her
> favorite reward.
>
> Alex and I went to get dog food again last night and we have developed a
> small problem that I hope some time and work will cure. We were walking
> to the
> bus stop and a small dog was being walked on leash and we had to pass it,
> of
> course it lunged out to the end of its leash although not agressively and
> Alex was a bit nervous. I cued On by and we went on to the bus stop .
> Unfortunately they were following us and I had a little bit of a time
> getting Alex to
> focus on work instead of them. She did do fine when we sat down and the
> little
> dog walked by on the side walk in front of us.. just a tiny whine. On the
> way back,we came in from our regular stop and some small dogs opposite
> the
> large fence-fighting dogs started barking and fence fighting. Alex
> lurched
> forward into her harness like she would for a on by cue but also was
> vocalizing a
> little with tiny yips and squeaks.. I dont want her to do that at all. I
> am
> going to ignore it and c/t quiet over the next few weeks and see what
> happens.
> She also pulled really hard on the last street cross to our gate.
> Hopefully
> that was due to the sprinkler reward and not relief at getting home..
>
> I don't want to report the owners to animal control since they live 3
> doors
> away and could cause problems but I do plan on dropping off some
> information
> in their mailbox about the penalties for off leash dogs and for
> interfering
> with a service animal.. actually I might just do that with the
> surrounding
> neighborhood too. A little public ed can't hurt. Hopefully it was a
> one-time
> thing.. Hopefully, there won't be any long term issues either.
>
> Any other ideas or thoughts?
>
>
> Sandy Foushee
> Infinite Paws-Abilities Training and Service Dogs
> Teamed with Alexandra Guide/Service Dog
> Colorado Service/Assistance Dog Club - Trainer.-
>
>
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