I'm just thinking.

I've going to be bringing Teagan on the hike I'm running tomorrow. I'm keeping the group relatively small (max. 8 ppl).

My concern - Teagan is dominant and has bitten me (described in David's Macy up the leash thread in General) before, as a dominant behaviour.

It is a small group of people - and with several people who like dogs. But liking dogs doesn't mean knowing how to behave around them. Teagan doesn't go after people on our walks, though she will stare them down. I've taken her hiking w/Luc and my mother, and she behaved fine (other than an encounter w/an off-leash small dog, but from a human perspective I mean).

Should I be concerned? I was debating getting her a muzzle tonight that she could wear tomorrow. I don't think she'll bite anyone, but she could (and I know ANY dog could, but you know what I mean). A muzzle would solve that problem, but it's also going to very drastically change how people react to her (negative).

(I also thought if I got her a muzzle she could wear it on the bully rescue fundraiser w/the small dogs, and be allowed to come that way.)

Thoughts? Am I being overreactive by thinking of muzzling her tomorrow?

Jennifer, if you have a dog that bites you, I don't think taking it on a group run is a good idea. Especially with one days training with a muzzle. You could spend the day wrestling with your dog over the newness of muzzle.
Also, having a muzzled dog at a bullie fundraiser isn't going to produce the image you want for fundraising.
Not trying to sound like a horse's A$$ here. Just looking at it in a different light.

Jennifer just buying a muzzle and throwing on Teagan is not a great idea. I'll tell you why.

It will work in a pinch but at what cost to the dog? To do a muzzle right you really need to accustom the dog to one which would mean weeks of one and off and treating Teagan through it so that she becomes neutral to the muzzle.

Just throwing one her and expecting her to behave like she would without one is not going to happen. It will stress her out more if you haven't accustomed her to one. Your hike will be hell.

If you are actually really worried about her trying to push herself on your compadres on the trail. It boils back down to the leadership issue keeping her on lead with a DD collar on her and not taking crap from her for any inkling of any aggro/dom behaviour. The muzzle IMHO while it would keep the others safe won't correct any bad behaviour and may intensify it in the long run. YMMV

no, not at all!

that's actually one thing i was wondering - would she really be used to the muzzle enough to go anyways.

it's one of those things - i don't think she'd do anything, but i don't want to be irresponsible and then be like 'ooops! sorry my dog nailed you!'. not the greatest thing....

well, she's a GSD, and since 'pit bulls' in ON are required to be muzzled (there was a court challenge that went well, but as far as i know, obvious APBT/Am Staffs still have to be muzzled) i figured it could be a solidarity thing....

i like the idea of her going on the hikes, from a fitness perspective, from a socialization perspective, but i'd hate to have a mishap. she didn't bite me hard enough to break skin, but she did bite me (i took a toy off the floor near her).

edit: and thanks geoff! the newness thing will be a big issue then - that's good to know. wasn't sure if all dogs took a long time to acclimatize.

the other thing i can do, b/c i'll be leading the hike, is just require that everyone stay back from her. i allow the dogs to walk in front (loose leash) on hikes, i could set it up so that she shouldn't have any interaction w/anyone.

i think i'm being overcautious, but i'd rather be overcautious than blithely unconcerned.

edit: when i took her to the SchH field, she was fine around the people. but they all knew how to handle dogs (better than me).

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

edit: and thanks geoff! the newness thing will be a big issue then - that's good to know. wasn't sure if all dogs took a long time to acclimatize.

To do a muzzle right it does take some time, like I said in original post it can work in a pinch. But that is not the way I'd introduce a muzzle especially if you wanted her to use it with any type of regularity in the future.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

i think i'm being overcautious, but i'd rather be overcautious than blithely unconcerned.

Totally Jennifer, it just shows that you are a caring person that's all.

 Quote: Bob Scott

Jennifer, if you have a dog that bites you, I don't think taking it on a group run is a good idea. Especially with one days training with a muzzle. You could spend the day wrestling with your dog over the newness of muzzle.
Also, having a muzzled dog at a bullie fundraiser isn't going to produce the image you want for fundraising.
Not trying to sound like a horse's A$$ here. Just looking at it in a different light.

That was 100% my reaction. Maybe it's one of those times to leave the dog at home.

JMO

we'll just be gone for a long time. my landlady has taken luc for a walk the few times i've been gone for awhile, but no way i'm asking her to take teagan. i wouldn't even trust her to get teagan out the crate and on leash safely. (she has dog experience, but of the happy lab variety)

and teagan's a good hiker who could use the exercise (i see improvement in her side profile, but she's still embarrasses me when viewed from above....well, not embarrassed, but i'm always like 'i just got her recently!') (she's very strong, despite her chunk).

i was looking at who's coming - everyone has hiked w/luc before, and on a hike w/weird stilles where we had to lift him over, and they were great on that. this is also the group that refused to believe luc was a GSD b/c he's 'too nice' - so teagan should fit all their expectations. smirk.

thanks geoff - it's more i just want to be a responsible owner, and i see some positives about this for her - exercise and socialization - but i wouldn't want something to happen, even if it's a relatively small chance.

In principle I agree with Bob and Connie to keep Teagan home, though bottom line is...

You are the one that knows the dog! You know what she is capable of you also know what you have to do to keep her in line. Just ask yourself those same questions now that you know the circumstances and people you and Teagan (possibly) will be with tomorrow.

well, what i'm thinking is (and i recognize i might be acting like one of those people i don't approve of) -

i don't worry that she's going to attack or bite someone when we're out on our walks, and i live in an urban setting, we pass people all the time. she's never even gone for someone in that situation.

if i think of hiking as her being on a harness and having the freedom of her leash, then there's a different sort of interaction. but i can hike her like we're walking down the sidewalk, where she has to heel and be next to me - and if she's not a risk in the city (or i don't see her as), than why would she be just b/c we're not walking on pavement.

the stops and lunch will be the highest risk. but if i tell everyone that she's not for petting, and that i am the only one to handle her, i can just move her off a bit and she won't be able to reach anyone.

that might actually also allow her to learn her place around groups of people.

or am i being one of those blind owners? i'm just thinking if i keep her next to me and she knows that's her place and she isn't allowed to move her from it, i'm setting up a situation similar to our daily walks (and when in the city we walk/run 3X/day - and while she visually engages people she's never shown a sign of wanting to go for them. if i make the scenario one in which there's nothing of high-value or triggering to her dominance, i think we'd be okay.)

thoughts?

Here's my thought: I would totally take Teagan on this hike IF she's the ONLY dog that you're handling.

If you can leave Luc home, or have someone else handle Luc, it seems like a good opportunity to work with Teagan. Make sure you have your DD collar coupled to your prong, and make sure you've been sharp on your groundwork that week.

Of course, the danger to hiking with a dog is that any time you do it you have to be prepared to carry the animal out if it becomes injured. With Luc, it seems like others could help. Teagan might not take so kindly to strangers grabbing her while she's in pain.