...The only time I'm amused by reactions to our pup occurs on mountain walks. If Tyr sees another dog he will run full force ears forward towards the other dog...Most of the dogs turn tail and begin to run...

No offence, but I find your ignorance appalling. How can you be amused by another dog's fear? It's common courtesy to leash or have your dog under control when being approached by a fellow hiker with or without another dog in tow. Grow up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Originally posted by laurie merlo:
"...The only time I'm amused by reactions to our pup occurs on mountain walks. If Tyr sees another dog he will run full force ears forward towards the other dog...Most of the dogs turn tail and begin to run..."

No offence, but I find your ignorance appalling. How can you be "amused" by another dog's fear? It's common courtesy to leash or have your dog under control when being approached by a fellow hiker with or without another dog in tow. Grow up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I have to agree with Laurie on this. If I am out for a walk with any of my dogs and I see another dog charging at me, I get TICKED off. It's my job to keep my dogs safe and under control (whether it's one of my Mal pups or our GSD stud dog, Xando). I give the owner a LOUD verbal warning to get control of their dog before I take the situation into my own hands. I carry a very heavy duty walking stick for this reason and I won't hesitate to use it. All it takes is one bad experience for a pup to make him dog aggressive for the rest of his life! I don't know that your dog is friendly when it's charging at me, and I guarantee Xando would intervene if I don't. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Dogs don't like rude behavior from other dogs, and letting your dog do this is rude and dangerous.

I also agree. Owners like YOU are the reason I carry pepper spray - and a 9mm

Maizie, I think that if your pup is still nervous around strangers, then taking him to a pet store for socialization may be too overwhelming in the first place. Try a hardware store instead.Over-stimulation is not a good thing. This woman is nuts, sure, but the proper thing to do is to silence your dog, and leave the situation (don't foget to shoot the woman a parting glance, lol)

Cindy's point about the walking stick should be taken as a dire warning...if this is how you 'walk your dog', always carry his medical records, lots of cash/credit cards, and the info on the nearest 24 hr. emergency vet. Maybe info on your home owners' insurance policy -liability re:dog bites. She's one of the many who wouldn't hesitate...I've cracked a dog between the eyes with the brass clip-end of the leash. It would have been gross had I caught the eye itself, but when idiot owners refuse to call back a charging dog, well, DUH!

I'm fortunate to be near a park where the leash law is vigorously inforced. It was a great place place to take Max when we were working thru his "issues"

Cynthia, Im confused? You said something about carrying money and his records if I "walk him this way"

Do you think it was me who lets her dog run at people and other dogs? My dogs are always leashed. I'm confused, please explain?

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And I don't have any problems with people being afraid of dogs & reacting the way that one lady did. I had that many times with my other dog, thunder. I just thought it was kinda rediculas for this woman to react that way towards a puppy. Sorry but if I was afraid of spiders, I wouldn't walk into a store where they were allowed to (cold chills) walk around. Shes in a pet store, of course there's a chance she is going to run into a (gasp) dog there.

Its my job to get Apollo ready for people like that, I guess I myself wasn't ready for someone to be afraid of a puppy. But now Im ready for it and will deffinately bring chicken along with us. And save the dog treats that he gets often anyway, for home.

Maizie, I think it was Linda's posting (about letting her dogs charge up to other dogs while out on hikes) that got everyone off tangent from your postings.

I think you are doing great. YOu may want to make sure your socialization sessions don't go longer than your pup can take. And I use cooked chicken or any other meat I have available (lot's of the sandwich meats work well) as well as cheeses and liver/gizzards (cooked) etc.

Sorry Maizie...that comment was directed at Linda
specifically, and anyone else in general who thinks that unknown charging dogs are amusing.

My suggestion of a change of store, hardware vs.
pet store, was based on my personal experience with my dog. He too was a little overwhelmed by
all the commotion, dogs, smells, etc. and I found that a quieter store was easier on him.

It takes time, and tons of patience, to learn to ignore stupid people and their ignorant comments.
If you're as rude as I am, a good correction in this case would be a frown coupled with the stern
command "Don't pay any attention to idiots!" LOL

Hey, talk about getting your hackles up! I'm not walking my dog in a dog park or on a hiking trail where we are likely to even meet folks. Tyr is on lead except on hikes through mountains. We live in northern Idaho and when I say hikes, I mean mountain backpacking. I need to know what is up around the bend: bear, moose, cougar, etc. When I hike with friends, their shepherds are also OFF LEAD. It is the ONLY way they can be of true use in such situations. I have never encountered another backpacker whose dog has been on lead under such circumstances. NEVER. I have had other dogs rush us as well. It doesn't bother me or anyone else. My dog is free so that he can warn me verrrry far in advance so that I have time to pull my pistol or unsling my rifle and defend against a potential problem.

A student of my husband's at the U of I was backpacking six hours from us (in Montana), their shepherd female was free. They couldn't see her but could hear her barking like crazy. They ran ahead with rifle ready to find her facing off a grizzly with cub. What a mess. Dog had to be carried out and one leg amputated. She still hikes with them! But, they were warned well ahead of time and were prepared. Had it not been for the dog up ahead there could have been a real problem. Dog might smell the bear in time on a lead and then, again, depending on wind etc, maybe not. I'd rather be safe than sorry when I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Let me be clear. At dog parks, in town, or anywhere that folks are normally encountered all of our dogs are on lead. Period! I can trust Tyr, but I know he runs up to everything with a full head of steam and I do prefer not to frighten folks who don't know him. I'd hardly call that unresponsible. As an attorney, I am well aware of the potentials. Perhaps you need to do some back country hiking in bear territory before you decide to keep you dog on lead at all times.

Originally posted by Linda Britton:
The only time I'm amused by reactions to our pup occurs on mountain walks. If Tyr sees another dog he will run, full force, ears forward towards the other dogs. OMG! This is NOT amusing. I also take my dogs off lead in the woods but have a reliable recall. They have learned not to range out of sight unless we are doing search training and I call them to me when we see other people and dogs. We also have wild animals and if you learn to read your dogs body language you can tell when they pick up on that before they go charging off after them. My dogs also have a different response when they encounter prey animals than other carnivores (except for cats which to them are prey) They always hackle when they encounter fresh scent from foxes, coyotes, etc.