You asked this:

 Quote: ramachandran subramanian

Should I avoid that street or take him to that street often and desensetize him.

The answer was unequivocally to avoid it.


I want to add that what you are doing is not the way I would "desensitize."

It's too much, too close, too long.

Did you see Sheila's post?

"I'll work with a puppy with a distraction that he is curious about and wanting to check out but any sign of agitation or defensiveness I would step way back to a point the pup is comfortable and progress slowly."

Ram,

I asked you about street dogs in a previous post, but I can't find it!
I have been to foreign countries, and I realize that street dogs can be a major problem. I am sure this needs to be a major consideration when you are training your pups, perhaps, you could fill others in more on this, so as they can offer suggestions. We really needed to desensitize our dogs to this while traveling, not always an easy task. Many on here have never experienced what you are referring too!

I understand what Ram is saying.

I have a client who lives part time in India. They don't even take their dog off of their property because there are so many problems with dogs. Its common for stray dogs run in packs in almost every city, and some people leave pet dogs chained 24 hours a day. Im sure you can imagine the aggression this creates in the poor animals!

Its a very different situation than anything we encounter in the states.

Ram, do you have to walk your pups in your neighborhood? Is there any way that you could maybe exercise them on your property and take them by car to a non residential area for walks?

 Quote: lauren jeffery

... They don't even take their dog off of their property because there are so many problems with dogs. Its common for stray dogs run in packs in almost every city, and some people leave pet dogs chained 24 hours a day. Im sure you can imagine the aggression this creates in the poor animals! ... Its a very different situation than anything we encounter in the states. ... Ram, do you have to walk your pups in your neighborhood? Is there any way that you could maybe exercise them on your property and take them by car to a non residential area for walks?

In this situation, perhaps the O.P. should be phrased without this type of choice: "Should I avoid that street or take him to that street often and desensetize him." When everyone chooses an option and the poster says that wasn't ever an option, it's disheartening to anyone who typed out an answer.


So, that said, Lauren has a great point. Ram, do you have options? For example, there was a time (years ago) when I walked my dogs around dawn.

And I know folks who pile their dogs into the car for a quick trip to a better place for long walks.

I haven't walked my dogs in my neighborhood in at least 4 years. Too many dogs around with many owners that are not in control & or let their dog pee & poop everywhere & many don't pick up after their dogs. Fortunately I don't have a sidewalk on my side of the road, so I don't get them in my front yard. I have a couple of neighbors whose dogs get loose fairly often & run around the neighborhood. I work them in my back yard or....I take my dogs to the school & sport fields (within 2-5 min from my house) & such that I use. I go out to the middle of the field where dogs rarely ever are (most people walk their dogs around the perimiter of the fields) & I also NEVER let pups walk out to the middle of the field...I carry them there & back until they are too big for me to carry usually about least 6 months old. My dogs grow up on these fields so they get used to the distractions there from the begining. Just what I do.

Tammy Moore> You can see how I deal with the street dog packs. I deal with my puppy when he is not paying attention to me by making him do some thing/popping the leash and then if the strays come with in 15 feet of my dog, I show them my cane. Many have got hit before in their lives and they understand what a cane means. So far I have had to hit only 2 dogs of the 100s I had to encounter.

Lauren Jefferey> Yes most of the people here think dogs are a status symbol. If you are rich enough to get a bungalow, a car then you need a dog. But the charm wears off in a few weeks and they are chained for their entire lives.


Anne Jones> My intention was not to ignore valuable advice. I tried to scope out a different route after posting this question initially. Searched for one with lesser crazy dogs.Tried three different routes and came to the conclusion that my usual route is much better.

I had to make choice, to either walk my dogs and make them deal with the distractions or not walk them at all. So I had to come up with some way to put my dogs focus on me when he lunges or is not focussing on me.

It was not to ignore advice or make posters type in vain. I just did not have any other option. I live in a city which has a population of Australia times 1.5 . I am lucky enough to have space to have dogs. A Square foot of land costs an average 200-300 USD and not even an inch of land is left for playing or walking. Even many schools dont have play grounds, people build wall to wall and the government does not regulate buildings too much.

Packing my dogs in my car for a walk, I have to drive atleast 30Km - 40Km which will take me 90 minutes one way because of traffic.

I am trying to purchase 10 acres of land in the countryside to move there , but thats a different story. My current situation is what it is and I seek your advice in this light.

Please see the attached video. I took this video in the afternoon and it was hot. Most of the nut case dogs were asleep. So the distraction you see is only 50% of what I get on my daily walks. 4 out of the 5 fence chewers/charges were fast asleep and did not come out to perform.(rather disappointed) Please see the video after 3 minute mark to see the heavy distractions.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHr9omnn-II

Hi Ram, I am getting an errot message on your video,stating it's not ptocessed.

it's on!

I will try to get a clip of the other star performers this evening and upload it.

Ram, I understand your frustration. I have been raising my pup in a densely populated neighborhood of Boston. We have 100,000 people living in 6 miles, maybe more because of a large immigrant population. I'm sure that would feel like a country home to you!

I faced a lot of the same conundrums and questions as I have raised my pup. Reading dog training books I would find myself asking questions like:

"Yeah, but what do you do if you have to work?"

OR

"What do you do if every single time you open your door there is something going on?".

Unfortunately, a lot of dog training advice that is correct just can't apply to every ones situation. So you do the best you can do.

I think you are doing a very good job with your dogs. I can't watch the video because I am having a problem with my internet connection, but I can tell from what you write that you are really working hard.

Just don't forget that they are baby animals, and try your best not to add stress to a situation that may already be a little scary to them by adding pressure to the equation.

I think you guys will be ok