Just today, while driving on the beach, we came upon a man with a Beagle puppy - off leash, and being a typical puppy. We saw them in plent of time and came to a crawl/stop, but the man was just YELLING at the puppy "COME HERE!" in a mean voice. Of course, the puppy ran right in front of our truck to his "mommy" on the other side. The man was shaking his head and saying "stupid dog - ran right in front of your truck!"... I said "Sir - that dog is a baby and not trained to know how to react... It is a PROCESS and takes TRAINING - not yelling at the dog". He mummbled something like "I know, I know" and walked over and put the pup on his leash. Soooo many people don't even have a clue... not one clue.

few people make the time to train to that, I tell people if you only have time to train ONE thing, train recall

 Quote: barbara schuler

... the man was just YELLING at the puppy "COME HERE!" in a mean voice. Of course, the puppy ran right in front of our truck to his "mommy" on the other side. ....

I know this is somewhat O.T., but maybe it's a good place to mention that in my "Downtown Dogs" classes, I incorporated something new this time around.

To give credit where it's due, the inspiration for this came 100% from Bob Scott, who has spoken more than once about such proofing as giving a command while your back is to the dog (proofing against visual cues) as well as proofing for voice variations.

These dogs all have solid recalls ... absolute prerequisite for this.

We are gradually varying our voices so that the dogs will eventually respond as unhesitatingly to our panic-stricken scream-voice or angry-sounding voice as to our upbeat teaching-the-recall voice.

I worked on my own dogs first, naturally, and was pretty surprised at how easy it was to do this. Of course, it was very gradual: I started with the dog right near me and with only a slight alteration in my voice towards brusqueness.

Now each owner in the class is working on the same thing.

I only wish it had occurred to me on my own, and long ago (as it should have!) that our voices in the moments when we need most for the dog to respond without hesitation are most likely to betray us. A good thing to proof against well in advance of an real terrifying close call.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I only wish it had occurred to me on my own, and long ago (as it should have!) that our voices in the moments when we need most for the dog to respond without hesitation are most likely to betray us. A good thing to proof against well in advance of an real terrifying close call.

It DOES make perfect sense to train for this, doesn't it? So obvious in hind-sight!

I'm sorry - the truth is most pet owners are idiots! 2 out of my 3 dogs are found dogs. I have had two smooth fox terriers because *someone* didn't understand that you cannot let fox terriers outside a fenced yard off leash. They are going to put their nose to the ground and go hunting. My gain - their loss.

My old, old, lab-mix Girlie is the only one who gets out of the yard off-leash. That's only because she is too old and crippled up to make it to the end of our long driveway w/o resting. She'd never make it off the 10 acres. Even at that, I keep an eye on her - she might forget where she is :}

I get so angry when I see dogs running loose. I too have had the experience of returning dogs to people only to see them continue to run loose.

 Quote: Kathy Gray

I'm sorry - the truth is most pet owners are idiots! 2 out of my 3 dogs are found dogs. I have had two smooth fox terriers because *someone* didn't understand that you cannot let fox terriers outside a fenced yard off leash. They are going to put their nose to the ground and go hunting. My gain - their loss.

One of my 2 is! Someone decided an English Pointer was an appropriate dog to leave off leash. Ha. Ok, thanks for the nice dog, dude!!! (Even after LOTS of recall training, and correcting her for too much interest in wildlife, she'll never be trustworthy off leash. Ever.) Why can't some people grasp that?

letting a dog lose in a parking lot is ridicules! I do let my dog run off leash but only in a large fenced space AFTER I have worn her out. And then with an e-collar. And to just run almost never. I use the time to do a wait and stay and play tug. The person that owns a dog and will not restrain might as well sentence it to death. Very sad

We have a terrier running around in our neighborhood that we cannot seem to catch to save our lives. He has a collar and tags so we know he has a home and lives close by. It kills me to see him out wondering day after day near our busy neighborhood street. I just know deep down in my heart one day we wont see him wondering anymore but lying in or near the road dead.

Such a shame that owners have no idea how to contain their dogs and the worst is when they just don't care!

Last week I talked about a loose dog that chased after Jeter and I as we were biking through the neighborhood.

This little Min Pin chased us for half a block until a neighbor came out and saw that I was peddling my ass off in order to prevent my dog from snatching this little thing up and doing serious damage. The neighblr was able to call the dog to her and she probably saved its life.

Jeter wound up with a torn pad on his front paw. I have resolved to avoid confrontations with loose dogs at all costs but from now o n I will not sacrifice my dogs well being to protect these idiots dogs.

I feel bad for the loose dogs that don't know better but I'm done.

Having a bit of an issue w/this myself.

My apt complex is home to a lot of dogs, all of them poorly trained.

One woman walks a senior Lab and a 3-year-old American Bulldog. The kicker is, the Lab (who is incapable of more than a slight shuffle) is always leashed, whereas the Bulldog (huge, scary, fast, inquisitive) is ALWAYS off-leash.

I have complained to the woman herself, the apartment management, and any neighbor who will listen. The dog rushed Roger and I once, and it was a truly frightening experience. Next time I see the woman, I am going to warn her that if I see any more of this I am calling animal control.

She is your typical clueless dog owner, no sense whatsoever. But, that's the way the world is. I think only about 10% of people out there are reliable and normal (i.e. have an ability to consider consequences).