Angela-

I've seen you post here before and know about you trying to rehabilitate this dog. Would you agree that you are a novice dog trainer and that you have a lot to learn instead of calling yourself one of those *idiot* dog owners? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be here if you were an idiot. You know your dog is not under your control completely and are taking steps to rectify that. I am there myself. It is frustrating and sometimes hard, but well worth it in the long run. Good luck!

I find the easiest way to keep people from bothering you while your training is to put capes on your dogs that say "Working Dog Do Not Pet" and put on a training vest. Ed sells both. Its been the most effective so far. I guess people figure its like the people practicing golf or tennis, you're usualy left alone if you look busy. I'll attract an audience sometimes but they stay quite.

I agree with Dennis & also got a vest from Ed which is always on if I am in a public place. Unfortunately, even with the vest I have had "experiences" with loose dogs. There is another issue here. If an IDIOT lets their out of control mutt come up on our dogs sometimes it does result in a dog fight. I would not want to be in a "he said - she said" situation with these JERKS. These are the same people that would have no problem lying & suing me for something they did! These people are scarey for more than one reason.

Kristine - thanks for the suggestion and yes, since then I did get a long line (30 ft) which I attach to his prong collar. He doesn't like to run around with it on but that's his problem.

Cat, thanks for the comments and yes I do have a lot to learn in dog training! Until this one I have always owned those dogs that just sort of are born obedient. So I didn't really need to learn anything until now. In fact today I have posted yet *another* question in regards to this problem.

Dennis, I like your suggestion and it would be great for most of the trainers on here who have GSD that listen to them. Unfortunately in my case, no one would believe I have a working dog when I can't even get him to HEEL yet. So it would work for some more than others. lol, and susan is right, dogs can't read.

I realize I might get flamed for this, but IMO - leash laws are leash laws. The laws don't say "if you are NOT training your dog responsibly, then it must be on a leash. But if you are TRYING to train your dog responsibly, then YOUR dog can be off leash."

I read lots of posts here about the "stupid people" with their dogs off leash in public parks. And then the posts go on about the "smart people" who are training their dogs, but the "stupid people" are there in that public park, disrupting the training.

If there is a leash law in YOUR park, then that's a law for everyone. Including everyone who is trying to responsibly train their dogs for off leash work, and those who might not have a clue.

I consider it my own responsibility to find private property to train on. If I can't find private property and need to use public property, then I need to abide by the same laws that everyone else does - regardless of what the dog is trained for, or what the person is trained for. And if I want to try some illegal off leash work, then *I* need to be the one who is ultra responsible to make sure nothing goes south with other dogs - on leash or not.

Sorry - I just have a problem with the "idiot" thing when I read stories about multiple dogs off leash, where leash laws apply. IMO, all handlers are "idiots" who have dogs in a public park off leash where there are leash laws. And IMO, an experienced dog person is being an "idiot" to try to proof off leash work in an area where other "idiots" might be present if you're not 100% proofed yet - if the "experienced" person comes back to complain about it.

Take some extra time. Call some farmers or other private property owners. Or buy your own property. Or at least realize the risk you are taking by doing your off leash work in a public park where that's technically not allowed any more for you than for the teacup poodle owner.

Sorry.. but that's my opinion...

Beth

Call some farmers or buy your own property???!!! Gee Beth, if only the rest of us had thought this up. What a great answer. Believe it or not, some of us live in the city (no farmlands) & some of us can't afford to buy a "tracking" area. What do you suggest, all knowing one?

I always went to a local park or green-space at night, so we wouldn't bump into other people or dogs who wanted to bother ours.

I think most of us are venting about a situation & personally I am glad I have a place to vent!

I work my dog in empty fields in the city. My dog ALWAYS has a leash on him, long line or a tab (and very rarely a tab). I try to work in the wee hours of the morning or night, though, so as not to encounter any other dogs. It has happened, like when I was tracking the other day and a guy comes up to us with his Boxer dragging him expecting us to make friends with him and his dog, but I simply checked my dog for even thinking about looking at the other dog and returned his attention to the track. Lucky for me, I never socialized my dog with other dogs as a pup so he has no interest with them. One other time an off leash dog ran up to him to sniff him and he was focusing on a ball...he ignored the other dog, and the other dog went away. I just look at all of this as an opportunity to teach my dog to obey under distractions.

Susan wrote:

What do you suggest, all knowing one?


*****

get a long line.

find empty industrial or vacant land that is not park. most cities have this.

rgds, andrew may (not all knowing)