danisgoat
Moderator
Doesn't Like Strange Dogs
- Thread starter Kobe
- Start date
corbinam
Moderator
I think she's referring to this post by Ania: http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=9583&highlight=gentle+leader&page=2
danisgoat
Moderator
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
yep, that the one! excellent teaching context. It is pretty normal for human to expect dog to start lunging and tighten the leash and posture but it is really just stimulates dog to be more aggressive.
That is what I've been doing.
I also don't have a gentle leader. I thought I did.
What I have is Sporn Pack Leader Halter Headcollar.
I'll give it a try hopefully I can apply the BAT as shown on youtube.
Caro
Moderator
A Sporn Head Halter is fine. The concept of the head halter is the same regardless of which sort you have - its really just a matter of preference and what fits best.
On the Sporn pack they show the head halter with a double lead. Do you use a double lead? Aside from it being safer, connecting a lead at two points helps a great deal with using the halters properly. You keep two hands on the lead if you think the dog will be reactive and then you are more likely to steer the dog away rather than yank. Its much more like using a rein then.
Just another thought. Have you looked into finding a vet that does behaviour consults? Then you only pay normal vet consulting fees - a lot of vets nowadays are behaviour specialists too - your local RSPCA may be able to give you the details of vet behaviourists in your area.
On the Sporn pack they show the head halter with a double lead. Do you use a double lead? Aside from it being safer, connecting a lead at two points helps a great deal with using the halters properly. You keep two hands on the lead if you think the dog will be reactive and then you are more likely to steer the dog away rather than yank. Its much more like using a rein then.
Just another thought. Have you looked into finding a vet that does behaviour consults? Then you only pay normal vet consulting fees - a lot of vets nowadays are behaviour specialists too - your local RSPCA may be able to give you the details of vet behaviourists in your area.
take4roll10
Moderator
That is what I've been doing.
I also don't have a gentle leader. I thought I did.
What I have is Sporn Pack Leader Halter Headcollar.
I'll give it a try hopefully I can apply the BAT as shown on youtube.
If you constantly tightening the leash, when you see a dog, your dog is automatically going to change into reactive/aggressive mode before he even notices the dog. His mind set will be, tight leash = strange dog approaching, time to stress and put my guard up.
One of the books I read, suggests you change that association. Train your dog to associate a tightened leash with something positive. First practice in your yard, then practice during walks when there are no dogs around. Tighten the leash for no reason and give him a treat. Get him to start associating the tight leash with food. Eventually, when you tighten the leash because you see another dog, he'll look at you for food instead of looking expecting a strange dog.
Of course, this won't solve the problem of how he reacts when he actually sees a dog, but it might prevent him from anticipating a strange dog when you tighten the leash. That will give you a few seconds or minute to distract him before he explodes.
danisgoat
Moderator
This is SPOT ON, Randi.
I was actually just going over exactly this with my daughter this evening at 4-H training. My daughter for some reason gets very tense when another dog approaches Dandie. She tenses up and tights the leash on Dandie and Dandie immediately goes into aggression mode. I was showing her how to have a loose leash and a happy leash and how Dandie's reaction to the exact same dog was completely different. By the end of the night, Dandie and this other Sheltie were having a great time together.
Our dogs are so in tuned to us....we forget how our reactions can completely cause them to react.