Someone else's yappy dog...

ernie-money

The title of this thread might be completely misleading, but wasn't sure what to call it...

I've got a staffordshre terrier who’s nearly 14 years old, but very fit and healthy for his age. When I walk him, most mornings we bump into another dog, who has taken an intense dislike to him. I think it's a yorkshire terrier; his owner walks him with two friends and between them they have 4 dogs. As soon as the yorkie spots us, he charges at my dog, barking like mad, with two of the other dogs in tow. It might sound silly, because the yorkie is only about half the size of my dog, but with the other dogs backing him up, it’s still quite intimidating. He doesn’t really attack my dog properly, but he always charges at him and gives him a little nip. At first my dog would just walk up to them, wagging his tail, like he always does, and the other dogs owner would say something like that he obviously doesn’t mind, because he’s wagging his tail. Now I’m no dog psychologist or anything, but I think he was wagging his tail partly because he just always does, but maybe also to show that he’s friendly? Well, he’s stopped wagging his tail now, and instead he always stops dead when we spot them, and hides behind me.

I just don’t think it’s fair that he should have to put up with this every single morning, but I don’t know what to do about it. It’s obvious that I don’t like it, but I don’t think I’m in a position to demand that she keeps her dog on the lead every morning, as I always do my best to avoid them, but what else can I do?

Other dog owners who know the yorkie have said that it’s because my dog hasn’t been neutered that the other dog dislikes him, and that he’s the same towards all male dogs with their bits intact, but it doesn’t make it right. My dog is incredibly well behaved and wouldn’t dream of behaving in the same way back. Maybe because he was the runt of the litter and has always been quite small and skinny, but he’s also getting on a bit, even if he looks young on the outside. Sometimes I wish that he would just growl at the yappy little thing and make him think twice about doing it again, but he wont…

I’m tearing my hair out about what to do – I don’t want an argument, I wouldn’t dream of being rude to the owner, especially as she’s an old lady, and she walks with her two elderly friends, but I think she should have realized that her dogs behavior isn’t acceptable…

Raksha

Perhaps you could have a word with your local Dog Warden.

It's so frustrating when you have a well behaved/socialised dog and something like this happens.

gettingready

For the sake of your own dog - can you change the time/route of your morning walk?

krlyr

I agree with the above. Chances are, if she sees no problems with it, she's not going to change. That leaves you with two choices - try to force her to change her ways by going down the official route. The DW would, in a sort of unofficial way, deal with 'out of control' dogs by having a quick word if you can identify the owner - police probably wouldn't do anything if the dog didn't pose a threat to people as a dog-on-dog attack is only a civil offense, not a criminal one. Dangerous Dog laws are being revised though so this is something that may change in the near future.

Alternatively, if she won't change, you may have to for your dog's sake - so a different time, different route, or even just turning around and heading a different way as soon as you spot her. It sucks, it's not the way it should be, but if it saves your dog from stressing out, it may be a compromise worth making.

Person_one

I'm afraid this is just part of dog ownership. You can't force other people to train their dogs, and at least its on a lead so as long as you don't go too close there isn't any actual danger. All we can do is try to train our own not to react and to be calmer themselves, and do what we can to keep them out of stressful situations.

So I'd try to avoid this dog as much as possible, but if you can't then keep your distance and keep your dogs attention on you, reward him for walking calmly past with his eyes on yours. I'd also consider getting your dog neutered if there are no medical reasons why he shouldn't be.

I'm having a similar issue with a neighbour at the moment, so I do sympathise.

coinxoperated

Change where you walk or the time you walk. Simple.

Dollardog

Person_one wrote: »

I'm afraid this is just part of dog ownership. You can't force other people to train their dogs, and at least its on a lead so as long as you don't go too close there isn't any actual danger. All we can do is try to train our own not to react and to be calmer themselves, and do what we can to keep them out of stressful situations.

So I'd try to avoid this dog as much as possible, but if you can't then keep your distance and keep your dogs attention on you, reward him for walking calmly past with his eyes on yours. I'd also consider getting your dog neutered if there are no medical reasons why he shouldn't be.

I'm having a similar issue with a neighbour at the moment, so I do sympathise.

I don't think you would find any vet willing to neuter a 14 year old dog.
If I had a 14 year old dog, I certainly wouldn't put it at risk by neutering it, especially as it is not that dog which is the problem.

jumpedtheshark

ernie-money wrote: »

The title of this thread might be completely misleading, but wasn't sure what to call it...

I’m tearing my hair out about what to do – I don’t want an argument, I wouldn’t dream of being rude to the owner, especially as she’s an old lady, and she walks with her two elderly friends, but I think she should have realized that her dogs behavior isn’t acceptable…

Some owners of little dogs just don't realise this. We've had this with our two big mutts and a youngish (late 20s?) guy who seems to think it's funny his yappie little terrier charges our two big dogs.

OH has told me not to, but if it happens more than once with the same off-leash dog, I'll tell the owner to keep their dog away from my dogs. If I get a 'he's/she's only little/friendly reply', which is the usual defence for these types of oblivious owners, I'll tell them 'well, he's/she's obviously not well-socialised and has no recall or you'd be able to keep him/her away from my dogs, and other dogs might react worse than mine...' or words to similar effect. I am convinced I come over as a bit of a nut job. I don't want to, I want to appear friendly and approachable, but I'm not prepared to risk creating problems for my dogs (fear of other little dogs, excessive defensiveness against other little dogs, etc.) just because some owners aren't well-trained.

You either need to walk another route or bite the bullet and risk coming over poorly (which you can then do 'damage control' on by telling other friendly dog walkers what you had to say to that owner...)

krlyr

Another option - there's a scheme "Dogs In Need Of Space" (DINOS) which focuses on the many reasons a dog may not want to be approached by another dog - not just aggression but a multitude of reasons, such as a guide dog in training, an elderly dog with sore joints, a dog recovering from an operation, a dog with a fear of other dogs, and so on. Maybe you could print off something relating to this and take the usual walking route, but without your dog, to pass on to this lady when you bump into her.
http://dogsinneedofspace.com/
There is a UK version too but the US one has a lot more resources on it I think

Having owned a reactive dog, I found people often assumed I hadn't trained her, or that I encouraged her behaviour, and since I was trying to avoid stressing her out or any harm to other dogs I would usually have to turn around or rush past as quickly as I could, so never had the chance to explain myself. However, when bumping into those same dog walkers without their dog or without mine, I took the time to explain that she'd been poorly socialised as a pup, bullied by the household dogs, and then developed hip dysplasia so she was often a bit sore and with a shorter tolerance than usual. Most of the dog walkers were a lot more helpful next time we met - changing their route or stopping to allow me to avoid them and so on.
Sometimes actually explaining the situation can help, and giving advice or pointing someone in the direction of help can be appreciated more than you think too - she might be resigned to this being how little dogs behave (little dogs often get away with being yappy, people seem to find it cute that they "stand up for themselves" or "think they're a big dog" without realising how inappropriate the behaviour is regardless of its size).

You could also include some stuff on dog body language so she can learn to spot her own dog's warning signs and the body language of dogs that her dog harrasses. Like you say, wagging tails don't necessarily mean happy dogs
E.g.
http://fripouilleetvanilla.ch/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DogBodyLanguagePoster.jpg
http://petsmiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dog-body-language.jpg
(Lili Chin does the above, and the rest of hers can be seen on http://doggiedrawings.net/post/842176625 )

ernie-money

gettingready wrote: »

For the sake of your own dog - can you change the time/route of your morning walk?

I already do this as much as I possibly can - There's only one park nearby, and I don't think it's fair not to take my dog down there, and instead make him walk on tarmac, near roads on the lead the whole walk. Once I get to the park, I always make sure to head in a different direction, but the road to the park is via a cycle path with a wall on one side, and a river on the other, so not much room for manouver. I know that the other dog comes along there about 7.30 every morning, so I try to get down before them if I can, but if my son's stayed at his dad's house, he usually gets back about 7.15 and then I have to wait for him before I go. I can't go any later, because then we'll be late for work/school. I've thought about getting up an extra hour earlier, but then it's even darker/colder, and it would mean losing 5 hours sleep every week...

ernie-money

coinxoperated wrote: »

Change where you walk or the time you walk. Simple.

Other people's problems are always simple to solve aren't they...