Mini guide part 2: The considerate encounter between dog and dog
Posted by Linn Radsted posted on September 15, 2019
In part 1 of the mini-guide , it was explained why a large number of our dogs react aggressively with aggressive behavior when meeting other dogs.
Even if you don't yet have the tools to prevent your dog from reacting inappropriately towards other dogs, there are still several simple strategies you can use when a conflict-filled situation is about to arise.
If I could only give one piece of advice, it would be:
By ensuring that the distance from other dogs is large enough that your dog does not show signs of insecurity or aggressive behavior towards other dogs, you can prevent conflict situations from arising.
The fact that your dog is acting calmly is not necessarily a sign that he is not frustrated or that a conflict is about to arise, but it tells you that your dog is capable of handling the situation at that moment.
Watch for small signals in your dog's body language that tell you that he is changing from calm to insecure and therefore adventurous. The signals may be that he is walking slower with stiff movements, starting to tense his body muscles, trying to change direction or sniffing the ground. If he starts making these changes or starts staring at the other dog, it is crucial that you help him increase the distance to his opponent.
The strategies I use most frequently are the following:
Counting game
Look down at the ground with interest as you start placing treats right below your feet, counting out loud from one upwards (one treat per number). Your dog will most likely become interested in what you are doing.
If your dog doesn't register what you're doing right away, step to the side or forward a little and start counting and placing treats again. This will motivate your dog to follow you if you move yourself. Remember that the direction you move in should be such that the distance to the other dog increases. If you need to use this strategy in the future, you will find that you don't get as far with counting as before before your dog becomes interested in what you're doing.
Can also be trained indoors so your dog understands the exercise beforehand. This video illustrates the strategy performed by Chiraq Patel, who introduced the idea.
Change page
If the counting exercise is not enough to distract your dog or you have come to walk a little too close to the other dog, you can make sure to create more distance from the other dog by changing sides and walking to the opposite sidewalk or into the bushes if you are walking by a path in the park.
U-turn
If it is not possible to change sides due to traffic or similar, you can make a U-turn and go back the same way you and your dog came from. Walk quietly in front of your dog and guide him the other way by blocking the possibility of going further forward and by showing with your body which way you want him to go.
The feed magnet
You can also guide your dog with you by holding a tasty treat in your hand (preferably between two fingers) right in front of your dog's nose, so that it follows the treat and thus with you. Make sure the distance between your hand and your dog's nose is as short as possible.
If you have a dog that reacts aggressively when meeting other dogs, always keep it on a leash when it is in places where it is likely to encounter other dogs. This will help you to control the situation.
The above is a description of how you can prevent situations from arising or developing. These strategies "put out the fire", but do not teach your dog what it should do and unfortunately do not change how your dog feels in the situation.
In the coming week, the focus will be on how the training strategies counter conditioning and desensitization can be used to train dogs to no longer react aggressively when they encounter a dog on walks.
Behind the scenes at Adfærdsdyrlægen.dk / Pernille Blok-Riisom
Pernille Blok-Riisom is a trained veterinarian and has worked for 14 years as a general practitioner veterinarian in a small animal practice.
She has always been interested in behavior in both animals and humans and wrote a thesis on dogs' anxiety in connection with sounds with a focus on fireworks. Since 2017, Pernille has been self-employed with the company Adfærdsdyrlægen.dk and now works with behavior consultations, lectures and teaching.
Mini guide part 2: The considerate encounter between dog and dog
In part 1 of the mini-guide , it was explained why a large number of our dogs react aggressively with aggressive behavior when meeting other dogs.
Even if you don't yet have the tools to prevent your dog from reacting inappropriately towards other dogs, there are still several simple strategies you can use when a conflict-filled situation is about to arise.
If I could only give one piece of advice, it would be:
By ensuring that the distance from other dogs is large enough that your dog does not show signs of insecurity or aggressive behavior towards other dogs, you can prevent conflict situations from arising.
The fact that your dog is acting calmly is not necessarily a sign that he is not frustrated or that a conflict is about to arise, but it tells you that your dog is capable of handling the situation at that moment.
Watch for small signals in your dog's body language that tell you that he is changing from calm to insecure and therefore adventurous. The signals may be that he is walking slower with stiff movements, starting to tense his body muscles, trying to change direction or sniffing the ground. If he starts making these changes or starts staring at the other dog, it is crucial that you help him increase the distance to his opponent.
The strategies I use most frequently are the following:
Counting game
Look down at the ground with interest as you start placing treats right below your feet, counting out loud from one upwards (one treat per number). Your dog will most likely become interested in what you are doing.
If your dog doesn't register what you're doing right away, step to the side or forward a little and start counting and placing treats again. This will motivate your dog to follow you if you move yourself. Remember that the direction you move in should be such that the distance to the other dog increases. If you need to use this strategy in the future, you will find that you don't get as far with counting as before before your dog becomes interested in what you're doing.
Can also be trained indoors so your dog understands the exercise beforehand. This video illustrates the strategy performed by Chiraq Patel, who introduced the idea.
Change page
If the counting exercise is not enough to distract your dog or you have come to walk a little too close to the other dog, you can make sure to create more distance from the other dog by changing sides and walking to the opposite sidewalk or into the bushes if you are walking by a path in the park.
U-turn
If it is not possible to change sides due to traffic or similar, you can make a U-turn and go back the same way you and your dog came from. Walk quietly in front of your dog and guide him the other way by blocking the possibility of going further forward and by showing with your body which way you want him to go.
The feed magnet
You can also guide your dog with you by holding a tasty treat in your hand (preferably between two fingers) right in front of your dog's nose, so that it follows the treat and thus with you. Make sure the distance between your hand and your dog's nose is as short as possible.
If you have a dog that reacts aggressively when meeting other dogs, always keep it on a leash when it is in places where it is likely to encounter other dogs. This will help you to control the situation.
The above is a description of how you can prevent situations from arising or developing. These strategies "put out the fire", but do not teach your dog what it should do and unfortunately do not change how your dog feels in the situation.
In the coming week, the focus will be on how the training strategies counter conditioning and desensitization can be used to train dogs to no longer react aggressively when they encounter a dog on walks.
Behind the scenes at Adfærdsdyrlægen.dk / Pernille Blok-Riisom
Pernille Blok-Riisom is a trained veterinarian and has worked for 14 years as a general practitioner veterinarian in a small animal practice.
She has always been interested in behavior in both animals and humans and wrote a thesis on dogs' anxiety in connection with sounds with a focus on fireworks. Since 2017, Pernille has been self-employed with the company Adfærdsdyrlægen.dk and now works with behavior consultations, lectures and teaching.