Just as certain people instantly make my blood boil, certain dogs simply get Lilly’s goat. And, not to put too fine a point on it, I think their handlers know it. So that’s part of it. The second part, however, comes when handlers behave as if Lilly is the only dog with a problem.
I’m going to rant a bit, so I won’t use names or identifying characteristics. But, I will say that in one particular case it seems like the handler almost thinks its funny that Lilly reacts.
I, on the other hand, do not. Yes, it’s my job to train through these kinds of distractions. Yes, I can only control what my dog does (or at least try to). But, there are times … especially when it’s hot … when I want to swat this person upside the head to make clear that a noisy, boisterous dog has equally bad training issues as Lilly and I do as we work through her grumpy-growler thing.
Apparently, dogs who are somewhat funny in their disobedience get a free pass … while dogs that swing the other direction are the “bad” ones. People laugh sympathetically at crazy dog, but they quietly watch scared-grumpy dogs struggle.
We can be having a perfectly good day, like yesterday, for example. (Lilly had a great play date with a new dog that’s more her speed. This dog has good skills and is a good playmate for Lilly.) BUT, all it takes is one explosion of noise, one run or excited jump in our direction from nemisis dog to set Lilly off.
Then, if our escape path isn’t clear of dogs minding their own business, it’s very likely that Lilly will share her mood with other dogs nearby. It’s not their fault at all. They are innocent victims of an altercation that began with Mr. Boys-Will-Be-Boys handler and his wild monkey of a dog.
The meltdown goes a little like this:
1. Despite my efforts to swing wide, a wild dog invades Lilly’s space and sets her off.
2. We walk away.
3. Lilly begins displacement behavior (like sniffing the ground) to recover.
4. Young, sweet dog busts out of her collar and runs to see what Lilly finds so interesting on the ground to sniff.
5. Lilly snarks at young dog for interrupting her attempt to reset after dog #1’s lunge.
6. We walk away again, leaving a shocked handler in our wake.
7. Despite obedience exercises and physical distance for the remainder of class, Lilly lashes out one more time at a third dog at the end of class.
I’m really trying not to build up anamosity for wild dog and the chuckling owner, but I’ve lost count of the number of training sessions they’ve made harder for Lilly and I. Wild dog is improving, but a slip up there can cause a big setback for us.
I accept that I cannot control Lilly’s environment 100% of the time, especially in group classes or in public. I guess I need to find a recovery strategy that returns Lilly’s baseline to neutral. Otherwise, once she amps up, the smallest thing can keep the grumpy gravy train a rolling.
Well, he’s there to learn too. Our trainer knows it’s a problem, but I’m not sure she can ask him not to come. Since the class is outside in a pretty big space, I guess I’ll just work harder on keeping a HUGE distance between the dog and Lilly. Usually, her need for space goes way down when she’s working. But, he can cover a lot of ground in a short time, so … there you go.
Can’t the instructor do anything about this dog?
When I’m teaching family dog classes and we have a reactive or simply overstimulated type of dog, I put up some ex pens and cover them with sheets to create a space for the overstimulated dog to work in. We do this for the entire first class and then, if the handler progresses enough during the week, we’ll lift the sheet but leave the pen. Then we’ll take down a panel of the pen, then another…You get the drift.
And, if all else fails, we suggest a few private lessons to help that person learn without the distraction of any other dogs around at all.