Comments on: Dog Training: Please put your dogs on the ground where they belong http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/09/dog-training-please-put-your-dogs-on-the-ground-where-they-belong/ harness your dog's prey instinct and have the happiest dog on the block Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:43:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Neil http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/09/dog-training-please-put-your-dogs-on-the-ground-where-they-belong/comment-page-1/#comment-2218 Neil Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:54:17 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/09/dog-training-please-put-your-dogs-on-the-ground-where-they-belong/#comment-2218 Of course now our conversation is moving on to something else entirely. I still stand by the original post, that dogs - all dogs - are more secure and able to negotiate social situations (with other dogs, humans, etc.) when all four paws are on the ground. Particularly this article is directed at people with toy breeds, to give them a sense of how coddling a dog and lifting it off the ground can feed anxiety. However, just keeping the dog on the ground might not be enough, you might have to work with a dog to help them learn the social skills that we're talking about. As for "preventing attacks from wayward dogs" - that's a different conversation entirely. And I don't think that - unfortunately - one can make any universal statements about the "best" way to handle that situation. You can find just as many news reports of people scooping their dogs up to protect them, only to have them snatched literally from their arms. Generally a dog that's coming after you (or your dog) is doing so because they're attracted to you - and the way that you handle it (and hope for the best) depends a lot on your temperament as a human. Not staring down/facing the dog is a good start, absolutely. Someone could simply try to keep themselves between the other dog and their dog - or could walk away as you suggested. But all of these strategies have their associated risks. That's why I think your other statement - that owners should do their best to be aware of their surroundings, maintain "safe space", and do their best to control the flow of interactions with other dogs, is the best preventative approach. Of course now our conversation is moving on to something else entirely. I still stand by the original post, that dogs – all dogs – are more secure and able to negotiate social situations (with other dogs, humans, etc.) when all four paws are on the ground. Particularly this article is directed at people with toy breeds, to give them a sense of how coddling a dog and lifting it off the ground can feed anxiety. However, just keeping the dog on the ground might not be enough, you might have to work with a dog to help them learn the social skills that we’re talking about.

As for “preventing attacks from wayward dogs” – that’s a different conversation entirely. And I don’t think that – unfortunately – one can make any universal statements about the “best” way to handle that situation. You can find just as many news reports of people scooping their dogs up to protect them, only to have them snatched literally from their arms.

Generally a dog that’s coming after you (or your dog) is doing so because they’re attracted to you – and the way that you handle it (and hope for the best) depends a lot on your temperament as a human. Not staring down/facing the dog is a good start, absolutely. Someone could simply try to keep themselves between the other dog and their dog – or could walk away as you suggested. But all of these strategies have their associated risks.

That’s why I think your other statement – that owners should do their best to be aware of their surroundings, maintain “safe space”, and do their best to control the flow of interactions with other dogs, is the best preventative approach.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/09/dog-training-please-put-your-dogs-on-the-ground-where-they-belong/comment-page-1/#comment-2217 Jenny Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:35:58 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/09/dog-training-please-put-your-dogs-on-the-ground-where-they-belong/#comment-2217 Yes, I always say that some dogs need more time than others, my barbet isn't like my daughter's bichon, who is naturally a master of negotiations. My barbet has had to do a lot of work to develop confidence and social skills with dogs, so when the interaction is flying too fast (passing on a sidewalk), I'm not planning on hugging the human and she doesn't have to sniff the dog! When we have time, and the other dog/human has time, then absolutely, get down and friendly! The worry about another dog attacking is an excellent reason for all dog trainers to maintain some safe space around them and their dogs and not let any strange dog hurry into the point of contact. I can tell you story after story of exactly this situation which has resulted in the littler dog getting killed (little dog was on the ground). With a loose weird dog, by turning your back and walking away with small dog in arms, you can almost always avoid aggressive provocation. And if that doesn't work, the small dog didn't have a chance on the ground. Yes, I always say that some dogs need more time than others, my barbet isn’t like my daughter’s bichon, who is naturally a master of negotiations. My barbet has had to do a lot of work to develop confidence and social skills with dogs, so when the interaction is flying too fast (passing on a sidewalk), I’m not planning on hugging the human and she doesn’t have to sniff the dog! When we have time, and the other dog/human has time, then absolutely, get down and friendly! The worry about another dog attacking is an excellent reason for all dog trainers to maintain some safe space around them and their dogs and not let any strange dog hurry into the point of contact. I can tell you story after story of exactly this situation which has resulted in the littler dog getting killed (little dog was on the ground). With a loose weird dog, by turning your back and walking away with small dog in arms, you can almost always avoid aggressive provocation. And if that doesn’t work, the small dog didn’t have a chance on the ground.

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