chloelogoa

                       Taking Charge                       

Jackie Drakeford
www.shootingtimes.co.uk
talalogoa

It happened again yesterday.  It probably happens to you as well.  You are out with your obedient, good - natured dogs, and some unsocialised mutt with a chip on each shoulder bears down on them oozing aggressive body language and looking for beer to spill.  The owner does nothing, apparently not realising that war is about to break out, or calls the dog in that helpless tone that indicates it has never yet come when called and is not expected to start now.  A recent variation has been the use of a dog whistle, to which the dog does not respond either, the owner not realising that this, too, involves training.

I can either let nature take its course, remembering that I have one dog that has never yet started a fight and never yet failed to end one, or I can interrupt the process.  Given that ineffectual owners can get very shirty when their loutish hound is lying pinned - albeit unhurt - on the ground, I opt for the latter.  The technique I use is called body-blocking.

Break the eye-contact of the challenging dog by moving between it and its objective.  Keep your body between the dogs and invade the strange dog's personal space, forcing it back.  You will probably have to circle.  Dogs understand body language and intonation: humans understand words, so keep your words sweet and your body language indomitable.  "He doesn't want to play, lovely boy," will not antagonise the owner, who is unaware that your body language is saying, "shove off, you nasty waste of space."  Your dogs need to be trained to stay behind you during this exchange.  Keep pushing the other dog's space untill it retreats to its owner, then bid a merry goodbye.  Your own dog's will respect you for taking charge.

reprinted with kind permission from Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750

chloebutton   talabutton

  The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.