So, then over the next month (would have been shorter if I hadn’t been taking lots of photos and video), I focused on training her to focus on me around the other dogs before she could interact with them. Then I’d let her play on leash for a few seconds or under a minute and then call her away and play games with her so she’d focus on me again. Also let her interact with dogs who were older and much bigger than her and that were assertive enough to tell her to back off if she was bugging them. She did listen to them and stop pestering them. But with smaller dogs I didn’t let her pester because I knew that she would ignore the dog reprimands and then jump on them again. Or that she would listen temporarily but then jump on them later. This is what she would do with Jonesy and it would cause Jonesy to become more agitated. And of course when Jonesy’ agitated it makes him worse in other situations:-).

For puppy class, the best material I have is in the Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats book. It goes over the exercises and important points of puppy classes (and kitty classes–you should actually do these. They are easier than puppy classes) in chapters 19, 20 of the book. And chapter 18 has very detailed, photo illustrated protocols on how to DS and CC to vet procedures such as toenail trim, pilling, giving injections, etc.

I’d also get Trisha McConnell’s DVd on dog play.
And Dr. Jennifer Messer has a curriculum for puppy class. http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB961. I have a copy and have been meaning to review it but haven’t yet:-).

Sophia

I also have Trisha McConnell’s DVD. Just got it and plan to watch it soon. All 3 of my books (The handling book comes with a DVD) come up on google. The How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves is at Border’s right now because it’s out of stock at Amazon. Paperback version will be coming out in summer.

Sophia

It’s a double whammy by setting the puppies up for some challenging times socially ahead. Learning to communicate with a little puppy is a learning curve to get your timing down pat even when you have a good instructor, but atleast in the end you will know what you should be doing.

It’s important for me to teach by dogs how to be well adjusted socially (within their capabilities) as I want their world to be bigger than their backyard, or walk around the block, or just a romp at the dog park.

I learnt the hard way that some dogs and owners are happy to ignore or brush off your polite signals or requests to please, call their dog back to them. My dogs are smaller and have had their share of being bulldozed, and I’ve paid the price. So now I watch their body language from a distance, and if I can see they’re out of control, or even just too happy to see my guys not to be able to listen to their owners, we u-turn or cross the road.

It’s just too bad that the norm is misinformed. Thank you for sharing your blog with the world!
I hope it is distributed to class instructors!

I just ordered Dr. Patricia McConnell’s dvd Dog Play! I’m very excited. I tried to google your books/dvd but came up empty handed

Lucy is full of beans. Cute as can be and very lucky she has you.

cheers,

kate

I generally just focus on keeping Jonesy focused on me even as the dog is really near. For me, I also sometimes have to just let him be on a loose lead to sniff the dog for an instant and then call him away. For other dogs I have to rely more on a head collar such as the genlte leader to help keep them focused on me. Of course this works only if they are already really really good with the GL.It’s definitely challenging. Several weeks ago in class one of the dog’s owners got scared when a young dog in class started running towards hers during the come when called races. She wrapped her arms around her dog to protect her dog when she could have just as easily backed away and kept her dog focused on her. So next class we worked on mild emergencies several times. Now the owner doesn’t panic when a dog runs up off leash and is able to keep her dog focused on her. She also now sees that it’s the other dogs who are ill-behaved compared to hers who is now really well controlled and focused on her in public with distractions. So sometimes it’s just about relaxing so that you can react the way you would in a less scary situation.

but it sounds like you’re doing well!

My cattledog x can be reactive with other dogs and we’ve been working over the past few monthes to the point where she is very focused on me and no longer reacts to other dogs. However, I always have my dog on a leash and three times in the past two weeks she has been jumped on and harrased by offleash dogs(in mandatory leash areas)…including one dog who she got in a fight with (I had her leash and the other dog was loose). People also come towards me and ask if it okay to meet…my dog is not ready for greetings just yet (I only allow her to greet dogs I know and trust and only when she is calm because I want to make sure all of her greetings are good experiences) but people still persist. Even when I say no and clearly back away they continue to come towards me with there dogs

I am not a very “forward” person in that I would never yell at someone (to leash there dogs) and I want to remain as calm as possible so my dog does not feed off my anxiety. I also don’t want to say “back off shes aggressive” because I don’t want people to think negatively of her. I think its very important that people only let a)trained dogs offleash (ones who do not approach other dogs without being given the cue to go meet and b)do not allow there dogs to meet other dogs without permission (I have heard way to many calls of “he’s friendly” ). I am doing everything I can to make my dogs experiences with other dogs as positive as possible..but its difficult when I cannot walk around my own neighborhood without her being harrased.

I really hope people take this into consideration, both in always asking permission to pet a dog and not persisting if the person says no or is unsure, as well as in letting there dogs run up and greet everydog they meet.