on-lead growling

[CockersIndie]

hi

having some issues with Indie when she is on her lead. We have no issues when she is off-lead and she has been very well socialised. However i have completely failed her with socialisation on lead and im quite stressed about it

Another ringcraft class last night. We started the class fantastically, she had no growls at anyone so lots of praise and treats when she went through any interaction without growling (she sometimes has a growl at the other dogs on lead so we went to the class a little later when it was less frantic etc). Anyway got right to the end of the class and a man brought over his 13 week old american cocker- absolutely gorgeous. The pup promptly started climbing over Indie- she didn't react at all and was very good with him- letting him smell her etc. I did keep putting him back on the floor so Indie didn't feel so trapped etc. Anyway as the the pup was taken away (albeit onto the next dog a metre away) she started barking and growling and trying to get to him. I was nipped in the process by her which has never happened before. I really don't know how to re-socialise her on-lead.

Any advice please? Last night i was so upset i though i shouldn't show her in case this happens again and felt such a failure

(a very upset and stressed out) Kate

[CockersIndie]

anyone?

[Juno]

I might be way off (I'm a fairly new dog owner...) but I'm not really surprised she got annoyed at a puppy clambering all over her while she was on the lead.  I don't know anything (at all!) about ringcraft or ringcraft etiquette but it seems rather bad manners to allow a puppy to climb all over other people's dogs while they're all on lead.  Is there any part of the class that actually requires the dogs to meet on lead?

At our training class, the rule is absolutely no nose-to-nose meetings while on lead and it's something we work on outside the class, too.  We work on exercises outside with walking to heel on and off-lead while maintaining our dog's full attention.  In "meet and greet" scenarios, we aim to have the dogs sitting and waiting rather than bolting to meet the other.  In the real world it's obviously much harder but having your dog focus on you makes the training way easier.

Sorry, this isn't particularly helpful but I wanted to say I doubt very much you have failed her!

[Danni and Freya]

I agree with Juno, many dogs would not be happy with a pup climbing all over them on lead, my Freya being one of them. She has a short fuse for rude behaviour and she would have given the pup a telling off almost instantly. I wouldn't read into this one occasion too much, as has been discussed in other threads recently, its not advised to let dogs interact on lead as it can lead to aggression through no means of escape if the dog isn't comfortable

[JennyBee]

Brodie is like this, she cannot abide meeting dogs on lead. Offlead, she is fine, but when she is on her lead then she can't back away/run off if she feels uncomfortable, especially if they are in her face and won't leave her alone. If you think about it, their flight or flight response is limited in these situations and the only option they feel they have left is 'fight.' She definitely wouldn't be happy standing there while a pup climbed all over her and would quickly teach it some manners. I avoid having her meet dogs on lead altogether, it is much too stressful, although I do work hard to increase her confidence when she sees dogs on lead. Lots of praising and rewarding her when she doesn't react, and making sure she doesn't get out her comfort zone.

[CockersIndie]

thanks for reassuring words. There isn't a part of the class where they're asked to meet each other (in fact we do a 'in and out' swerving the dogs in and out of each other to teach not to greet)- but i think he was socialising the pup on this occasion unfortunately. The pup wasn't fazed- in fact he started barking back (amazing at 13 weeks?!- i don't think we heard Indie bark til much later!)

This hasn't been the only occurrence - i think the four or five times we've been to ringcraft she has had a growl at one dog (when we're just waiting outside to go in etc), although once we've settled down inside she's ish-ok. At shows we'd have to be on-lead i'd just rather she didn't get too growly- like i said she was actually fine with the pup on her (which i was amazed at and accept is bad manners anyway) it was just as it left which i found strange as he was leaving and then she got strange.

It's a hard one. more lead time for Indie then and lots of praise! Once my uni exams are over on friday we'll be spending lots of training time so i'll aim to get some short, positive on-lead socialisation happening somehow. She's fine being on-lead with dogs she knows (she's just desperate to get off and play) and she's generally a very confident dog. So im concluding it's strange dogs + frantic environment + no escape.

It's understandable entirely, but all the other dogs are able to be on lead and very comfortable so im definitely putting it down to a lack of on-lead socialisation.

Juno- thank for your kind words re not failing!