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Recent Growling at Dogs During Walk

Behavioral Issues
  • eeeefarmE

    He's becoming an adult, and attitudes toward other dogs often change at that time. You need to be careful using aversives. It can backfire, or you inhibit the growl and therefore the warning before he escalates and bites. Better to distract him by asking him to do something else, ideally before he growls if you can anticipate the problem, e.g. require him to sit or to watch you so that you can reward him for the good behaviour. Some dogs become "leash aggressive" but are O.K. with others off leash and he may be one of those. However, some Basenjis become dog aggressive and avoidance is the best alternative.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • B

    Ok I will try rewarding for not growling. SO BUMMED!!! He is so good with other dogs and it could be the leash thing. Good point!

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  • K

    Agree with eeeefarm. We have two lovely, laidback sisters, who growl and baroo a lot when meeting other dogs on leash. It takes calmness and practice to teach them to behave themselves. You can dedicate entire walks to addressing this issue. It can be a lot of 'work', but also fun and rewarding to see your B change. And it is wonderful for bonding.

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  • B

    OMG found something that worked!!! Our dog was growling once again like crazy over this golden at the park. So we thought it was the leash because he's fine with other dogs off the leash but he was still going crazy over this poor dog. The dog owner was sooo nice! What we did was pick up our dog brought him close as we squatted down as he watched us pet the other dog (we remained completely calm) and said nice doggie as we pet the other dog. Let our dog smell our hands. We did this for about 2 minutes. After that, they played AMAZING and ran around for about 1/2 hour absolutely no problems and having so much fun together. They chased each other back and forth completely calm and playful. We were so happy you have no idea!!! The other pet owner was ecstatic their golden got such a great run in too. Not many dogs that run like that. Hopefully others can try it! Will try this with another dog he was growling at.

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  • wizardW

    That's great - I would also still carry treats to distract your dog in case the other dog isn't quite as friendly or your dog doesn't like being so close to the other dog - just in case.

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  • D

    Our mix began to do the same thing. Actually lurching at other dogs while on a walk and we would get dirty looks from people. Take her off the leash and her personalty changed immediately. She even plays with the dogs that she earlier lurched at.

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  • B

    We learned the same thing! Off the leash he is Mr. Personality! Plays amazing with the ones he growled at.

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  • wizardW

    When on leash dogs pick up your emotions (without realizing it you transmit done the leash and the dogs pick up on that) so if you are a tad nervous the dog will pick up on that. Your dog may have become really nervous around other dogs when with you because you have become unconsciously nervous about others.

    Or your dog has developed a bigger personal space and needs to let other dogs know she doesn't like others coming close. There is training protocol to help with this.

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  • B

    We figured out the same thing. When off the leash he's 100% good.

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  • FlashF

    Unfortunately we have the same problem with our boy (9) and girl (10). Off leash they play well - 95% of the time. The other 5% can be a disaster especially with small frightened dogs. My guys have gone after such animals and even bitten them - once drawing a small amount of blood. This behaviour seems quite instinctive and regrettably I have not been able to curb it. I do hope your pleasant little fellow doesn’t go this far. But we are talking about a very primitive breed.

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    What type of training are you interested in? Is this a housebreaking issue, obedience problem, or some behaviour you want to discourage? Since you have posted in behavioural problems, I assume you are having some difficulties with something. If you are more specific it might be easier to point you in the right direction, i.e. to an obedience trainer or an animal behaviourist.
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    I always offer my clients a choice. They can train their dog to heel in the same position each time, or they can train their dog to simply be enjoyable to walk with (to pay attention, not pull, not criss-cross in front, or tangle up) So far every single one, scores of clients, have chosen to have a polite walker, not a perfect one. With my own dogs, the only time we work on 'heel' is when we are training for Rally. In the show ring I want them in front a little bit, and on a walk, I want them on the "fun" side of the trail. Now, they do sometimes forget with the stimulus is overwhelming…squirrel, etc...but usually I can do some attention work with them right away and get them back under control. Those of you who see me walking my dogs at the National will probably laugh...I am bringing my two WORST trained dogs...one is virtually resistant to training, and the other just hasn't had the training time he needs..it will be quite a circus :)
  • torchsongT

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    The treat issues haven't been too horrible. Most of the time the people who bring them quickly learn the downside of it and don't do it again. :) She's been doing a lot better, and I've been determining when it's okay to discipline and when not. If she's doing a "give me space" where three or four dogs are sniffing her at once, I hold back, but occasionally she's gone after just one dog and I put her down for that. Next thing you know she's just playing with the dog, chasing or whatever. So it seems to be working. She's gotten a lot better at coming on command as well, even from across the park. It's tough to break that ADD that most 'Senji's have :), but of late she's gotten really good at breaking away from what she's doing if I call her. Who knows…we may make a dog out of this "cat-dog" yet! :)
  • VanessaV

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    i'm feeling your pain on this one. dan and i broke up a few months ago so i moved home and mia went from sleeping with rocky and maggie on the couch to sleeping in bed with me. if i'd go out at night, my mom, instead of crating her would let her sleep in bed with my parents. (because she cried and mom felt bad) then dad told mom he didnt want her in bed with them so mom would sleep in a spare bedroom just to keep her from crying in her crate! (typical grandmother.. she spoiled her rotten) Now dan and i are trying to work things out so i brought mia with me last night to stay over and he keeps maggie and rocky in the laundry room with their beds and they are content with that, but Mia was NOT having it. she sat at the gate and cried for a good 2 hours. They aren't allowed in the bedroom because he got new furniture, so she has to get used to it i guess.. Only time will tell i suppose.. but uggh that crying.. its enough to make you wanna pull your hair out. im hoping when the 3 warm up to each other again she'll stop..
  • Robin_n_JackR

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    C
    My son has been afraid of animals his entire life. We didn't know it until we were visiting a friend when he was 1 year old and their cat WALKED across the room. He freaked out. From that point on he was afraid of any live animal, but loved stuffed animals. He is 6 now and we just got an 8 week old Basenji. We talked about it alot, (he has slowly gotten used to our friend's cat, but every time the animal made a sudden move he jolted). He was excited to get the puppy, and we sat with him while he got used to exactly what the puppy would do. It has only been 2 months and my son is so good with our dog that he is not afraid of the dogs across the street who are high strung little fluffy things that always sent him runnning and screaming into the house. When I asked him about it he said he wasn't afraid now because he had one now. We waited to get a dog until both of our kids were older and could handle some responsibility. It was the best decision we made. He is still uncomforable around large dogs and other large animals, but has made remarkable progress. I don't know how your nephew will respond, but as he gets older he may realize that he has some control over the animals and that may help. Good luck!!!
  • youngandtiredY

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    B
    @youngandtired: :rolleyes: This woman is so stupid to let this B's behavior go to the point of looking like it will bite. My Sahara, does growl at times, but I would not allow this behavior at all. I have grabbed her when she tried to keep me from shuting the bathroom door on her, she was growling real loud, she knew I meant business and has not tried that behavior lately. I did carry a water bottle with me when I got into my car recently and told her, "No", and she has not done the growl & grab Mom's wrist since. Yea, the next time company stops by I will put her on a leash when they leave, which is a problem sometimes as she runs from me. Have to get the special sandwich meat treat out for that. haha!!!!! Can't keep her from the mailman and UPS man, I don't know when they come until it's too late. She is doing better about minding my "Leave It" commands, so I think in time of reinforcing no growling she will get better. Thanks all for the advice!:D Sounds like your making good progress C…...good job!!!! Keep it up......Mom's in charge!;)