Our dog is a wee bit nervous. He loves his regular doggy friends and has no problem with them. He is a medium size Border collie x spaniel. Really lovely and great with my very young grandchildren. He has grown with them. We have a problem with one young bouncy setter (beautiful friendly dog - really really lovely) The setter bounces all around our dog. We can be a field distance away from him when he spots us - then he totally ignores his owner ( a nice young man) he will not recall to the owner. So much so that we often catch the dog by giving him a treat and holding him till the owner catches up. Our dog really does grumble and snap at this young dog. He does not bite him but he is very unhappy and makes it known. My husband wants to report the family to the dog warden as he feels that the dog could take off after a deer over the fields and be a danger on main roads around here....What do you think?
I think the setter has a problem and his owner has a problem. I don't think you do. I suspect the setter will settle down as he matures but there is no telling how long that will be. How does the setter react when your dog growls at him? I don't know many dogs that wouldn't take off after a deer except maybe little toy dogs. I know both of my dogs will. I don't think this is a matter for the warden.
Bill
http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring-it was peace. - Milan Kundera
It isn't so much the deer chasing that is a concern. The deer jump the fence to the main road north (dual carriageway and fast) and the dog is more than capable of clearing the fence and causing an accident! Also round here there are lots of stock in the fields. The dog - no fault of the dog - could end up shot if a farmer decides it is worrying sheep or calves....My dog will start off after a deer but will stop when I shout "leave" The setter is very young and bouncy - a delightful dog but sadly a bit thick! He is not in the least concerned when my dog gets snappy or growls. I've said to the owner as nicely as I can - however my patience is running low. The owner needs some training as I suspect this is his first dog.Originally Posted by Bill
STA70219.jpg
What a shame that this dog owner is such a prat. Some people just shouldn't have dog's, if they can't be bothered to put the time in to train them.
This dog should still be on a line, until the owner has got a good recall with the dog. Perhaps you could suggest this, and try and get him to use food or a toy as a lure/reward for the dog. Unfortunately I think that unless you really have to, I wouldn't use a food treat either to catch the dog, as this could be one of the reasons that the dog takes off when it sees you, association of getting the treat.
If talking to this young man doesn't work, then give him a scare and perhaps start walking in the opposite direction with probably his dog following you. With any luck this will make the owner panic, and then you can stop or go back, and say to him how easy it would be for somebody to steal his dog in this way. Dog theives do work in this way, and a few years ago, two tried it on with two of my dog's. Luckily I recognised what was happening, and my dogs had a good recall, but it certainly put me on my guard from then on.
I don't think that the Dog Warden would do anything anyway, unless the dog did regularly get onto the road, which of course could prove fatal for the poor dog.
If you want to try and stop your own dog getting grumpy about it, then either put youself between the other dog and your own, using the body block method, or keep turning your dog away and breaking eye contact with the other dog. Totally ignoring the other dog, so that it gets no feedback from you, may be the only way that this is going to help. I know how annoying this can be, as we have had this with a delightful Jack Russell in the village where we live.
I love Setters, but they can be scatty. This is even more reason for this owner to get a grip, before its too late.
Regards Jan
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Your Privacy Choices