[nagdu] Distracted by other dogs

[Tracy Carcione]

Ben enjoys hanging out with other dogs, but I have to be careful.  More
than once, someone has assured me that their dog is friendly, and then it
has snapped at Ben.  It's happened often enough that he's become wary of
strange dogs--not all, but some.  Must be a body language thing.
Luckily, my neighbor's golden is very friendly, and they can hang out
together and do dog things.
Tracy


> Julie,
>
> That is amazing advice and the playdate things have come into my mind
> several times. I have just been a little afraid because my lab is such
> a friendly pup and everyone is her best friend. Other folks dogs
> sometimes seem unhappy at the location we choose and unknown pups
> might cause bigger issues than I am already having.
>
> What I mean by this is, behaviors or aggression toard my dog might
> cause her to become agressive or not want to deal with certain
> situations while guiding. Other people do not have this issue since
> they are just dealing with pets.
>
> Again, thanks and I will begin to look into this daycare or playdate
> idea. She does seem to just want to play. She is probably tired of us
> human variety all the time. Smile!
>
> Warmly,
> Sheri
>
>
>
> On 9/19/12, Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>> I agree with what everyone else has said about distractions while in
>> harness, but...I wonder if there's something else going on.
>>
>> Guide dog puppies spend their first year essentially in a constant meet
>> and greet with people, places and new things.  They attend group classes
>> where they often interact with the other dogs, if not during the actual
>> class then before or after.  It seems fairly common for there to be more
>> than one dog in the puppy home.  Puppy playdates are not unheard of.
>> then the dog goes off to the program for more training, where they are
>> with a bunch of other dogs.
>>
>> Enter the blind handler and a new home.  Sometimes there are other dogs
>> in the home and sometimes playdates are arranged, but mostly it's
>> solitary work for the dog.  All the doggie socialization comes to a
>> complete stop or is cut down to a trickle.
>>
>> I like dogs a lot and enjoy spending time with mine, but I also need
>> people.  I need to talk and share ideas and do people things.  I wonder
>> if dogs feel the same way?  they need some dog time to socialize in the
>> dog way.
>>
>> All that to say I wonder if spending a Saturday morning at a dog day
>> care with other dogs or arranging play dates with well behaved neighbor
>> dogs could help?  Perhaps the slow increase in dog distraction over the
>> past few months while in harness is a symptom of a need to interact with
>> other dogs.
>>
>> I'm not saying that the distracted harness behavior is okay because it's
>> not.  I'm just suggesting that meeting her dog needs out of harness
>> might help her not to crave that interaction while in harness.  I also
>> freely admit that I might be totally off here and increasing dog
>> socialization time out of harness will increase her interest while in
>> harness too.  I don't know your dog and won't presume to know how she
>> might react.  I do know that for my guide, Monty, it has helped a lot.
>>
>> all my best,
>> Julie
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing
> for others?'" Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
>
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