[nagdu] Distracted by other dogs

[Cindy Ray]

Julie, I have a sense that probably it wouldn't help that much. I have two additional dogs, so my dog gets socialization with other dogs. However, if he sees other dogs that aren't his, he gets distracted by them. If they are dogs whom he has not met, he barks and growls at them. Now, in his case,m if he can have the opportunity to greet that dog, sniff it, and just spend a little time sizing that dog up, he is done with the aggression. He may still be distracted by the dog, but not in the same way. He likes other dogs and will play. I really don't think dogs think the same way we do, but they do need a lot of play time with someone, I think, and maybe if the dog doesn't have the chance to run or walk a lot, maybe its stored up energy in general is causing the problem. Just my thoughts on this.

Cindy

On Sep 19, 2012, at 8:09 AM, Julie J. 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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