Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My black mix chases certain people and it's getting upsetting to say the least. She's chased a few cars and bicyclists, older people carrying something in their hands, and even little children. Thing is, she won't bite, but will prance around them, sometimes even nipping at their pant legs. I distract her, then chew her out a little, but wonder if I should be more stern and/or what I should do.

Keep the dog on lead at all times and correct dog when trying to doing the chasing and nipping.

Cheryl

Until your dog learns her obedience lessons, she should be leashed. It's unwise and dangerous to have a dog chasing cars and people- even though her intentions are not mean, it's dangerous and she will be hit by a car and a person has every right to kick your dog when approaching them.

I'm sorry, this is a huge pet peeve of mine when I'm walking. Even though I love dogs, I don't know your dog is a nice dog and it's scary having a dog nip at me when I'm minding my own business. I will kick at a dog doing this to me. Also, the law is on my side on this one and you are liable if the dog is off your property.

Train your dog to come to you when called. It's not done by being mean, be happy when your dog responds to your recall. Think about it from your dog's point of view- you yell at her to come to you, she eventually obeys and you get mad at her because she came. She doesn't know the behavior that made you mad was her leaving in the first place. Dogs don't think that way. If you are paying attentio nto your dog and she IGNORES the distraction and comes over to you instead, I'd have a huge party and give her TONS of treats and praise- she did what you wanted.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Yes, I'm quite aware of the repercussions, which is why I'd posted this. I do keep her on a leash, 'til I get to the park. Unfortunately, lots of people walk by the green space dogs are allowed to run in at this park and for some reason she sees them as game. But only occasionally. And she definitely doesn't like older men!

She's a kind of hunting dog, this one, or a native Taiwanese dog. I need, however, some control devices other than leashing her constantly, because although I do this when walking her around people, there are open spaces where this is not required.

People understand this, but I know it's scary, and I'd be afraid too. I have disciplined her a few times, and she's getting better. But I'm asking for any special tactics to control this behaviour completely, some dog training techniques, that's all.

There are some breeds that have much too much instinct and drive to be trusted off leash no matter how much training and discipline you use. This dog may be one of them. I know it's frustrating to keep a dog on leash in wide open spaces when you want it to run, but that is safest. There's no magic trick that gets a dog to automatically obey with huge highly rewarding distractions around. It takes time, patience, and tons of training. Even then, as I satated above, some dogs never earn this right to freedom.

If you reward the dog lavishly for responding to your commands to come and celebrate every time, you may get a fairly reliable recall in a few months, but it depends on your dog and how great you can be in relation to the distraction.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

>>Yes, I'm quite aware of the repercussions, which is why I'd posted this. I do keep her on a leash, 'til I get to the park. Unfortunately, lots of people walk by the green space dogs are allowed to run in at this park and for some reason she sees them as game. But only occasionally. And she definitely doesn't like older men!
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>>She's a kind of hunting dog, this one, or a native Taiwanese dog. I need, however, some control devices other than leashing her constantly, because although I do this when walking her around people, there are open spaces where this is not required.
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>>People understand this, but I know it's scary, and I'd be afraid too. I have disciplined her a few times, and she's getting better. But I'm asking for any special tactics to control this behaviour completely, some dog training techniques, that's all.

Have you and your dog done any obedience class work? If not this is seriously called for.

Just because the park has off leash areas does not mean the dog HAS to be off leash. I personally do not visit dog parks with my kids at all. I feel they are too dangerous. If this is a dog park inside of a normal park setting it can also multiply the problem because not all people that visit parks like dogs.

I would first look at getting into a group class situation where your dog can not only benefit from the training but also socialization. In these classes you should learn a basic recall technique.
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Cindy & the bully boys
CGC Brutus the bullheaded bulldoggie
CGC Caesar the fabulous pittie

Praise and petting her when she's obeyed has helped me control her quite considerably in another area. Before, she wouldn't listen when I wanted to leash her. Now, she almost does all the time. BUT THIS WAS AFTER I'D DISCIPLINED HER FIRST.

So I know that this other area can be controlled. I now use distraction techniques, ie., pretend I'm throwing a ball, which makes her change directions. I'm thinking, in this respect, of always carrying a little ball and bouncing it when she disobeys, or gives chase.

She's just excited, that's all. It's really not too serious, or else I'd keep her leashed all the time. I've been walking her in this same park for the past nine months without any incidents taking place.

BUT I JUST WANT TO CONTROL IT COMPLETELY, so guess I'm going to use that distraction technique, along with praise etc. I'm just curious about dog behaviour and how to explain this. I think she's just being territorial too, although seeing things in a different light.

Besides, I may be moving. Butthanks for your comments. We'll see what happens.

I think if you go with the ball you'll be rewarding her for chasing people. in her mind if she chases you will throw a ball thus rewarding the bahavior. Thats the way search and rescue and scent dogs are trained. when they find someone or something they get a ball for a good find.

You might want to walk her BEFORE you get to the dog park. I would take her to the dog park worn out, not fully enegerized and looking to play. i would also defintiely keep her on the leash while you are there.

"I'm sorry, this is a huge pet peeve of mine when I'm walking. Even though I love dogs, I don't know your dog is a nice dog and it's scary having a dog nip at me when I'm minding my own business. I will kick at a dog doing this to me. Also, the law is on my side on this one and you are liable if the dog is off your property. "

I agree wholeheartedly. It can be a scary experience when a dog chases. I know people who are EXTREMELY afraid of dogs, and that experience would terrify them. Also, it can be very frightening for small children. I know that if I am walking a child and a dog comes running at us, I never assume the dog is friendly and will automatically go into "protective mode."

You should keep the dog on leash, and correct the dog when she shows signs of wanting to chase. A good obedience trainer might help. Also, you want the dog to learn come and stay.

Hope this helps !

Dogs act and you must react, this is how a canine thinks, you must leap into action, to get between that person fast and your dog. You must distract and stop the dog as soon as it locks onto a target to pursue. They understand a different language, also your dog running after and greeting other people before you do is a challenge to your authority. A pack leader always greets an unfamiliar individual first.
You must be the pack leader, you must react to your dogs behavior, you must stop this and cut it off before it gets bad.
Take it from someone with dogs that have very high prey drives, strong and complicated social behaviors, and love people. I acdept that outside the fenced in confines of the dogpark, outside my house, and anywhere around people outdoors my husky is on the leash, this I accepted before I ever got a husky. My mixed breed puppy is a bit different, hes only part husky,part GSD, and possibly malamute, but he loves people, in public he is on a leash, in my backyard within voice control he only greets my neighbors sometimes (who like him alot), my mom when she walks to my house, and friends who show up. Hes made progress and I can most times distract him and prevent him from greeting them, 99% of the time he comes to me on command. But Id never try that with my husky, he would run and never stop until he decided to be friendly.
My puppy, all 81 lbs (and not even 11 months old yet.


My 2 year old husky.