How do you break "the staredown"??
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How do you break "the staredown"??
Ok, I love Emma, but we've got some work to do. If you read the post on "Emma goes psycho over sharing food", you'll begin to see what I mean. Well, her intensity about unstable dogs is too much. Max is a big, cross-eyed, and rather dumb German Shepherd owned by a friend. For some reason, he has an issue with her and has charged her aggressively a couple times. As you can imagine, what he started, she finished. She sent him whimpering home (literally) and scared the crap out of him. Still, he's dumb and tries the same thing every time the first meet. Well, today while walking her, she saw him on the deck and "the staredown" started. She locked eyes and would not take them off of him. I tried snapping my fingers by her ear, tugging on her collar, tapping her on the shoulder firmly, tapping her on the side and finally a swat on the butt (not hard or mean; I hate to see dogs hit and hate the thought of doing it) with no avail. I was calling her name at each step, but could not break the stare. I put my hands in front of her eyes and all she did was move to lock back in.
I'm not having any of this! Even on walks when other dogs approach, the energy/excitement builds and she locks eyes. It feels like eagerness to see other dogs, but she's not received well by other dogs when she does this. Anyone else trying to break the "Texas showdown"? syndrome? What works for you? Thanks, Chris.
I'm not having any of this! Even on walks when other dogs approach, the energy/excitement builds and she locks eyes. It feels like eagerness to see other dogs, but she's not received well by other dogs when she does this. Anyone else trying to break the "Texas showdown"? syndrome? What works for you? Thanks, Chris.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48302922@N00/1967714019/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/196 ... 546cfc.jpg" width="500" height="111" alt="Emma" /></a>
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Re: How do you break "the staredown"??
Not being a trainer or that knowledgable i'm sure others can give you loads more advice but one thing I would say and have used, is to be more vigilent and don't allow the situation to start. With Bramble I have stopped her 90% of the time from chasing our cats by getting in first and not letting her lock onto the cat in the way you are discribing. I use what ever means I have to to get her attention before the cat becomes the only thing she can concentrate on usually before she knows the cat is there. You have to be more vigilant than she is. I think that if you see it more as team work and less as you against her it might be helpful. Lots of praise for not behaving in this way and make her want to please you. I hope you find what works for you both. All the best.
Siriol, Bramble, Izzie and Isla.
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NanouetJon
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Re: How do you break "the staredown"??
I believe confrontation. starts long before our chow sees the other dog/animal/person. We as the walker get nervous, anxious, alert before we walk in front of that house with the other dog that charges to the end of his long line. It may have scared us one or twice and now we are careful. We all know our chows can feel and read us with or without a leash on (how does Maddoxx know I am awake before I start moving ). So when we coming towards that situation the chow is preparing long before we get there.
A couple of things I do for Maddoxx when I forget to calm myself. I reset Maddoxx, which means get him back in the walking with me mindframe. That usually means we stop and he has to sit, then I tell him to look at me. Sounds easy.. not always, often enough it means I am down on my one knee with hand on his rear keeping the bum down and the other hand under his chin pointing his muzzle at me. I keep a running commentary the whole time.
A reset is frustrating for Maddoxx because he can't get into a stare down and I force him to sit with his back to the other stimulant. Once I reset him I stand and start to walk, if he does more than just glance around at the other dog, we reset again. He knows that I am walking him and I am aware of the dangers and he needs only worry if I ask him to. I have taken over 30 mins to walk in front of a house (reset ,reset, reset ) but Maddoxx's learns. We can go by later in the day or next week and he won't stop. I have been approached by neighbors who either complain I am driving their dog crazy or more inquisitive as to what I am doing.
The complainers are surprised by the chow who sits on my foot and waits for me to be finished and who totally ignores them.
So an answer to how to break a stare down, Turn your chow, and make yourself the only thing in their view. Them staring another dog is a challenge or warning, you reset the behavior to take control and tell your chow you are the only thing they need to worry about.
A couple of things I do for Maddoxx when I forget to calm myself. I reset Maddoxx, which means get him back in the walking with me mindframe. That usually means we stop and he has to sit, then I tell him to look at me. Sounds easy.. not always, often enough it means I am down on my one knee with hand on his rear keeping the bum down and the other hand under his chin pointing his muzzle at me. I keep a running commentary the whole time.
A reset is frustrating for Maddoxx because he can't get into a stare down and I force him to sit with his back to the other stimulant. Once I reset him I stand and start to walk, if he does more than just glance around at the other dog, we reset again. He knows that I am walking him and I am aware of the dangers and he needs only worry if I ask him to. I have taken over 30 mins to walk in front of a house (reset ,reset, reset ) but Maddoxx's learns. We can go by later in the day or next week and he won't stop. I have been approached by neighbors who either complain I am driving their dog crazy or more inquisitive as to what I am doing.
The complainers are surprised by the chow who sits on my foot and waits for me to be finished and who totally ignores them.
So an answer to how to break a stare down, Turn your chow, and make yourself the only thing in their view. Them staring another dog is a challenge or warning, you reset the behavior to take control and tell your chow you are the only thing they need to worry about.
Re: How do you break "the staredown"??
Similar to what Nanouetjon does, I turn direction and walk the other way, and will do that until she (Lily) can go by. Sometimes we are already far enough by that I do not allow look backs. If the other animal is aggressive toward Lily, she avoids them all together. She will only be physical as defense to an attack, if there is no way to get away.
