Is your Frenchie leash reactive?

[eeturk]

I hear ya... I have mixed feelings about off leash parks. On the one hand, I think they're a great opportunity for friendly dogs to meet with other friendly dogs and get some playtime in, but on the other hand, bad things can happen. I had our male pug (who was at the time intact, as the contract we bought him under said we couldn't neuter him for 2 years) attacked out of nowhere by a giant dog, and ever since then I'm quite leery of going to off leashes.

That being said, there is going to be a big French Bulldog meetup here in Calgary in July, and I'd love to go to that. So, I think I'll pick and choose where and when I decide to take Penelope & Fergus. I'm ok with them going to a park that's close to our house and meeting one or two dogs at a time, but an off leash where there are tons of them roaming around? No... I'll pass. Just too unpredictable.

Hudson gets to play off leash at my apartment complex with dogs we know well and owners I trust (I'm in college so good down owners are FEW and far between).

His corgi friend Turbo was recently attacked and required extensive medical care. Turbo no longer plays with other dogs and actually growls at them because he's so terrified. I'd never want to put Hudson in that position, especially because he's so friendly and naive that he doesn't understand that he needs to move away from aggression. He has quite a knack for pinpointing the dog that likes him the least and harassing that one so a place with potentially aggressive dogs is NOT good for him haha.


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[Jakeyjake]

I hear ya... I have mixed feelings about off leash parks. On the one hand, I think they're a great opportunity for friendly dogs to meet with other friendly dogs and get some playtime in, but on the other hand, bad things can happen. I had our male pug (who was at the time intact, as the contract we bought him under said we couldn't neuter him for 2 years) attacked out of nowhere by a giant dog, and ever since then I'm quite leery of going to off leashes.

That being said, there is going to be a big French Bulldog meetup here in Calgary in July, and I'd love to go to that. So, I think I'll pick and choose where and when I decide to take Penelope & Fergus. I'm ok with them going to a park that's close to our house and meeting one or two dogs at a time, but an off leash where there are tons of them roaming around? No... I'll pass. Just too unpredictable.

We recently went to a meet up at a dog supply store. Once everybody was inside with their dogs, they closed the doors to the store and everybody took the leashes off of their dogs. Stella is quite afraid of other dogs we meet at the mall, etc., but she is always leashed in those situations, so it was interesting to see her off leash around 15 other frenchies at this meet up. She did great! I was so happy. She actually sniffed butts, and acted like a normal dog and did normal dog behavior. I do think the leash can create a feeling of being trapped and unable to perhaps protect themselves or flee. I refuse to take my dogs to a dog park too...just too many horrible stories.

 

[blushy]

Hudson gets to play off leash at my apartment complex with dogs we know well and owners I trust (I'm in college so good down owners are FEW and far between).

His corgi friend Turbo was recently attacked and required extensive medical care. Turbo no longer plays with other dogs and actually growls at them because he's so terrified. I'd never want to put Hudson in that position, especially because he's so friendly and naive that he doesn't understand that he needs to move away from aggression. He has quite a knack for pinpointing the dog that likes him the least and harassing that one so a place with potentially aggressive dogs is NOT good for him haha.


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That's so horrible!

 

[PugandTwoFrenchies]

Hudson gets to play off leash at my apartment complex with dogs we know well and owners I trust (I'm in college so good down owners are FEW and far between).

His corgi friend Turbo was recently attacked and required extensive medical care. Turbo no longer plays with other dogs and actually growls at them because he's so terrified. I'd never want to put Hudson in that position, especially because he's so friendly and naive that he doesn't understand that he needs to move away from aggression. He has quite a knack for pinpointing the dog that likes him the least and harassing that one so a place with potentially aggressive dogs is NOT good for him haha.


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LOL that's hilarious! Pinpointing the one that likes him the least...hahahaha!

Even in puppy class they don't allow the pups to meet each other on leash. They just don't want to perpetuate the fight/flight response in dogs at such an early age, as that can form bad behaviors later on. There is supervised play time, but the larger, more rambunctious pups are in one area while the smaller, shyer dogs are in another. Each area has 1-2 trainers supervising, and sometimes they have to step in when things start to get too wild, or they see a dog being too afraid. (Penelope's been 'rescued' a few times...hahahaha!) She's getting better, though! But she's definitely a dog that I would not take to an off leash, as she's not as confident, so having a bunch of strange dogs approach her would not be a good idea at all.

Ah well, to each their own!

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

I'm glad Wally did not develop any fear when he got bit. In fact, his crazy personality didn't change at all. I'm also glad he bit the dog right back as he did nothing wrong.

When Wally was in training the trainers let the dogs greet each other outside the class during potty break but in class everyone is supposed to have a handle on their dogs and not let them socialize. Wally is too confident I think. lol!

 

[mmclean]

Radar is really similar to Hudson. Same thing about finding the one dog that hates him and tries with all of his might to convince that dog to be his friend. If Radar is too persistent I distract him with someone else to play with, but he loves off leash dog parks and there is a community one by my place where the owners are really good about keeping an eye on their dog so play doesn't get out of hand. He's just a super friendly guy that loves to play with everyone and everything, not an aggressive bone in his body.


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[eeturk]

Radar is really similar to Hudson. Same thing about finding the one dog that hates him and tries with all of his might to convince that dog to be his friend. If Radar is too persistent I distract him with someone else to play with, but he loves off leash dog parks and there is a community one by my place where the owners are really good about keeping an eye on their dog so play doesn't get out of hand. He's just a super friendly guy that loves to play with everyone and everything, not an aggressive bone in his body.


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You just described Hudson to a t! I wish we had a good park. There's a Frenchie meet up group where we are moving so maybe I'll check that out, I just worry that Hudson is bigger and quite rambunctious so I'm not sure the other frenchies would like him haha!


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[mmclean]

Ok... Do we have the same dog? Radar is bigger than the others and when I take him to the meet ups he finds other, bigger dogs to play with. The other Frenchies can't and don't want to keep up with him. Radar's best friend is actually a Great Dane...


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[eeturk]

Ok... Do we have the same dog? Radar is bigger than the others and when I take him to the meet ups he finds other, bigger dogs to play with. The other Frenchies can't and don't want to keep up with him. Radar's best friend is actually a Great Dane...


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Okay now this is getting weird. Here's Hudson with one of his best friends, Curie the Great Dane.


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[Squishy Walnuts]

I'm bringing this thread up again because I refuse to be defeated by my adorable, yet brutish, Wally. lol! I just bought an e-book from a very well known dog trainer/author and I really hope it helps me. It's called Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash Reactive Dogs by Patricia McConnell.

I know that it's 100% my fault that Wally has no manners. I'm not the most patient person in the world and in the morning I power walk with the dogs and do not leave myself a lot of time for actual training. My workouts came before dog training and Wally's lack of manners is the result of that. Uma is pretty good on leash but she could use some refresher training as well as she tends to wander everywhere sniffing everything. I'd like more attention on me with both dogs.

One thing I'd like to ask for those that have 2+ dogs would I train walk and train Wally separately and leave Uma at home? So far I've had Uma with us while I tried to train him but maybe for those sessions I should leave her at home since she doesn't need the kind of correction that Wally does. Or should I train him while walking Uma since I will always walk both dogs at the same time and he just needs to get used to her there?

What started this is last night he refused to hang out with us on the deck and just sat there it the backyard acting like a guard dog. He would come when called but after a pat on the head he runs back to the yard and stares at the various corners in our yard looking for intruders. I need to nip this in the bud before he gets too out of control. I know he can do it but the question is can I? I guess I'll find out. Wish me luck!

 

[Jakeyjake]

Having a dog that has manners and will obey your commands is so rewarding. We are a ways off, but working on it. The "leave it" command is so important too for dangerous situations. Stella is a highly reactive dog, so walks were getting difficult with her pulling on the leash. So my trainer suggested redirecting her attention to her all time favorite toy, a squeaky ball. So when the big, loud truck is passing by that would normally send her into orbit, I squeak the ball and her attention is instantly focused on me. I will give her a little reward and bounce the ball every now and then and she will catch it and "bring it" while we walk for a while. Has really helped keep her attention on the ball or me and not every other dog, truck, bird, lizard, etc.
With regard to walking and working with more than one dog, it works for us because a lot of times my husband comes along and Jake is super easy. May be difficult for one person to handle both dogs and get anything accomplished. Then that just leads to frustration/failure. Good luck and let us know how you like the book!

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

Having a dog that has manners and will obey your commands is so rewarding. We are a ways off, but working on it. The "leave it" command is so important too for dangerous situations. Stella is a highly reactive dog, so walks were getting difficult with her pulling on the leash. So my trainer suggested redirecting her attention to her all time favorite toy, a squeaky ball. So when the big, loud truck is passing by that would normally send her into orbit, I squeak the ball and her attention is instantly focused on me. I will give her a little reward and bounce the ball every now and then and she will catch it and "bring it" while we walk for a while. Has really helped keep her attention on the ball or me and not every other dog, truck, bird, lizard, etc.
With regard to walking and working with more than one dog, it works for us because a lot of times my husband comes along and Jake is super easy. May be difficult for one person to handle both dogs and get anything accomplished. Then that just leads to frustration/failure. Good luck and let us know how you like the book!

That's the same tip that the trainer gave me when Wally was in the 2nd level class but sadly it does not work more than once. He will just ignore the squeaky toy or treat or whatever I happen to have in my hand if he spots anything, squirrel or another dog, etc.

The book does suggest to walk them separately, which I don't really have time to do, so I'll try and train them together as soon as I find some kind of treat that Wally will go nuts over. So far I haven't found anything that will keep his attention focused on me. It was a good e-book. I like her training style.

 

[mmclean]

Have you tried Orijen treats yet? Or maybe Stella and Chewy meal mixers? Both are puppy crack for Radar and he will drop everything for them.


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[Squishy Walnuts]

Have you tried Orijen treats yet? Or maybe Stella and Chewy meal mixers? Both are puppy crack for Radar and he will drop everything for them.


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I went to go buy some to try but they were sold out as they had a sale over the weekend. I'll go back this week to get some. If that doesn't work I'll try some kind of cooked meat and see if that will get his attention. I hope to start training this weekend.

 

[Pope]

I am working on redirecting Stella's attention on walks as she will bolt if she sees a bird, rabbit, dog, etc. She pulls really hard (I never have to clip her nails!) and I initially tried gaining her attention outside with a treat and that didn't work, so now I take one of those mini tennis balls that squeak and she is very focused on where the ball is at all times. We kind of play a mini version of fetch as we walk and are working on "get it" "bring it" "drop it" "leave it". It's kind of a pain but it seems to be working. I'm learning that I need to be a better leader.

Bringing a squeaky ball is a great idea! I'll have to try that. It's the same with Pope- if he see's anything that breathes, he wants to go see it NOW