Question:
I have an 8-month old Jack Russell Terrier who’s learning to fetch and sit, but he really pulls on his dog lead. Can you please help as I would like this to stop and for him to learn to walk by my side in the city?
Answer:
First, your Jack Russell Terrier needs to have more training. You will have to have him on a lead, even in your own yard. When you walk with him and he starts to pull just turn sharply around and walk the opposite way tugging him along behind you. Every time he gets ahead of you to run and lunge forward, turn abruptly again and he'll have to follow. If you do this a lot around your yard he won't lunge ahead as much since he doesn't know which way you will be turning when you walk. Always praise him and have a treat handy for the times that he does behave. I also suggest that you take him to a reputable obedience school, where they can show you "hands on" how to fix these types of issues.
As an added note, despite the small size of the breed Jack Russells won’t be able to get rid of all their energy living a normal "city" dog life. They are meant to hunt, race and keep the barns/stables free of vermin. They have tons of stamina and energy and need to have lots of play in a safe, confined area off leash. They need balls, Frisbees and even other canine friends to wear them out. If they have worn off some extra energy, they will be more liable to behave when indoors or confined to a smaller area, and even on lead.
Question:
My name is Trouble. I am a 3 year old Chihuahua / Dachshund mix. My mom adopted me from a shelter a little over a year ago. My previous owners were very abusive, so I was terrified of anything or anyone who tried to get near me. The shelter warned her of my behavioural problems but she took me home and gave me tons of love and affection. Since I was still very afraid of people, I would bare my teeth, growl, and lunge at anyone who tried to come near me, including my mom. It took me a while to open up to my new mom and to the people around me. Now, I absolutely love being petted by anyone and everyone. Slowly she introduced me to other dogs in the neighbourhood, and when she felt I was comfortable enough, she started taking me to dog parks.
Now here is my problem. I love playing with other dogs, but for some strange reason, whenever I go to a dog park, all the other dogs there gang up on me. They surround me, bark, growl, bite, and try to mount me. As soon as I enter through the gate, they start swarming around me and won't let up until my mom is finally forced to take me home. Sometimes I try to fight back, but most of the time I am greatly outnumbered. Sometimes I just freeze up like a statue, maybe hoping they'll just go away. I am fixed, and I only play in the areas where the little dogs play. It's getting to the point where my mom is wondering if she shouldn't take me to the parks at all, but she knows how much I love to play. Can you please help us?
Answer:
It sounds as though your new owner has done a very good job with helping you overcome your shyness and fear of new things and people. It's wonderful that you now enjoy attention, patting and your new life. I must ask however, if the dogs who come to you and bother you in the park are the same ones all the time? If so, they may already have figured out that you are a target, but if different ones come to bother you, then it makes things more difficult to figure out. Unknown to your owner, you may simply be giving off "vibes" that attract negative attention. Some dogs are consistently picked on, and it can be difficult to understand why.
In the meantime, have your owner keep a distance from "bully dogs" and try to choose a few good ones for you to play with. Have her walk you on a long leash, where she can still have you in her control and nearby, to pick you up if real trouble comes along. If you can stand still long enough for some smaller dogs to "check you out" without snarling at them, perhaps they will soon figure out that you aren't a threat to them. It may be a difficult time ahead, but keep persevering and hopefully you will find one or two friends to play with. If not, try a different park or time of day to do your park visiting.
Question:
We have just moved to a very small community in the country. There are no sidewalks or stores but a small cluster of homes and farms. While walking my dog on a leash, we were met by three dogs from a nearby farm. We were not on their property, only walking on the main road. One of the dogs, a Rottweiler, was clearly the alpha dog of the group and tried to dominate my leashed dog by putting all its body weight on top of his neck. When I tried to resume the walk the Rottweiler went for my dog's throat. I yelled loudly at the dog and he stopped the attack, but needless to say I was pretty shaken. The dogs followed us for a while before finally leaving us alone. I had to keep turning around and yelling at them to go.
I'm guessing that they saw my dog as a trespasser in their area. There were no owners to be seen. I later found out that this same thing happened when my adult son was walking with the dog. Short of not going that way up the road, what is the best way to handle this situation? Part of me feels like I should bring some pepper spray and let the dog have it if he tries this again. In my opinion if an owner doesn't care that his aggressive dogs are wandering free then they have to accept what happens. What do you think?
Answer:
It does sound like you know what you are up against. The Rottweiler does seem, from the behaviour described, to be showing his dominance and to be guarding his area - whether or not it ends at his owner's property line. Have you tried contacting the owners of the property and asking them if they are indeed aware of their dogs running onto the road? Not only is it scary for you and your dog to pass the property, but their dogs are at risk of getting hit by a vehicle. One day, your own dog may try to stand his ground and a fight will ensue. You should NEVER attempt to put your hands in the middle of two fighting dogs, or you risk being seriously bitten. Carrying some pepper spray sure can't hurt, just in the case the owner can't keep the dog inside the property line and things escalate as you proceed to take your walks. Good luck with everything.
Question:
We acquired a lovely little Poodle Yorkie cross a few months ago. She is 4 years old and fit into our family wonderfully, bonding with our 9-year-old Pomeranian. The problem we have with her is that she is very skittish scared of her own shadow. After we had her a month or so, my husband took the dogs for a walk when he accidentally dropped her leash. She bolted and she was so fast that we couldn't catch her. Finally, after 2 hours of frantically looking for her, my husband found her cowering behind a bush in our townhouse complex. We had another episode last weekend while we were away. My husband once again dropped the dog leash and she bolted. Luckily the neighbor was outside and grabbed her trailing leash.
We are now so flustered that we're getting paranoid about taking her for a walk. Is their any kind of training we can do so if we drop the leash she just stays there like our other dogs have always done?
Answer:
I find that many toy dogs do tend to be on the nervous side, as your own little one is demonstrating. You also may not know the full background of what may have frightened her before you acquired her. Often, frights when the dog is young will cause this behaviour later in life as they don't forget. However, as far as the dog leash "panic" goes, I have a suggestion or two.
First, I'm not sure what type of lead you are using. The first suggestion would be to use a soft leather one — small and light in size would be better than one made of chain, for example. If it is a soft leather leash the dog is worrying about, try putting the leash on in the house. Nobody needs to pick up the lead, just let her drag it around for a couple of hours every day then she'll quickly start to realize that it's not going to harm her. She will get better used to it when she's in a more comfortable zone, like her home (it may be a bit more scary for her being in an unknown area on a walk, where she may be more nervous to start with). Once she handles the "dragging" leash in the house, then perhaps have somebody practice picking it up a short distance from the carpet and dropping it, where she is comfortable. When she doesn't bolt, next time, drop it from a higher position, until she adjusts. Give her a reward whenever she responds positively and she will soon accustom herself to having the dog leash around, above, and dropped beside her. Patience and positive rewards are the key, but this way is a start to showing her there is nothing dangerous nearby.
Question:
Can you recommend a harness for a Pomeranian with a small trachea? I currently have a harness, but it doesn't fit properly and rides up with Maggie, my Pom, pulls. Are there any brands that you are familiar with?
Answer:
It is hard on a dog's trachea when they pull and Pomeranians have a larger chest than they do body, so many harnesses do ride up when they are worn by dogs with this type of build. Boston Terriers, Pugs and others with larger chests on smaller bodies also tend to have this problem. Unless your dog walks on lead like she is in the show ring, it will be an issue.
You can try using a Buddy Belt harness. They are simple harnesses that dogs step into. It goes over the legs, wrapping around the chest and you fasten it on the back, like a belt. There is nothing to adjust, but the correct tightness of the buckle at the back. The dog doesn't have to fight to get into it and it fits much more snuggly, using the shoulders of the dog, rather than the neck and chest. It can't ride up far and they are made of soft, durable leather — quite comfortable to wear. Good luck and I hope you find one that suits your tastes.
Editor's Note: Check out our Buddy Belt Video on how to fit these stylish harnesses.
Question:
Can you recommend some kind of dog restraint for my small dogs so they will not cross the road when let them outside?
Answer:
Without knowing your residence it's difficult say, but it is generally unsafe to allow dogs loose where they are near a road. Some rural properties don't have proper fenced lawns, so in a situation like that, you may have to let them outdoors without the benefit of a fenced yard. Are they properly obedience trained? If so, you may have to resort to supervising them while they perform their "duties" or walk them in an area where they can easily be called back to you.
I think the best solution would be to provide some type of tie out. You can purchase special clothesline tie outs that work like a leash attached to your clothesline. This set up would allow your dogs to run back and forth across the lawn while being safely secured. You could also provide a tie out stake that screws into the lawn, providing your dogs with some freedom of movement outside. Another suggestion would be to put up garden type fencing from the hardware store with a few stakes to make a small, enclosed area where they can safely play. It sounds like you may have a tough situation, but I hope one of these suggestions helps.
Question:
I have a very active Pomeranian who loves to be outside on a chain. I was advised not to use a collar on her, so she doesn't harm her trachea, so I use a harness but they are not recommended for tie out. What should I do?
Answer:
Collars are actually deemed best for tying out your dog. However, it's also true that a collar can put too much pressure on a dog's trachea, especially breeds that have shorter necks. Dogs with short necks can also back out of collars, much easier than they can a proper harness.
It really depends on the type of harness you have, as to whether or not you can use it to tie the dog out. Ill fitting, or poorly designed harnesses will not serve the purpose. You will need one that is snug around the front legs and chest, with soft padding to avoid rubbing in one spot. A properly fitted harness can work well, but even then, some dogs are experts at escaping their confines. Always be on hand when your dog is tied outside to supervise her activities. If she escapes from her harness frequently, you may have no choice but resort to a safe fenced area to let your Pomeranian outdoors to enjoy the nice weather.
Question:
How can I stop my dog from putting on her brakes, and coming out of her harness?
Answer:
First, make sure that the harness is fastened to the correct tightness. If it's too loose, or the harness is actually a size too large for the dog, it will be much easier to slip off. You don't want it to pinch behind the front legs, but you do need the chest area to be quite secure. Some dogs are like Houdini when it comes to escaping their collars and harnesses. Also, as a safety precaution, you can purchase a small item called a "coupler". This is a very short rope, made from nylon or leather, with a clip on each end. One end attaches to your leash clip along with the harness ring, and the other end attaches to your dog’s snug fitting collar. Your dog should wear a collar at all times for identification purposes, and in this case, it will also be an extra safety measure. Make sure the coupler is attached to the leash clip and not just the harness ring. That way, if she gets out of the harness, you still have her attached to your leash by the coupler and the collar. Better safe than sorry. Good luck.
Editor's Note: Check out our Buddy Belt harnesses. These unique harnesses are designed especially for your dog’s safety and comfort.
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