Your dog does not NEED dog friends

Repeat this to yourself - your dog does not NEED dog friends. If your dog is terrified of other dogs - which can be caused by a traumatic experience, there is absolutely no reason to force this dog to make friends. Politely ask others not to allow their dogs to approach yours when you are out. The only pack she needs is your family, and dogs can live a long and fulfilled life without interacting with dogs outside of their own pack. You need to take the role of protector for your dog and not allow others to approach her [if she is terrified of other dogs].

If you wanted to get a play group together with another dog, you would need to choose one that was very low-key and one that would allow your dog to approach in her own time. Unless your dog was aggressive with other dogs and you traveled outside your home with her, I would not press this issue. She will be a happier dog not being terrified by other dogs you feel she might like to be friends with.

Escrito por Denise Parsons em 8 de fevereiro de 2006 para a lista Petdogs-L do Yahoo Groups

Many dogs would just prefer not to deal with the constant stress of working out pack relations with other dogs, and [if] your dog has had a traumatic experience with other dogs, she is probably one of them.

One of our dogs is very stressed by situations where there are lots of other dogs, or dogs she does not know. Because I needed her to be cared for when we go out of town, I did have to introduce her to my friend's dogs so that she could stay with them. Here is what I did:

I took three 8-week sessions of basic obedience training with a professional trainer using clicker training, so [my dog] would have the opportunity of working with other dogs in a controlled and positive environment, and learn to associate other dogs with yummy treats.

Then, I chose a friend who had older dogs with a long record of non-aggressive, friendly behavior with other dogs. I introduced [my dog] to [these] dogs one at a time, off leash, in a fenced in yard that did not belong to either my dog or [my friend's].

When [my dog] growled and moved toward the other dog, I told her "No!" in a very firm voice, that was that.

Because the other dog did not respond with either fear or aggression, [my dog] was able to listen to me and settled down.

Of course, she was in the habit of listening to me by then because of all the training. They have been friends ever since.

Other dogs, she is still not happy about. I have decided to accept that and try to just make sure she doesn't have to deal with them in ways that are stressful.

Escrito por magup3g em 8 de fevereiro de 2006 para a lista Petdogs-L do Yahoo Groups