Delilah and I did another drop-in agility class on Thursday evening. If you remember from my Tick Tick BOOM post a couple of weeks ago, Delilah was a little snarky in class.
You can imagine that I approached the class with a mixture of anticipation and fear.
We took our position in the back of the room again, same cast of characters as the last class with the addition of an unruly Cocker Spaniel and our Alaskan Malamute friend, Brockway.
Sara started the class by going around the room and introducing each dog. When she got to our corner she said, this is Delilah the chocolate lab, she would prefer it if your dog did not put their nose in her butt, because she’s just not THAT kind of dog.
I giggled a little, but it didn’t ease my tension.
At the very back of the room (which is where we were) is a large pen and even though Delilah gets really snarky behind barriers I decided to try to work her a bit while the other dogs were running.
When a dog started their run, I walked into the pen and told her to heel, we then did three to five laps around that small pen, with a nice lose leash. She did awesome.
Once we did that, I brought her out of the pen and we practiced our look command.
We did this every time a dog ran, my goal was to keep her focused on me and not on what was going on in the room. It seemed to help me, until a dog would come too close.
I worry about the big dogs, I worry about the little dogs and I worry about the Delilah-sized dogs.
The big dogs worry me because I’m afraid that if she snarks at them they could hurt her and the little dogs worry me because I’m afraid she will hurt them. The Delilah-size dogs worry me because I don’t want her in a dog fight.
Basically I just worry.
The Akita (Boots) got distracted on course and headed our way. Delilah’s never officially met Boots and I panicked. Luckily I remembered to drop her leash so she didn’t feel trapped. Sara walked over and Boot’s dad came over to retrieve him, Sara and I were talking to Delilah and she was fine, of course it also helped that Boots wasn’t rushing up to her snarling.
After the situation was diffused I shared my observations with Sara.
Typically Delilah goes after high-energy, bouncy, off-the-wall dogs. If a dog walks in calmly, Delilah is a dream, but if a dog prances, or dashes in, she wants a bit of that dog.
Sara agreed with me, she thinks Delilah is disciplining the not-so-well-behaved dogs. At first I wasn’t too sure about that, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me.
Speaking of not-so-well-behaved dogs, someone was giving me a devil of a time during one of her runs. She wouldn’t do the A-frame, instead she kept running into the tunnel and every time I went for her, she ran the other way.:-(
I was so mad, I practically picked her up to get her on that A-frame.
Epic Fail.
How do you redirect your dog when they stray off-course?
Toby says
You know, one of my peoples worries all the time too. I don’t know why you peoples worry so much. If a dog runs up in Delilah’s face, then she’s got every right to nip it. Believe me. I know. I’ve been nipped many times…
As far as redirecting us when we stray off course….why bother? We obviously have something better to do, and you just have to accept it. Peoples. Jeesh.
Jodi Stone says
See Toby, dogs get it, but peoples don’t. Peoples get freaked out when dogs snap at each other, my mom doesn’t like it but we know that’s what we are supposed to do.
Jessica says
I could have sworn I updated my google subscription right off. But now I did for real!
Delilah needs manners from other dog, just like Silas needs manners from people. Alas for both of them, the world is not a polite place. In all seriousness, though, a dog walking directly toward another dog, like those bouncy dogs are probably doing to Delilah, is showing terrible dog manners. A polite dog will walk up at an angle or on a curve. I’ve been trying to attune more to this with Silas since I watched Turid Rugaas’s video–that is, if someone is coming too directly at him, I’ll change our route or position to not let that happen.
Jodi Stone says
Who knew that my dog was Miss Manners! LOL It’s not just dogs walking towards her though, if she sees a dog bouncing into the room she tenses up, and tries to go after that dog.
It’s tough when you have a reactive dog, whether it be to other dogs or people. Hang in there, Silas will get there!
Misty Shores Chesapeakes says
Can you send Delilah on over here to straighten out Maia, lol Her mother does it but I guess Maia is a rebellious teenager who thinks they don’t have to listen their mother 🙂
Jodi Stone says
Ut oh Misty, she’s starting already? LOL You’ve got your hands full!
2 brown dawgs says
Bwah so Delilah ran her own course. Why I am not surprised? 🙂
Storm would do the same thing as Delilah. She is the fun-governor. I think it is a bossy girl thing!
Doggy's Style says
Doggy is getting there too, he doesn’t like jumpy dogs, this is causing problems at the park.
I should have listened to 2browndawgs before, I’ve decided not to go back to the park, not because of the dogs, but people. I’ll miss the passive gossiping tho lol
Jodi Stone says
It is tough at the park, not everyone teaches their dogs the correct way and having them come at other dogs can create problems. You are wise to recognize it Leo, you will just have to walk Doggy more and see if you can pick up any gossip on the streets. 😉
Jodi Stone says
Oh she had me vexed! Not all female dogs are like these two, what’s up with that?