As an owner of two Border Collies who don't like other dogs coming up to them, I know I get very annoyed when other owners allow their dogs to approach mine and if something bad happens, they blame me like it's my fault because my dogs don't want to play with theirs. In the end, they should control their dogs because mine aren't interested in going up to other peoples and stay away.
If I see a dog running up and I get hold of Jess's collar because she's the most aggressive towards other dogs, the other owners seem to automatically think that I believe their dog is going to attack mine. It never seems to occur to them that mine will probably go for theirs and they say something stupid like: "He's ok love, he just wants to play", and I'm so tired of it now that I usually respond by telling them that mine DON'T want to play. Too many people just don't seem to get it. Obviously, I don't want our Jess to lay into somebody elses dog so these close shaves do frighten me and some people might mistake it for me believing the other dog is aggressive when it is not.
BTW, both my dogs have been attacked by other dogs, especially Jess, thats why they don't like them. They aren't just bad tempered by choice.
I used to do agility and flyball at a club with mine and I remember a guy with a GSD which was quite aggressive towards other dogs. He kept it on the lead but when it went through the tunnel or the tyre jump, he would have to let go of the lead. One time, it managed to evade him when it came out of the other end of the tunnel, it ran straight up to our Mist as I was taking her around the next course to have a go at her but Mist being Mist span round and nipped it's nose like a flash of lightening and then she stood her ground with teeth showing and staring right at the GSD and letting him know she meant business. Her sudden pushiness made him back off and the owner got there by that time to get hold of him. The GSD also used to snarl and growl at our Jess when we were waiting in the queue with them on leads to go around the courses. Jess would snarl back of course.
In the end, no matter how friendly a dog might be, other dogs might not want to be approached and react aggressively if they are. I know that Border collie bitches are often very much like this and as Borders often dominate the agility and flyball scene, I bet there was a lot of them around. No other breed is fast enough for them in agility and flyball so they do tend to dominate.
You need to concentrate on making yourself much more interesting and fun than anyone else and their dogs. Use a favourite toy and destract your dog from others as practise and reward him simply for keeping his attention on you. If you are more interesting than them, your dog will stay with you and will lose interest in wanting to go and play with other dogs.
I don't agree with another owner coming up and smacking your dog though. Maybe having a word with you about making sure the dog was properly taught not to run up to others but not smack the dog. I think they might be a bit clueless in some aspects. As for not punishing him enough, thats plain stupid. Dogs don't learn through punishment, they learn through positive reinforcement. Firmness, yes, but shouting at him and hitting him...well, that doesn't create a trusting relationship between you and thats something you need in order to work as a team.
Take AgilityK9trainers advice and get your recall 100% spot on and then go and get back to it but do it for you and your dog. Don't waste your time trying to impress them.
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Kalei
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