Alfie - help needed

**ChrisH** · 02-21-2012, 06:56 AM

When we come across another dog whilst out walking Alfie can become quite hysterical in his barking and whining. If the other dog walker will let us go up to their dog, or let their dog come to him, Alfie calms down somewhat so I'm 99% sure it's not aggression related. I've tried distraction techniques but Alfie is totally oblivious to anything I do.

I know the best way would be to take him to training classes but there are non held locally and my being without means of transport effectively rules out going further afield.

I've owned dogs all my life and never ever had this problem before so any help/advice/suggestion would be most appreciated.

**pomtzu** · 02-21-2012, 08:15 AM

No - it doesn't sound like aggression to me either. Judging from his past, I'd say he had no socialization skills and his new lifestyle is totally new and exciting to him. Perhaps if you have friends with dogs, he could be introduced to them so he can learn some new skills and manners. I really don't know how you would go about this, but I'm sure other posters can give you some suggestions. I don't walk my two guys, since they have acreage here which to play and exercise on. However when they do go to the vet or groomer, they behave. I guess they just learned that on their own over a period of time.

As for Alfie nipping when you brush him, you might want to try a plastic grooming rake, rather than one with metal teeth. Even with that, my guys will occasionally nip at me if I happen to catch and pull on a matted area, so I try to find them first and just cut those out with scissors, rather than comb thru it.

**Freedom** · 02-21-2012, 08:51 AM

Carry a baggie with SMALL bites of treats with you when you walk. Hot dog, cheese, boiled chicken breast all work well. I mean SMALL bites - one hot dog can make 88 treats! (I've never made more than 62, lol)

When you see the dog -- this is before he has even started reacting -- have him sit and face you, with his back to the other dog. Keep him busy with treats and tons of praise. If possible, you want the other dog to pass across the street, so you may need to cross with him before you start this.

If he gets up, you move away from the other dog with him. He is not allowed to be rewarded by meeting the other dog if he reacts, because this proves to him the action worked. He has to keep his manners to be allowed to meet the other dog.

In class, the way we do this is walking past one another , starting about 10 feet apart. We start at opposite ends of the room and walk past having the dog keep focus on US. So the command is FOCUS, which you teach by holding the treat up at your forehead. The instant the dog looks, he gets the treat. Once that is working, we start walking closer together. Eventually, we can walk up to one another, shake hands, say hello, and then allow the dogs to meet. The command for this (the one I use) is FRIEND. Some folks use GREET. All this takes about 20 minutes in class. Of course in that setting the dogs know they are there to concentrate and learn, taking it out on the road is our homework between classes, lol.

**ChrisH** · 02-21-2012, 09:43 AM

pomtzu, I think you are right about the socialisation in a way. Although he would have been used to other dogs I would imagine he was not walked whilst he was a stud dog and although he got used to being walked out whilst with the fosterer it was with other dogs in her care and more in a field/country situation.
I also agree about using a different type brush for grooming especially as he has hair as opposed to fur. I used an ordinary bristle brush yesterday and although he was a little suspicious he was fine. I've already sent for a plastic brush and a grooming glove and have hopes they will work better for him.

freedom, thank you for your advice. I agree that getting him to focus is the thing and I have done the thing with the sit and treats but although he does love his treats he has no interest at all when another dog is around. I think if we had a regular doggy walking companion it would be easier.

**Freedom** · 02-21-2012, 04:26 PM

Alfie has hair not fur? The mitt won't work well. Bichons have hair; we use a slicker brush, either medium or soft bristles; the firm is too much for the hair and it just breaks. We also use either a greyhound comb or a poodle comb (I have both).

slicker: SOFT: http://www.petedge.com/product/Groom.../478/43697.uts

MEDIUM: http://www.petedge.com/product/Groom.../478/46649.uts

small slicker - good for ears, face and legs: http://www.petedge.com/product/Groom.../478/44553.uts

greyhound comb: (I only have the mdium / coarse, I don't do a good enough job that I would ever get a fine through lol!)
http://www.petedge.com/product/Maste...ombs/46284.uts

poodle comb: http://www.petedge.com/product/Maste...Comb/44176.uts

Sit and treats: I just re read what I wrote, didn't write it too well. That is a step further along in the process. You can't have the other dog close by when you start with the training.

A walk buddy would be fun for both of you! Good luck!

**ChrisH** · 02-22-2012, 03:06 AM

Freedom, I already have three slicker brushes and combs very similar to the greyhound and poodle combs in the links but I haven't used them on Alfie so thanks very much for the advice, I will give them a try.

**pomtzu** · 02-22-2012, 08:04 AM

I have a slicker, and it works good for short hair, however, I hate it. The pins are sharp and I usually end up with bloody pin pricks, and the pups hate it too. I can't use it on Myndi anyway, since I keep her hair long, and need to use the rake on her. The rake works good on Sparky when his hair starts to grow out and isn't real short, and I use it on his ears and tail which are always longer anyway.

I guess it's just a matter of trial and error to see which works best of each individual dog.

This is the type of rake that I use.

**ChrisH** · 02-22-2012, 09:25 AM

I was wrong about having 3 slicker brushes

, I have one with plastic pins which I tried earlier and it worked quite well. The other two I thought were slickers are a furminator type thing and a rake similar to the photo you posted but, I think, bigger.

**ChrisH** · 02-24-2012, 08:44 AM

A little update. Alfie has been behaving a lot better around other dogs over the last couple of days due to my using his squeaker toy for distraction in place of treats. It has worked quite well so you could say I'm now cautiously optimistic about future meetings.

**lizbud** · 02-24-2012, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisH

A little update. Alfie has been behaving a lot better around other dogs over the last couple of days due to my using his squeaker toy for distraction in place of treats. It has worked quite well so you could say I'm now cautiously optimistic about future meetings.

Good news.

I'm glad you are seeing progress.