Today I talk about a situation where I had to exercise my tricks of dog handling, share a little about the situation and afterwards I share those tricks with you explaining why you should never approach a strange dog without thinking first! Remember people always use common courtesy in life, animals have boundaries same as people and respecting those boundaries will gain more ground than being forceful especially when dealing with a rescue animal. Check out the video above to see my suggestions in action while I exercise them with Jerry!

This is the redo of my video that ended as my biggest failure vlog, I had taken a picture instead of hitting record SMH. I suppose it was a saving grace as the first take was a rant, I was really worked up over the situation! The thinking time between gave me an opportunity to rework the message of the vlog, instead of a rant I give a few suggestions and try to explain why paying attention to your dog and other people's dogs is important even if he/she is a happy dumb animal.

The other day last week I went out and recorded my vlog after a situation where a group of people decided to rush my dog, the girl jumped down towards Jerry and stuck her face right in his face as if she wanted to give him a kiss or maybe she wanted a kiss from Jerry I am not certain. Then while trying to explain why my Jerry was trying to avoid them in the first place they continued to ignore me asking them to move so Jerry could pass freely, the whole time just saying to me "he is so cute I just want to pet him". The group did not understand how they were intimidating to Jerry even after trying to talk it out with them I was left feeling very frustrated that so many people would have no idea about common courtesy.

Should / Shouldn't Do

At no point should you approach a strange dog, particularly if they are trying to avoid you allow them to come to you and if they do not want to don't try to force it
Never lean your face towards the dog, do you want your face bitten? It is a very intimidating act on its own so imagine two people getting ready to fight, I imagine to people chest to chest staring in each others eyes and the first to flinch starts the fight
Ask the owners permission, I don't see people rushing a child to give them attention without talking with the mother/father first, same freaking thing my dog is my baby and his life is in my hands!

Just Want To Show Them Love

I understand as a fellow dog owner you may want to just show them love yet as a owner of a rescue dog I also understand that in these situation depending on the dogs temperment I must conduct myself accordingly. You never know the animal may not be a submissive type and your attention towards them could be perceived as a threat, my JerBear is not so submissive and any attention towards him prior to acknowledgement of myself is completely perceive as a threat. Respecting the animal and owners boundaries is the only way to have a positive interaction leaving all parties involved feeling calm and satisfied rather then concerned for the situation in the first place.

Keep Your Animal On Leash

You never know, even if your beast is friendly the other beast may not be and by having your dog off leash in the eyes of the law your not incontrol of them. If my Jerry on leash decides to attack your dog off leash for invading his space as he sees it you will be the one at fault of this situation having to deal with the authorities not me! Keep that in mind, leash your dogs at all times, off leash park is a bit of an exception and I tend to avoid them because Jerry is not so friendly with dogs bigger than himself. Entering an off leash area I have to practice extra precaution often forcing Jerry to be submissive by allowing other dogs to smell his bum while I hold his head and reassure him its ok but never do I let him off unless he shows comfort with the other dogs first.

Suggestions / Art Of Distraction

Use a waist attaching leash, each time your grip tightens on the leash stress is transmitted through the leash to the dog. Simply by using a waist attaching leash letting it swing freely your dog is forced to pay attention to your body movement rather then how you are holding the leash and greatly negates the effects of stress transmission by removing your personal reactions from the situation. Furthermore when you do happen to grab the leash to direct him the sudden change is more likely to be a greater distraction rather than an attention focusing action

Pocket/Pouch full of smelly treats, make certain you have more then you plan to give him as the smell coming from your pocket will continue to captivate his attention. Use positive reinforcement training along with the treats and he will learn which actions will get treats and which ones will not encouraging his good behaviour with something he desires. Each time I want to change his attention all I have to do is shake my pouch and even if he is locked on another dog Jerry will turn to face me knowing if he behaves in that situation he will get a treat as a result.

Ignoring My Own Suggestion

Always Have More Then You Intend To Give

I ran out of treats, I had to take the last shot so many times over the lucky little bugger had a nice full belly by the time I got a shot of him catching the treat to end my vlog with.

I think he knows that is his last treat LOL

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!?!?

Have you had a situation that could have been better had the parties involved understood common courtesy?
What tricks do you use for handling your dog?
When/Where/Why do you feel comfortable letting your dog off leash?

That's it @d00k13 Out

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