BrendaGuarneros

Thank you Adrienne, I totally uderstand that is not possible to have one unique formula, which is why I agree on keep on avoiding troubles on the street. On the other hand she starts to react better to the recall, she's waiting for me a few metters distance instead of running 10 miles alone. I only use from time to time the long leash, is it ok? I mean, I don't use it every time we go out, but I do have started having her walk on leash in the park a while before I release her, and I have been working on the recall with sausage and cheese treats as well as with the hide and seek play (which is fun for both of us 🙂 ). Finally, as I you suggested we have been avoiding encounters potentially risky so Luna is doing fine. In the park off leash she's still very sociable and playfull which makes me happy because I didn't want her to build a stigma against every dog around her. So, so far I think it's ok. Thank you for your attention and all your tips given with su much detail, it is very appreciated. You make me feel better and more comfortable with these little steps going forward. Thank you!!

Hi Adrienne, Thank you very much for your quick response and for a nice welcome to the forums! 🙂 And thank you very very much for your tips on the recall I will try them. And let you know how it goes. Finally again a big thank you for your feedback on the aggression matter. I take good note of every tip, and just have then one last question, in case I could'nt avoid it and got again in front of a tension situation on leash. Do you think I should wait and do my best to not intervene and probably better let go of the leash in order to give her more space? Would they settle their differences just in a couple of barks and that's all? Or what should I do ? How can I manage my reaction, what should be the best reflex to take in those moments in order to help her react better as well? Thank you again for your time and attention! Have a nice weekend!

Hello Adrienne and evereybody, I am Brenda and I have some troubles with my very sweet but stubborn 3 year old americanstaff, Luna. So I have 2 different kinds of problems. First the one that I call her passive-aggression which tends to have her bitten. And the second problem is her lack of obedience while we are outside on a walk. I will start whit this one, the shorter one and I will develop more the aggression matter down. The disobedience one So, it has been around 6 months since we moved in a different country, that every time that I release Luna in the park, all those instructions and well learned tricks at home, seem to be forgotten outside. Like the call, she will come but 5-7 minutes later, or the soonest I take off the leash she will run far away as fast as she can, again at least she always comes back but she didn't used to do it, she would stay only 10 meters away from me. As I said, all of this started since we moved to a different country. So, what can I do to enhance what has been “well” taught and learned at home to be practiced outside? Sometimes she could be very receptive and obey but others super stubborn. The passive-aggression issue This issue is the harder to me. It has also started since we moved in, we used to live in Central Africa where there are no parks nor dogs playing on the streets. The thing is, even if it is not constantly (because ironically Luna is very sociable) it happens when she is on leash and she will seem to jump to attack/play (from no apparent reason) or other times will seem to respond to another dog's "hostility". This so called hostility I've noticed that it happens very often when she is on leash but not the other dog and then when I pull her there it goes both dogs attacking themselves and my problem comes if some dog is bitten, because it is always Luna. Or then the other scenario, less common, but when both dogs are off leash and apparently when the other dog don't understand she only want's to play (she is very "enthusiastic" and will jump over the dogs on a playful way, sometimes they get it and play along and sometimes some dogs doesn't like it). To conclude with this part, I feel impelled of admitting that if I analyse every time she got bitten or almost bitten has a relation with me being afraid of having her bitten or when it is not me but the other owner that will react protective/violent when Luna jumps or arrives running. So far it probably makes sense to you this cause-effect situation. But my “profound” struggle started when I learned while Luna was still a puppy of around 6 months. That she doesn’t know how to bite - a trainer I saw back then, told me this, the first time she got in a fight- . That is why ever since I have been overprotective when it comes to a visible violent encounter. I always step up first avoiding the other dog to touch mine and I will defend her every time. So I don’t know if it is possible that my strong character and my overprotectiveness has affected her primary sense of self-preservation, is it possible ? Because I assure you that she has never returned the bite, she will bark, she will growl, she will push them with the paws but she never bite. What a tough americanstaff of mine right? I know I am a huge part of the problem, but I don't know how to deal with it. Of course I don’t wish either to have a dog that attacks or bites every other dog just in case and just because she can. I only wish to know what to do to avoid these situations to continue. Because I rather want to have Luna to watch my back and not the other way around. Thank you for your attention!