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cynthiarose User is Offline

COLORADO

MH
Posts:133

11/08/2012 1:02 PM
So this may come across as ignorant or inconceivable, but is it possible to teach a dog human awareness? I can't think of another way to put it, so I'll explain. Havoc, and many other dogs, have problems running into people at the dog park. I for one think the people need to be more alert, but always thought there has to be a way to teach Havoc to be aware of people too and avoid slamming into them when he's playing. This is really coming up now because on Saturday I suffered a concussion after Havoc slammed into the side of my head. Realizing just how much damage he can do, I feel like I need to do something to teach him to approach people more cautiously. Any ideas?

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3134

11/08/2012 1:19 PM
I know what you mean lol! When we used to go to the dog park I saw tons of dogs slamming into the people as they bolted around like maniacs... mine were not the only ones either... Mine actually do this in our own yard and run into and under my horse, thank goodness she is an amazing horse and doesn't have issues with it... at the dog park when mine got to running crazy I would just yell out "ah-ah!" and they would slow up which would make them pay more attention to what or where they were going... when mine get too wound up they do get time outs even at the dog park they would have to sit stay by me...

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7843

11/08/2012 1:24 PM
Dogs are usually more aware of their surroundings than we are unless they are distracted by something. With that in mind, shorthairs love to do what I call drive bys when they are playing or running. They love nothing better than to zoom by you as close as they can get. This is especially true with my crew when I hike and they are off leash. They are out of sight and then quickly come zooming up from behind. If I stop or do not continue forward straight I could easily end up in a collision with my dog. So, when I hear the pounding of feet I don't change direction or stop. I also tell anyone that hikes with me if they hear the dogs coming to just continue on and do not change directions, speed or stop. As a result, I have been able to circumvent many collisions. The problem comes in if they dog is even slightly distracted and get veered off their trajectory, so you also have to always be aware of where they are and when they are headed your way. The problem gets more complicated when you train focus for obedience and you are heeling your dog. In that case I have to be aware of what we are walking toward because my dogs never take their eyes off of me and it is very easy for me to run them right into something. A little different problem that what you were describing. My suggestion is to continue to work obedience with them because that does improve their focus on you so they will be much more aware of where you are. As for other people and dogs, well since you can't always warn them you have to on alert and call your dog off if it looks like a collision is coming.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7843

11/08/2012 1:27 PM
The one thing I forgot to mention, but when you name a dog Havoc you got to expect he will cause some. If I remember right I think it was you that several us warned about dogs living up to their names.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

therozypozy User is Offline

MH
Posts:470

11/08/2012 2:12 PM
I actually think it has alot to do with the dogs personality too. Maple has very little body awareness and has fractured my ribs twice. Like Bev described "drive-bys," my Maple is the "Queen" of drive bys. Java on the other hand is what I would call more body aware and will make all efforts not to run into you. So with Maple, as Splat suggested, in her younger days, she got alot of time outs just to calm down. You will be glad to know it has greatly improved over time. Roz

kpwlee

Raleigh, NC

MH
Posts:994

11/08/2012 2:41 PM
Posted By Texas Belle on 11/08/2012 1:24 PM Dogs are usually more aware of their surroundings than we are unless they are distracted by something. With that in mind, shorthairs love to do what I call drive bys when they are playing or running. They love nothing better than to zoom by you as close as they can get. so, when I hear the pounding of feet I don't change direction or stop. I also tell anyone that hikes with me if they hear the dogs coming to just continue on and do not change directions, speed or stop. As a result, I have been able to circumvent many collisions. This is totally true with Bugsy - he has always run right at you as close as possible (105lbs mind you!) and I tell people whatever you do, DO NOT MOVE! Interestingly I do think that some dogs have better spatial awareness than others - he never steps on even tiny pups in the midst of wild play and other dogs have run into him but thankfully he has never run into another dog. Not really sure how you teach better awareness - I know of a few things you can do for hind leg awareness - one of the best is just walking through the rungs of a ladder that is placed on the ground (of course Bugsy thought the idea was to walk ON the rungs, sigh) You can look up exercises for agility dogs which also teach them body awareness

It's Bugsy's world... http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/

mckee.lucie User is Offline

Seattle, WA

MH
Posts:202

11/08/2012 7:52 PM
Luna could use some human awareness too it sounds like ...her recently new aquired method of stopping when she's play fetch with the chuck-it is her coming back sprinting to us, ball in mouth, as fast as she can and using my husbands or my legs as a cushion to slow her down. I permanently stand with my knees bent at all times when she's running with a ball in her mouth of playing fetch. I can definitely say I've been knocked down a time or two when she's been playing with another doggy friend and i was standing with locked knees.

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

11/08/2012 8:44 PM
Dogs ARE aware - they do this on purpose I know, I know - it looks like an accident IT'S NOT! It's called I can so I will It's way to control the environment

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3134

11/09/2012 7:10 AM
I could see that being the case cuz when I say "ah-ah" they know I am taking control and they need to not run into me or whatever... Why on earth they would want to run into the horse is beyond me, but they do at times play with her... they like to try and eat her feed if I use a feed dish on the ground and she will tease them with it and then run and chase them... she is a bit bossy when it comes to her food lol!

juliej

Kentucky

MH
Posts:113

11/09/2012 10:13 AM
I never allow my dogs to run or be rough and rumble too close to me. A loud menacing "Hey Hey" usually gets their attention. As shown by more than one poster on this thread, a dog can seriously injure a person in a collision. Human knees can be delicate and I want to keep mine the way they are .

Julie Aldo von der Raucherei

cynthiarose User is Offline

COLORADO

MH
Posts:133

11/09/2012 11:45 AM
Thanks for the responses. Havoc was playing with Mike a good 20-30 yards away and I had turned and was crouched down to pick something up when WHACK. Didn't see him coming and I guess Mike didn't realize he was on a crash course. Still can't believe he hit me hard enough to cause a concussion and I still have a gorgeous black eye/cheek bone. I saw a guy at the dog park get a knee taken out, and several people just get knocked over and that's why when we do go (not very often anymore) we choose to sit on the benches provided or stand against a fence or tree. Since our schedules changed so much we haven't been able to really spend as much time training Havoc outside of the house and that is where most of his "issues" seem to be. At home he's a good dog and for 9 months old I think he listens well ... it's just those moments outside or in new places where he's wild and you'd think we never taught him a thing. Starting next week I'm off my 14 hour days and back to a normal 9 so I'll be able to spend more time with him. He's learning whoa (which to us means to slow down when we're walking/jogging) so maybe I can incorporate that into off-leash time as well.

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