dog abuse

Question
Hi. I've had my dog Max for 9 months and he is now 13 months. He is such a great dog and loves to give me attention and I reward him for his loyalty. I love him so much and provide attention, love and lots of petting.

I walk Max at 5:45 AM before work and it is still dark. While walking Max he came across two cute cats (he is intrigued by felines and chases them) and ran after them, before I could stop the retractable leash. I tried to pull him towards me but he it snapped. He chased the cats and followed them under neath various homes in the neighborhood (I live in a neighborhood with peer and beam homes). I called his name out, but not as loud as I would have if were daylight. He finally appeared as he ran across from house to house until he went up the steps of a house where I grabbed him. I was furious, angry and fearful that he would not find his way home. For a moment I thought of just waling the half a block back home and just wait for him, but decided to keep calling his name, but but he simply ignored me. When I grabbed him, I took him by the dog collar and walked him back to the house (1/2 a block), I also grabbed the skin on top of his shoulders until I hook him home--about a minute. I scolded him and I took him to the bathtub and got an instant shower to get the dirt off of him. After that he was extremely submissive that he didn't even shake the water out and stayed in the bath tub when I told him to stay. I dried him and he found himself to his crate.
I continued scolding him telling him names like "bad dog...bad dog"

I am afraid that I have abused my dog and feel sad (I'm at work now) and am pondering the idea that I am not good parent for a dog or have the patience for Max.

Please don't be judgmental and provide advise and guidance to me. I am embarrassed about my own behavior, but need feedback so that he won't run and get lost. At PetSmart a dog trainer told me not to use retractable leashes.

DJ

Answer
Hi Daniel,

I'll try to answer your question as best I can while providing some advice.  

In general, especially with larger dogs, an owner doesn't have a lot of control with a retractable leash.  Not only is the 'leash' part flimsy in most and at best, nothing more than a string, really; but the box is awkward and hard to hold and control, and it's easy for many people to drop.  My suggestion is to obtain a six foot leather or nylon leash with a good loop/handle and have either the seller or a trainer show you the correct hold for the leash so that you always have control over Max with the leash and he can't get loose again.  If you look at my Web site at www.ny-njDogTrainer.com I make mention of the fact that equipment for dogs should always be in good and safe condition.  As a professional, trainer this is one of the items I look at when I go to someone's home to work with any dog - the equipment, and whether it's appropriate for the dog and in good condition.


It sounds as if Max has a moderate to high prey drive with cats.  I can't be sure about this since I didn't observe what went on, but I doubt he chased them because they were "cute" or because he was solely "intrigued."  You don't make any mention as to whether Max caught the cats or not, and if so, what he did.  You also don't make any mention as to Max's prior experience with cats, if any, and what those experiences were like.  I'd be interested in hearing.  If Max has a tendency to chase cats, be aware that he may also have a tendency to chase other small animals as well, such as squirrels, birds, other rodents, rabbits, or even small dogs.  I would remain aware and vigilant of this possible tendency on Max's part.

I don't see anything in your post that 'red flags' me that you abused Max.  I think you were upset and panicked that Max got away from you.  In order to remain calm in those types of situations, one needs to practice being so and even visualize the situation occurring and their remaining calm over and over.  You need to think ahead about what 'could' happen and envision yourself remaining calm in that/those situation(s).

As far as grabbing the skin on top of the withers (the shoulder area), depending on the size of the dog (you don't mention Max's size or breed) this generally will not hurt the dog.  I've always had terriers, and it's common practice not only to use their tails as 'handles,' but to pick them up (the terriers I've always had have been small, sturdy dogs) by both the skin above the withers AND the tail at the same time.  I learned this from breeders and show handling people, and it's never seemed to affect any of my dogs adversely.  While I might not do this to a poodle or a thinner skinned or coated dog, it seems fine to do with my terriers who have always remained unaffected.  I never pick my terriers up by the withers alone or the tail alone - it's always by tail AND withers, which keeps the dogs sturdy, upright (even if off the ground) and square.  Again, this is pretty common practice among people who know the smaller terrier breeds that I own and have owned.  If I felt this was hurting them or had any evidence that it was, I would discontinue.  The dogs, in fact, seem to enjoy it, since I always follow this handling with a treat or a verbal reward.

I *do* try to never do anything to my dogs, or even train them, when I'm in a bad mood or upset at them for anything, or just in general upset about anything.  I wait until I'm calmer and in a better mood.  Again, doing so takes practice and a conscious effort.  A person has to learn to remain calm 'under fire' and this is a skill you can learn, too.

Also, it sounds as if Max has not learned a good recall (come when called) under high distractions.  I would suggest working with a qualified trainer (that is, someone who is college educated, with course work or a degree in animal science, and/or psych, and hands-on experience with dogs) to work on Max's recall.  While some dogs with high prey drive can be 'called off' prey if their recall is well trained, in truth, once any dog is in that high drive (depending on how high the drive is and what part of drive the dog is in) he may not respond to your recall cues as he's literally, at that point, in a different part of his brain.  I have always had terriers with high prey drive and if I can 'catch' them at the beginning of their in predatory sequence (just when they're beginning to orient and 'as soon as' they start to give chase), I can call them back to me; however, once they're in full chase drive after their target, all bets may be off.  So, I closely manage my dogs, keep them on the proper type of leash (never a retractable one!) at all times when off my property, and keep a good hold on their leashes while remaining attuned to what they're doing and their body language.

In general, when asking a dog to come to you, it's best to learn *always* to reward a dog when he comes to you, and not scold, even if you're upset at what the dog did prior to his coming to you.  In general, remember never to scold a dog for coming to or returning to you, no matter how upset you may be.  Again, this takes practice and remembering this important 'rule' of training.  Your dog coming to or returning to you should always be a happy event for the dog, no matter what happened prior.

Do your best to keep Max on the proper type of leash always when out of doors, and also work on that recall which is your insurance policy 'just in case' and which every dog should learn.  Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Madeline Friedman, M.A.
Volunteer at AllExperts.com