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Up For Paws Contributers – Pet Tales
By: Michelle Chan
Q: Dear Trainer,
My walking route is along the canal in the Upper Changi area. I have two dogs: cocker spaniel and schnauzer. Late last year while walking in the bright afternoon, two stray dogs approached us and started to bark at us. We kept moving away from the stray dogs but they followed us. Subsequently, when I am walking my dogs in the canal, the stray dogs will start to appear as well, and follow us silently. Sometimes there is one dog, and at other times there are more than 3. I am afraid to walk there and my dogs can sense it. They are also anxious when these dogs appear.
My question is, what are the proper steps to take when faced with a territorial stray dog (or dogs) without leashes?
Thanks!
Trina Chan
Response:
Dear Trina,
The main concern when around stray dogs is safety – yours as well as your dogs. Most strays will not attack unless they deem you/your dogs a threat to them or to their territory. Any barking or growling on their part are usually warning signs to back off and move away from them/their territory. These should be heeded. The best thing to do is to increase the distance between yourself/your dogs and the stray dogs. Cross the road and move away from where the stray dogs came from. Do not run, but walk away slowly. You don’t want to turn your back on the dogs completely either. Try to keep an eye on the stray dogs from the corner of your eye (so you can see if they do attack and prepare to defend yourself and your dogs) but avoid making direct eye contact. Eye contact is confrontational to dogs. As such, walking diagonally away is best! Keep your hands close to you and make no sudden movements. Try to keep your dogs’ attention on you so they will follow you and walk away with you.
I have also found that having treats on you can help to distract dogs that come towards you, as a last resort. Toss a handful out so you can make a quick getaway while the dogs are busy eating the treats.
You may also wish to consider taking a different route when walking your dogs as I can imagine it will be very stressful to have to worry like this everyday! Take care!
– Michelle Chan, Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer
Michelle Chan is owner and head trainer of Pup Pup ‘N’ Away, a Singapore-based dog training school that believes in positive reinforcement training methods. Michelle is one of the pioneers of positive reinforcement dog training in Singapore, and is enrolled in the Academy of Dog Trainers, one of the most highly respected and advanced trainer programs in the world, under the tutelage of Jean Donaldson, one of the world’s top dog trainers. Michelle is also a committee member of the Humane Society (Singapore) and a member of the Dog Sports Committee of the Singapore Kennel Club after stepping down as Chairperson in 2013.
Michelle Chan can be contacted at mi@puppupnaway.com.
Michelle Chan, Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer at PUP PUP & AWAY