Dog walker for $10 an hour?

[pbgirl423]

Sheesh, looks like I started a firestorm by asking a fairly simple question. I’ve been reading MANY (too many) posts about “aggressive” dogs. I don’t believe I said anything about my dog being aggressive and thank you to some people who pointed that out for me. We have a toddler and another baby coming in a couple of months so I just figured I’d throw out a post asking for some help to get our dog some exercise until things are back to normal around here.

From the sound of some of these posts it’s amazing to me that anyone ever takes their dogs outside! Or, even goes outside with their kids for that matter considering there are so many dangerous dogs. Lighten up people :)

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[Jeannie]

pbgirl423, I know what you mean. By the way, I adore beagles!

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[goodgraces]

Hopey: As a “normal” dog owner who frequently encounters off-leash dogs while walking my on-leash dogs, I sure would love to know “how to prevent an off-leash dog from approaching [my] on-leash dog.”

Can you share your professional wisdom on the subject?

Is there something I should be doing besides shouting out “NO! NO! Away!” and sticking my foot out so that he/she cannot get close to my leashed guys (who are chomping at the bit to attack the off-leash guy who seems like a threat to them/us).

Thanks!

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[alki_2008]

pbgirl: I don’t believe I said anything about my dog being aggressive and thank you to some people who pointed that out for me.

No one else said that your beagle was aggressive either. I think the risk is more about other dogs being aggressive toward your beagle, and if those other dogs are off-leash then crossing the street with your beagle won’t eliminate the risk to your beagle or its walker. Non-aggressive dogs may bite others out of fear or to defend themselves, but that doesn’t make them aggressive…fear-biting is not the same as aggression.

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[hopey]

goodgraces: Yes, there is something else you should be doing. Calmly take your dogs on the shortest leash possible and walk in the opposite direction. The key here is calmly. Shouting at the dog which is approaching you is only going to increase that dog’s stress level, which will increase their aggressiveness.

Incidentally, this will also help your dogs. Your focus should be on your own dogs, helping them keep their cool and be less reactive. You do this by being a good example. By shouting at the other dog, you are confirming for your dogs that the approaching dog is a threat, and that they should be ramping up their own aggressiveness to defend you. If you keep your cool, it will be much easier for your dogs to keep their cool as well.

You could also start bringing on your walks either a squirt bottle filled with a vinegar and water solution (1/4 vinegar), or there is a fairly new product that looks like those little cans of mace or pepper spray, but instead is citronella. Most dogs hate the smell of citronella, and it doesn’t cause the stinging pain (which can increase aggression, not deter it) that pepper spray does.

Taking a stand and trying to shout down a dog that’s approaching you is a really good way to ensure a dog fight.

Sorry to disappoint you, but there really are other strategies you can use.

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[sam-c]

pbgirl: “I don’t believe I said anything about my dog being aggressive and thank you to some people who pointed that out for me.”

some of the links posted in this thread refer to having trouble with aggressive off leash dogs approaching on leash dogs. if you do find a walker- then they should be prepared to address that situation.

I think it’s great that you are keeping your dog’s interests in mind when considering the upcoming family dynamic changes. dogs are family too! congrats!

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[Lucile 2]

I agree with Hopey. I think the canned citronella is called “spray sheild” or the like.

CALMLY! If you react in haste or shorten your dogs leash quickly and forcefully, your dog can sense your nervousness from how you handle that leash! I also try to throw in as many commands to the approaching dog that I can (sit-stay-lie down). Of course, some dogs don’t respond to that and if my little one is anxious, I use my body as much as possible to block them from direct contact with one another, while I treat my dog and use lots of verbal praise for showing his ‘calming signals’ and moving in the other direction (body blocking-I also used it to train my dog not to chase the cat, but to lie down on command). Resorting to using my foot to push the dog away would be only something I would do if all else fails. Luckily, I haven’t gotten into that situation yet. It’s a tricky situation, so that is why I think it is important to encourage EVERYONE to LEASH THEIR DOGS!

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[ellenater]

man you people suck. you should start a new (as in, your own) thread to discuss your dogs of doom. OMG dogs of doom…

PB, I have a very playful puggle. she would love to play with your insanely aggressive beagle. just think, they could stick their noses in the air, twitch, and then roll in something random and probably gross. shoot me a PM is you are interested.

and now back to more inane comments that are totally irrelevant to this post.

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[Lucile 2]

actually, I am completely awesome. As are dogs.

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[WSMom]

I’m still hoping for a reply to my pm pbgirl. My 15 year old needs a summer job and getting him outside walking an energetic dog would be perfect for him! He’s the neighborhood vacation cat sitter/house watcher. He takes a lot of pride in being given this job responsibility and likes the independence earning his own spending money affords him. There are not many job opportunities for 15 year old boys (most families have girl babysitters), so pet care is a great option.

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