Of the leash problem with my two dogs

Hi everybody, as I am new to this site I thought I might try to utilise the knowledge and experience of the members. I have two Lurchers, Betty at 12 months old and Alfie at 6 months. They generally get on really well, sleep in the same bed, eat out of the same bowel and will share treats to the extent that they will happily chew each end of the treat at the same time. They are affectionate and do not display any aggression towards each other, people or other dogs. They walk well together on the same side of me on the lead. Happy days! Then I let them off the lead and all hell breaks loose. Betty (the older one) seems intent on not letting Alfie go any distance and when he tries she runs him down, charges him, wrestles him to the floor and then stands over him, intent on not letting him come back to me. It’s so frustrating as Alfie is desperate to run back but is being blocked by Betty. I cannot account for the behaviour. When they finally do come back, Betty comes to me for a treat, as if she thinks she has done well and performed some important function! I keep calm and if it gets too bad I put them both back on the lead and then they are fine. It is difficult to directly intervene when it happens as it is occurring at a distance. I thought it might be resource guarding of me (or the treats in my pocket) by Betty but I am not convinced. Just wondered if anyone has had similar experience or can offer any advice

Can you try letting them off one by one?

I'm sure I've heard of another lurcher doing this. Sometimes they can be 'fun police', and possibly don't want young scallywags rampaging around. Sometimes they can just be a little bullying too - 'I'm doing this because I CAN, nah, nah, nah' (my older son was a bit like this with his brother...).

I think I'd do what Mad Murphy suggests and just let them off one at a time. If she can play nicely some of the time, then when she goes too far, you could get her back on the lead asap but leave Alfie off. Hopefully she'll realise that when she does this the fun stops, and she should also calm down when she gets through adolescence. Adolescent lurchers are known to be be truly horrible at times

Its typical lurcher Bitch behaviour. ..my tilly is the only girl with 4 boys 2 of which are lurchers and she is exactly the same and is now 9 yrs old and still the same ...you have 2 options. .muzzle her whilst off lead or simply let them off individually

Mad Murphy said:

Can you try letting them off one by one?

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Thanks for the suggestion. I always feel a bit mean when I let Betty off the lead and keep Alfie on it as its not him who is the problem. Strangely as they have always been walked together when I keep betty on the lead and let Alfie off he stays close waiting for overbearing betty to be let off and so doesn't run around. I will do this more in the future thanks

JudyN said:

I'm sure I've heard of another lurcher doing this. Sometimes they can be 'fun police', and possibly don't want young scallywags rampaging around. Sometimes they can just be a little bullying too - 'I'm doing this because I CAN, nah, nah, nah' (my older son was a bit like this with his brother...).

I think I'd do what Mad Murphy suggests and just let them off one at a time. If she can play nicely some of the time, then when she goes too far, you could get her back on the lead asap but leave Alfie off. Hopefully she'll realise that when she does this the fun stops, and she should also calm down when she gets through adolescence. Adolescent lurchers are known to be be truly horrible at times

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Thanks JudyN you have hit the nail on the head with "fun police" - that exactly how it seems. Hopefully it will improve as she matures. I assumed it must be something I was doing wrong or not doing right, but maybe its just the dog!

Kara 1 said:

Its typical lurcher Bitch behaviour. ..my tilly is the only girl with 4 boys 2 of which are lurchers and she is exactly the same and is now 9 yrs old and still the same ...you have 2 options. .muzzle her whilst off lead or simply let them off individually

Click to expand...

Thanks Kara 1, it makes me feel a lot better about the situation if someone else has also experienced it. I will definitely try your suggestions