What's Best For A Timid Whippet

[Julie D]

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Ella is 2 1/2 now, extremely gentle, as whippets are. She's very well socialised, once when she was a small puppy I picked her up as a staffie (minus owner) was sniffing and snarling too close for her and my comfort ( I was about to leap over the garden wall to escape it )

Problem :- she's scared of George, Great Dane, I know he's a gentle giant but she doesn't like him lolloping after her, on her first meeting with him she was so panicked I had to pick her up as she was trying to run away ( few months ago , honestly these are the only 2 times I've rescued her and I tried not to give her bad vibes eg it's something to be scared of )

next time she met him, he and another collie type dog ran after her, collie snapping and barking at her and she made a bee line for the exit of the park, through the meadow ( thankfully I always close the gate after me, but not everyone does ).

On Sunday a lurcher, grey x lab wanted to play but she didn't enjoy the new 'friend' chasing so closely (a dog who can keep up with her) and was doing pathetic little barks while trying to run away, again she ran to the exit I swear her face had such a worried look on it.

I had to drop everything and sprint after her, haven't ran like that for years :- "

the young lad and his girlfriend were ever so apologetic.

Ella loves playing with other dogs, always runs over then goes down in submission, until she's decided they're ok.

She was less than 3 ft from a rabbit yesterday , just looked at it and watched it hop away :blink:

I don't think she's going to learn to like these big dogs, so what does it matter if she doesn't love all furry friends, it's ok if I put her on the lead if I see George or the lurcher again, isn't it ?

I think I'd rather do that than risk her getting out of the gate if someone's left it open and she ends up getting run over.

 

[J.T.]

Hi Julie, Ah poor little Ellie Could you get Georges owner to keep him on the lead & you have Ellie on lead & let them meet quietly under control without all the lolloping :lol:

Maybe a few quieter meetings with this BIG dog may give her a bit more confidence. Then perhaps let her off but keep the big lad on lead & see how it goes. I'd get someone on gate duty tho just in case :thumbsup:

I think I'd keep an eye out & if you see any scary dogs on the horizon then call her back before she spots them or before they have a chance to come charging over. That way she maybe won't associate going back on lead with the arrival of the other dog but you will have stopped her from running off. You'll also have chance to distract her with treats, a game , whatever so she sees the arrival of another dog as a positive thing.

All amateur dog psychology here but it may help.

Good Luck

Julie.

 

[jezza]

I agree with JT, see if you can introduce them both on lead, or possibly with Ella off lead and George on lead. They can be more scared when they're on lead though because they know there is no escape route as they are attached to you! But at least if you have Ella off she will be free to go and meet George if she chooses to.

I think the key would be not to force her. Let her go at her own pace, and if she doesn't want to play with him, then just leave it at that. Introduce them from a distance, as far away from him so that she doesn't panic at all, give lots of treats and praise, and reduce the distance gradually over a period of days/weeks.

Perhaps that she won't like big dogs, and like you say, that doesn't really matter. As long as she is happy, and has a few doggie friends to play with, then thats all that matters :thumbsup:

 

[Julie D]

thanks for the tips.

Dagsquall, yes I do remember you, how is Billie ? Ella also sees my husband as boss as she's chauffered around in his wagon every day and never strays from his side )

have you got any pics of your Billie, be lovely to see her ?

 

[whippetgood]

Hi Julie, Ah poor little Ellie   Could you get Georges owner to keep him on the lead & you have Ellie on lead & let them meet quietly under control without all the lolloping :lol: Maybe a few quieter meetings with this BIG dog may give her a bit more confidence. Then perhaps let her off but keep the big lad on lead & see how it goes. I'd get someone on gate duty tho just in case :thumbsup:

I think I'd keep an eye out & if you see any scary dogs on the horizon then call her back before she spots them or before they have a chance to come charging over. That way she maybe won't associate going back on lead with the arrival of the other dog but you will have stopped her from running off. You'll also have chance to distract her with treats, a game , whatever so she sees the arrival of another dog as a positive thing.

All amateur dog psychology here but it may help.

Good Luck

Julie.

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This is sound advise :thumbsup:

 

[Pennymeadow Whippets]

Take her to a puppy training class there are all breeds big & small you walk you dog around the hall in between all the dogs also walk in pairs & zig zag in & out of the other dogs its all in a safe enviroment there is a good one in Skelmersdale if you want a contact number PM me.

 

[dagsquall]

Hi Julie

An action picture of my Billie! :- "



I agree with the previous post that as long as your are not too close (> 100 yards) to a road and Ella's recall is good (once the chasing party has given up), your whippet is likely to be less stressed if not on the leash.

If the other dog is rude and barge on her, it is not her that needs socializing, it's the other dog! If anything I wish mine was a lot ruder and would snap to put them back in place (she does it sometimes, when she is about to get in season!).

Gael

 

[hely]

My gypsy seems to be quite timid with other dogs as well.......esp if she's on the lead, she ok off lead a she will just run, but on lead can sometimes be a nightmare..........take last night........took her for a walk and a another dog was off lead and came over for a sniff, she was okish, slightly nervous, and then the other dog growled at her i pushed it away as the owner seemed to be enjoying his very slow stroll :rant: thats when it went for her :rant: she yelped and started twisting round on her lead (i couldnt let go of her as we were by a road) i kicked the other dog and by this time the owner had arrived and with a quick sorry off he went :rant:

we have had this happen a couple of times now.............so do you think that is why she's a bit timid as im sure she wasnt like this when we first got her.

 

[Julie D]

My gypsy seems to be quite timid with other dogs as well.......esp if she's on the lead, she ok off lead a she will just run, but on lead can sometimes be a nightmare..........take last night........took her for a walk and a another dog was off lead and came over for a sniff, she was okish, slightly nervous, and then the other dog growled at her i pushed it away as the owner seemed to be enjoying his very slow stroll :rant: thats when it went for her :rant:   she yelped and started twisting round on her lead (i couldnt let go of her as we were by a road) i kicked the other dog    and by this time the owner had arrived and with a quick sorry off he went :rant: we have had this happen a couple of times now.............so do you think that is why she's a bit timid as im sure she wasnt like this when we first got her.

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some ownners are just not fit to have a pet under their control (or not )

 

[Julie D]

Hi Julie

An action picture of my Billie! :- "

View attachment 49360

wow she just looks exactly like Ella but without the stripes (w00t)

Ella has always been the smallest in the litter, she's now 20 lb and 18 1/2 inches to the shoulder, what size is Billie, she's really pretty

 

[dagsquall]

She's very pretty and she knows how to play "sad eyes" to get the treats too.

I think she always was the tallest, she is now 20", a giraffe!

Gael

 

[peapod25]

Although its not EXACTLY about a timid dog, I've always thought this article was very true and helpful on dealing with dogs that sometimes have problems with "others."

Just scroll down the link a little to see the article, "He Just Wants to Say HI!"

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html

 

[Julie D]

that's a good article, I have read it before and agree it's very true.