HAS your dog ever been attacked on your watch? If so who do you think he blames?


I’ll give you a clue…it isn’t him.


No leader worth his salt would allow one of his pack members to be attacked and your dog knows that. It matters not that ‘the dog came out of nowhere’, ‘it should have been on a lead’ or ‘I didn’t see it coming.’


There are no excuses in the dog world you either protected him or you failed. That’s how he sees it and if he is hurt on your watch your leadership credentials plummet and he will be anxious about following your lead in future.


The best way to save your dog from attack is prevention. Carry an aerosol spray with you and if all else fails use it in the direction of the offending dog. Use a harmless spray like air freshener. It’s the sound of the air rushing out that stops them in their tracks.


Learning to read dog body language is a great help. Eye-to-eye staring is a serious challenge from an approaching dog and if his ears are pricked and his tail upright expect trouble. Once he lays his head over your dog’s neck it’s game on so intervene at the earliest possible moment. Do not in any circumstances start screaming or running away, but back away quietly to safety.


Try not to pick your dog up if you can help it as the attacker may refocus on you. I carry a spare lead that I whirl around like a propeller in front of my dogs if I see an aggressive approach coming. Most of the time they back away unsure of what’s going on.


An umbrella or walking stick can be helpful in planting in front of your dog as a boundary. Whatever you do you must keep your dog safe.


I have in more extreme situations taken my jumper or jacket off, waved it in front of the offending dog then let him have it while I steered my own dog to safety. 


If you want to socialise your dog in a controlled environment join one of my classes at vicbarlow.com or text me on 07590560012.