Growling During A Walk

[Guest rachelee]

We walk by this same tree almost every day. I noticed Bistro had an unusual interest in the puddles at the foot of the tree which create a pool with the way the roots have grown. I tried to get him to move past it quickly or not sniff at it at all. He's stood there refusing, but eventually he's always given in. He always wanted to drink what looked to me like a pool of pee. I'm sure there's some water mixed in with it as there is snow melting and more snow are rain.

 

Today I was walking with the baby in a carrier and I let him sniff it. When I tried to get him to move along he barked and growled at me -- a REAL growl where he lifted his lip and showed his teeth. I tried to VOG "NO!" him, but didn't work. I couldn't get him away from it (it's literally around the corner from our house) but he wouldn't budge. He barked and growled until he licked up the pool, another smaller pool, the leaves in the pool, scratched up some dirt around the bottom of the tree and licked at that. We were at that tree for 15 minutes. He would growl and I couldn't get him to back down.

 

I'm beside myself with anger and frustration. This dog is my velcro dog and just loves me more than anything. He does not eat without me telling him he can, and will not get a treat unless he lies down for us.

 

What is going on? Should I just not walk by that tree any more? He's never acted like this before.

[JAJ2010]

Wow! Maybe try carrying a super soaker and nailing him? No talking back allowed! What happens if you give a firm pull/release on the leash to move him forward? Are you using a harness or collar? If that happened to me with one of my pups we would walk by that tree every day and they would never be allowed to sniff there again! But I'm super mean like that... If my VOG didn't work I would march my butt toward the pup and body block them out of the way until I saw the reaction I wanted from the VOG. BUT if you do this there is a chance of the dog calling your bluff and biting you so you either have to do it all the way or not at all, basically I'm not sure I would recommend that to anyone who wasn't sure that their dog would back down and go "oh poop! Mom is pissed! Run away run away..." If you want to go out and practice you can always muzzle him to make yourself feel more confident.

 

This is such a strange thing....

[Batmom]

Take him out without the baby and work on "Heel!" and "Let's go!" in some neutral spots. Practice changing direction, stopping, starting, etc. When he has that down, go back to your tree -- with basket muzzle on if you're feeling creeped out -- and same thing.

 

Note that if you want the dog to move along, don't face the dog. Look toward where you want to go, confident cheerful "Let's go!" and stride on off.

[Guest TeddysMom]

I would just be concerned about what was in the liquid around the tree so I think I would muzzle him and not let him drink whatever it is. Wouldn't want him to get sick.