[upendi'smommy]

So Upendi isn't DA, but she has a very strong prey drive so she doesn't get along well with small dogs. So we were at Petco to get her a new martingale collar and I saw this little Maltese about three aisles down from us. So I crossed to the other side of the main aisle to put distance between us. Well as we're across from it, it comes running at us. Apparently they had it one a flexi leash and didn't have it locked in place. Luckily I was paying attention and was able to pull Upendi away in time. They however didn't even notice and first and gave me a dirty look. If you have a dog in Petco on a flexi leash, PLEASE keep it locked at a reasonable length.

 

[Entwine]

Why would they give you a dirty look if their dog was the one who was running towards you? Hahah, some people..

 

[upendi'smommy]

Why would they give you a dirty look if their dog was the one who was running towards you? Hahah, some people..

It made me laugh as well. They seemed to think it was my fault.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Although I agree flexi-leashes should be locked at Petco, I would also agree that a dog who "doesn't get along" with others shouldn't be visting places where small dogs are known to visit. doG forbid you weren't paying attention or were distracted. It's instances like this that cause responsible dog owners a lot of grief.

 

[upendi'smommy]

I am aware of Upendi's problem, and she isn't even aggressive with them, simply overly exuberant in wanting to chase them. She doesn't bite them. And I pay attention at all times when she's in there, I even took extra measures to avoid the dog. I always take my boyfriend with me when I go aswell to help me look out. She's also getting better as we've been bringing her around my mothers chihuaha.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

I'm thankful for that, but still, Petco isn't a great place for your dog to rehearse an "exuberant" "prey drive".

 

[upendi'smommy]

Whether you think I was right or wrong she was in there to get a new collar and I needed to be able to try them on to get the correct size.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Buy 3, return 2. I'm sure the clerk would even allow you to try it on your dog, who's waiting in the car with your bf. I don't want to be difficult, but I appreciate Petco being pet friendly, also for friendly pets, and I'd like it to stay that way. I'm not looking for an admission of right or wrong but there is a bigger picture here that should be considered.

 

[upendi'smommy]

That would be possible if I had enough money for three collars. I'm not going to argue with you. I know I can control my dog and I know she isn't a danger. And I still maintain that people shouldn't have there dogs on a retractable leash in a store unless it's locked.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

I'm sure that other dog owner was much like you...they didn't think anything would happen. To which I say, they are right...they didn't think.

 

[Entwine]

Won't exposing Upendi on leash to small dogs in a variety of situations help teach her to control her prey drive?

 

[ladyshadowhollyjc]

I'd never let my dog run up to a larger dog that I didn't know. That's just asking for trouble.
Good thing you did have control over the situation.

 

[upendi'smommy]

Won't exposing Upendi on leash to small dogs in a variety of situations help teach her to control her prey drive?

That's my thinking as well, especially since she's been getting better. She's to the point that she can greet them as long as they don't charge her as happened.

 

[ambercober]

What happens when a 10 year old boy is holding the leash of a mini dash?? It's silly to think that PetCo is the best place to train a dog with a high prey drive without understanding that your going into a environment in which you don't have control over everything around you and that you will have a high chance of little dogs running around. If your isn't a danger and you can control her why are you weaving around aisle to avoid other dogs, why do you have to pull her away when others approach....... how is that training? Sure you have every right to try on as many collars as you see fit but you need to know what your getting into and understand it's certainly not the other dog or owners fault that your dog has issues with small dogs.

 

[deege39]

I wouldn't say that Donatello is DA, considering that he doesn't pick fights with other dogs, and could care less if they're even around; But if a strange male dog becomes over excited when greeting him, Donatello grows and even snaps.

Do I still take him out to places like PetCo and PetSmart? You bet! We go into PetCo, and his Flexi leash is always locked in place where he's standing at my side. If we go to PetCo and it's busy with kids and dogs running all over the place, I put him in a cart. : P Problem solved- He's too busy trying to keep his balance he doesn't even notice dogs sniffing the cart. lol!

 

[Darkmoon]

CP, I have to disagree with you.

Its very very common for even responsible Pit Bull owners to take their DA Pit Bull into Petco or other Pet stores to work on their DA dogs control and focus. I take Nubs into Pet stores with the sole purpose for training and focus work. But we know what to expect, and we also know how to handle out dogs way before we put them into that situation because of the fact we have no clue how other people will behave or not behave.

If you ever want your dog to get it's CGC you have to be able to control them around other animals. can't do that if you keep them locked in the house 24/7...

 

[winniec777]

Just a thought...

 

[MissMutt]

CP, I have to disagree with you.

Its very very common for even responsible Pit Bull owners to take their DA Pit Bull into Petco or other Pet stores to work on their DA dogs control and focus. I take Nubs into Pet stores with the sole purpose for training and focus work. But we know what to expect, and we also know how to handle out dogs way before we put them into that situation because of the fact we have no clue how other people will behave or not behave.

If you ever want your dog to get it's CGC you have to be able to control them around other animals. can't do that if you keep them locked in the house 24/7...

Agreed.

It doesn't seem like Upendi is causing a problem. As long as her owner is paying attention, I see nothing wrong with bringing this dog to the store. Besides, I think it's fair to say that most dogs would react in some way if a small dog came charging and yipping up to them.

PetCo is not a dog park. Interactions between dogs should be voluntary between both owners. If an owner can't control their dog to some degree, THEN the dog should not come into the store. I don't like the idea of Flexi Leashes in general, to each their own, but for me a 4-footer is the way to go in places with a lot of traffic, such as a store. No "oopsies" that way.

I don't think this is so far from the "kids running up to strange dogs" problem that a lot of people have. Control your kids, control your dogs, and then everyone enjoys the store. Upendi'sMom seems to have held up her responsibility.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Won't exposing Upendi on leash to small dogs in a variety of situations help teach her to control her prey drive?

If you ever want your dog to get it's CGC you have to be able to control them around other animals. can't do that if you keep them locked in the house 24/7...

Where have I suggested the dog be locked up 24/7?

Petco is not a training environment. A training environment is one you can control. Obviously, if a dog can run loose at the end of an unlocked flexi-lead, this place is the worst possible training environment. Peek under the lid of a boiling pot of water too many times and you're likely to get scald.

I don't care if "responsible" pit owners take their DA dogs into Petco to train, Pit advocates are known to disagree with this type of "training". I've sat in training classes offered by Bad Rap, and there is a long, long, long controlled training protocol that must be installed before even thinking of taking a DA dog out into a public place like Petco, and some never without a muzzle. Disagree if you will, I trust those at Bad Rap. And if you're ever wondering why such-n-such a law is being proposed to keep you from enjoying your dog, it's because of senselessness like this.

There's no reason the little dog should have runned up to Upendi, and there's no reason Upendi needed to be in the store.

 

[Westhighlander]

So if I bring my dog into Petco she becomes training bait for DA Pit Bulls? What happens if your dog breaks free of its collar?