Post by Paul Barker on Aug 24, 2014 18:06:32 GMT
British Gas gave us training on dogs because quite a few incidents of serious bights have happened to colleagues. We are after all a threat to the pack until we prove otherwise.
Poodles were on the list of dogs quite likely to bight a stranger.
Can't remember exact pecking order. I think Dachsund might have been worst was 1 in 4 likely to bight a stranger 1 in 9 likely to bight owner. Dogs which people are normally nervous of such as German Shepherd are so unlikely to bight you as to not even feature in the pecking order.
That said I am normally very calm and confident with peoples dogs and have been taught the right behaviours from my friend Nick whose wife runs Lurcher Link. I'll never forget the day I walked into a pack of Lurchers first time with Nick and wife coaching me how to do it. You basically feel like a wheel bearing and 20 odd lurchers are the spokes. but they are only getting to know you. Such an experience is valuable to someone who has to become adept at moving around in houses with dogs to whom you are a stranger day in and day out.
I only had to call an owner for help once, which was a Doberman that peeled his lips right back and took the high ground jumping onto the bed and towering over me. I kept my hands in my pockets looked and turned side ways to him and calmly in a talking voice said "excuse me, can you come and get your dog please?" The owner turned out to be useless, as he tried to get the dog away and to the outside the dog was continuing in the
snarling growling teeth showing objecting body language all the way to the door. I was a lot more relaxed after he was safely outside.
in my career two other times I had problems. First one many years ago before I was taught by Nick was a Shtisu that was barring my way from a bathroom to van every time. I had to charge at him shouting each time, but each time he challenged me. Each time I won the challenge ocntest. I rang my friend Darren who at the time had a police Shepherd "what shall I do?" he said hit him with a piece of 2" by 2" its the only languiage they understand. ANyway I didn't do that, but I took a pig rubber torch gas men carry and gave him a tap on the nose. He went off to the corner and respected me from then on. Next time I went in the house he remembered me and sat in the corner until I had gone. Other dog I had to control was another shitsu (they are endemic in West yorkshire, taking over from yorkies). That one I got by the scruff of the neck and held down. He first wanted to kill me, but as a gas man I have a very strong grip, he couldn't get free, after a while of fighting as if to kill me if he could he suddenly just yelped and went still and quiet. I let go and off he went to the corner, good as gold. No more trouble from him. Both shitsu incidents were necessary because of the owners being people who chould never be allowed a dog. in the first Shitsu house the dog ruled the roost the owners were hopelessly ineffectual, and the teenage daughter said to the mum "I can't understand why she hasn't bitten him yet" I also kept finding quality tradesmens ttols around the place and each time the mother said "oh that was from a guy who went away and never came back". Well I conqoured the fear and continued to do all their jobs. Their dog never had a go at me again. Shame the owners never took charge of it. The second Shitsu was again two people with no control whatsoever dog just came charging at me on the attack. I wasn't having that so grabbed it from the start got control of it until it submitted, owners all the while were in shock. they had no concept that the dog shouldn't be in total control of the environment. Well I am not safe in an environment where your wild dog is in charge.
To get a perspective on this that would be 3 incidents out of quite a few hundred great dogs with great owners. Most people are actually very surprised how well their dogs take to me, and state it is unusual.
Funily enough a neighbours dog (male old English Sheep dog) I was unaware was dangerous. It was out the front and post woman scared to go past it to door. I said give me the post, walked in said hello to dog posted letters walked back..
Few years later servicing their gas boiler. Asked what happened to dog. "Oh he had to be put down he kept bighting us. He bit Ian on the head and in the stomach and he used to not let me out of the house."
Poodles were on the list of dogs quite likely to bight a stranger.
Can't remember exact pecking order. I think Dachsund might have been worst was 1 in 4 likely to bight a stranger 1 in 9 likely to bight owner. Dogs which people are normally nervous of such as German Shepherd are so unlikely to bight you as to not even feature in the pecking order.
That said I am normally very calm and confident with peoples dogs and have been taught the right behaviours from my friend Nick whose wife runs Lurcher Link. I'll never forget the day I walked into a pack of Lurchers first time with Nick and wife coaching me how to do it. You basically feel like a wheel bearing and 20 odd lurchers are the spokes. but they are only getting to know you. Such an experience is valuable to someone who has to become adept at moving around in houses with dogs to whom you are a stranger day in and day out.
I only had to call an owner for help once, which was a Doberman that peeled his lips right back and took the high ground jumping onto the bed and towering over me. I kept my hands in my pockets looked and turned side ways to him and calmly in a talking voice said "excuse me, can you come and get your dog please?" The owner turned out to be useless, as he tried to get the dog away and to the outside the dog was continuing in the
snarling growling teeth showing objecting body language all the way to the door. I was a lot more relaxed after he was safely outside.
in my career two other times I had problems. First one many years ago before I was taught by Nick was a Shtisu that was barring my way from a bathroom to van every time. I had to charge at him shouting each time, but each time he challenged me. Each time I won the challenge ocntest. I rang my friend Darren who at the time had a police Shepherd "what shall I do?" he said hit him with a piece of 2" by 2" its the only languiage they understand. ANyway I didn't do that, but I took a pig rubber torch gas men carry and gave him a tap on the nose. He went off to the corner and respected me from then on. Next time I went in the house he remembered me and sat in the corner until I had gone. Other dog I had to control was another shitsu (they are endemic in West yorkshire, taking over from yorkies). That one I got by the scruff of the neck and held down. He first wanted to kill me, but as a gas man I have a very strong grip, he couldn't get free, after a while of fighting as if to kill me if he could he suddenly just yelped and went still and quiet. I let go and off he went to the corner, good as gold. No more trouble from him. Both shitsu incidents were necessary because of the owners being people who chould never be allowed a dog. in the first Shitsu house the dog ruled the roost the owners were hopelessly ineffectual, and the teenage daughter said to the mum "I can't understand why she hasn't bitten him yet" I also kept finding quality tradesmens ttols around the place and each time the mother said "oh that was from a guy who went away and never came back". Well I conqoured the fear and continued to do all their jobs. Their dog never had a go at me again. Shame the owners never took charge of it. The second Shitsu was again two people with no control whatsoever dog just came charging at me on the attack. I wasn't having that so grabbed it from the start got control of it until it submitted, owners all the while were in shock. they had no concept that the dog shouldn't be in total control of the environment. Well I am not safe in an environment where your wild dog is in charge.
To get a perspective on this that would be 3 incidents out of quite a few hundred great dogs with great owners. Most people are actually very surprised how well their dogs take to me, and state it is unusual.
Funily enough a neighbours dog (male old English Sheep dog) I was unaware was dangerous. It was out the front and post woman scared to go past it to door. I said give me the post, walked in said hello to dog posted letters walked back..
Few years later servicing their gas boiler. Asked what happened to dog. "Oh he had to be put down he kept bighting us. He bit Ian on the head and in the stomach and he used to not let me out of the house."
) do not give appropriate leadership to these animals.
