Psychology

Hi, just wondering if anyone is an expert in dog psychology?

As you know Oz is DA but just recently I have strated to get him to take his favourite and biggest stick when we have walks in the park/fields or woods (far too big for street walks) and little sticks on a street walk

He doesnt lunge and bark at big dogs ( mainly due to the fact that he wont drop his stick for anyone) he still tries to reach the big dogs but small dogs he doesnt show as much interest

He runs around like a loon in the park with said stick and in open fields with his tail very high ears to the front

Does anyone know what this means? it is asset possession or just having fun?

He brings the stick back home, unless he finds a bigger one to swap with, but then wont give it up in the garden until he is ready

Any suggestions? Just interested, it makes walking him so much easier and less stressful for me and am tempted to carry on unless its a bad thing.  OH just walks him without stick but he is less worried about meeting other dogs, especially ones off lead
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If it works for you then keep at it, Moo loves a stick and if I ever have to keep her attention there is nothing better than a stick Xx

i agree if it's not broke etc......my baby loves a stick too but only brings them home and not interested in taking one out with her. we have quite a collection of sticks in our porch.

Sounds like its a good distraction for him. My concern would be if another dog wants to play with his stick?!

Funnily enough so dar no other dog has come that close to us, we have been fairly near another dog off lead but Oz has been more interested in his stick and run in the opposite direction

They have seen his weapon of choice!   Must get Alfie into big sticks!!

Sorry Hun I don't really know anything about this kind if thing! Would agree though to continue if it's working   

My old dog did this as well. I never had an issue with it so I didn't discourage it.

I use the stick trick when I see the signs with Flo. So far it has worked every time. I agree with the others, if it works, use it.

Yes I agree too if it works, use it. Pixee chews sticks on the spot.

Sounds like a good plan to me I can't walk with Axl when he has a stick he keeps trying to lay down to chew it lol. Once he even stopped in the middle of the road and tried to lay down with his stick... as said before, he's not too bright though lol

Rach would probably be the one to ask having worked with all kinds of fur kids, but if it works Hun I'd continue :)xx

I always encourage dogs in kennels to carry something if they mouth excessively/are reactive. It's great for refocusing and calming behaviour, as others have said, if it works, don't stop it!

Body language wise, i'd say he's alert and "ready," if a dog came into his space, especially with his stick there, I would be quick to intervene. If his tail is straight up, i'm going to say that he's quite tense. His running around, as long as it's loose and relaxed and not "patrolling" for other dogs then it does sound like he's having fun. Biscuit's run changes if dogs appear in the same field as us, her tail goes high, mouth closed tight and ears forward too, she's uncomfortable and ready to defend herself. When the fields are empty he tail is low, her ears back and she zooms around mouth open.

Thanks so much Rach, he seems very relaxed when he us by himself jumping trotting around. Tail in the air is wagging and doesn't seem stressed  even when he sees other dogs he doesn't have tha instant urge to lunge and run off at high speed to get them so I think the stick / log does help, it certainly helps to have a less stressed walk and even though I have eyes in to back of my head it's a bit easier. Thanks So much for all your help