Tex Acheived a Group Walk!! (pics)

So today we had a group walk planned. I knew it would be risky and I was prepared to bail. One of Tex's good friend, Rory the labrador was there. But also Rory's new little brother, puppy Otter, and another dog Tex has never met called, Chester - another lab.

I had warned Chester's owner, Ryan, that Tex may lunge, and Rorys mum is more than aware of Tex's problems. I was going to experiment to see whether or not Tex would calm down if she spent longer with strange dogs. However much to my surprise, she didn't react negatively to them at all. We were ecstatic.

Earlier on in the walk before we met up with the gang, Tex even wagged her tail at a little Jack Russel Terrier (thats definitely a first!!!). We walked passed many, MANY dogs with absolutely no negativity AT ALL. It was so lovely to see I could've cried. She had her muzzle on, but I had allowed her off lead because she was so caught up in her new friends, and her ball she didn't pay much attention to anything else.

However, she did go mental at a small dog. She was a little ahead of me with my friends and their dogs and she walked right passed a group of pug crosses with no issue until they started lunging on the lead and barking and growling. Tex unfortunately turned back and floored one of them. I quickly got her under control and couldn't apologise enough to the owners, muzzle was of course on and no one was hurt and I explained the situation and that Tex had been good all day and was learning to socialise. Must've said sorry about 50 times - she was ok about it and very understanding, though i still feel really bad that i didn't catch Tex before she reached the dog. But In trying to see the positive 1 dog out of the amount she met today, is really outstanding and I'm still really proud of her.

Here's some pictures from today

Firstly, How gorgeous is she in her new muzzle!


We tolerated a puppy, which normally we don't know how to do. Wasn't even fazed when he barked in her face


We played really calmly








So yerh, gutted that she managed to tell a dog off, but in all I feel like the day was a successful one, and I can't thank my friends enough for trusting us with their dogs

aah that's lovely to see ..you have worked so hard with her .. I am taking Buddy on his first walk with another dog on Saturday a he also lunges - but not aggressively but because of t no one will let me try him with their dogs so a trainer I know has agreed to use one of her dogs who is used to being used as a stooge dog in certain situations -be interesting to see if they interact ok and if when he is actually with another dog close up if he behaves better than when he sees them on a walk ..fingers crossed .and well done to Tex being so good X

WELL DONE! (caps intended ).

It sounds like the pug probably got a justified telling off, but I know that it's never great to see a bigger dog floor a little one. Just think, though, if it had been a bigger dog that had gone off on one at Tex you would have been expecting the other owner to apologise!

I just love this shot, look at how relaxed they both are.



Brilliant, just brilliant.

LizP wrote:

It sounds like the pug probably got a justified telling off, but I know that it's never great to see a bigger dog floor a little one. Just think, though, if it had been a bigger dog that had gone off on one at Tex you would have been expecting the other owner to apologise!

You're quite right there, I suppose I didn't think of it that way. Thank you!

And I'm glad you like the photo! they are really relaxed. shows it wasn't even like she was just tolerating being around the group, she was happy, and chilled out, and enjoying their presence

It's helping confirm a little that she DOES like other dogs, she just doesn't always know how to be around them if that makes sense. I really couldn't be happier

Well done Em, you and Tex have done brilliantly

What you'll probably notice going forward is that Tex is calmer when you're not worried about what she's going to do too. It's a trust thing and it will grow (I learned through trust with my Flo).

As Liz said, had the pug been a different dog you wouldn't have been the one apologising and you will get the odd lapse too, my Flo tells other dogs off but it's very rare and she has never bitten but I'm always wary of the image she portrays when she tells some unfortunate pooch off.

You should be justifiably proud of Tex

That is one chilled-out Tex! Well done, you're doing brilliantly with her.

Congratulations - what a positive outing and smashing pics

What a great day! She looks like she is having a great time. It's lovely to see dogs enjoying each other's company. You should be very very proud!

nice to see tex so relaxed you should.be proud

Awww, the photos are lovely to see and what a good girl Texas was! Well done to the both of you

My boy is like her, he can be very fussy about who he meets, some dogs he wags his tail at and likes instantly and others he will snap at straight away, so I'm always on my guard with all dogs.

If there are a lot of dogs about or I can't see for miles around me, he wears a muzzle, in fact it's the same one Tex has (Baskerville Ultra). So I know exactly how you feel and how lovely it is when your dog is socialising well with other dogs, it's a great feeling

He is also not keen on little yappy dogs either, so I'm not surprised Tex put that little pug in it's place!! That said, I would have been hugely apologetic too albeit only for the size differences

Awesome!!! Well done to you both

I'm so impressed and moved by the fact that you are doing so much for your dog. So many people wouldn't. Baby steps. It will be exiting to see how things are a year from now