A Personal Experience: De-escalating a Cane Corso Encounter

Olimpia shared a personal story of successfully de-escalating a dangerous encounter with a Cane Corso and its pack, who were on the verge of attacking her. Her calm and strategic approach highlighted the importance of staying composed in high-stress situations.

The Canine Limbic System: Emotions Drive Behavior

The discussion explored how the canine limbic system drives emotions, which in turn shape behavior. Olimpia explained:

• Humans can engage and channel this emotional system properly with thoughtful handling.

• Conversely, improper responses can trigger and exacerbate undesirable behavior, leading to escalations.

Real-Life Incidents: Lessons from the Field

Roxanne recounted a recent incident involving her neighbor’s dog, Paisley, who was attacked by another dog. The owner, Kyle, had to intervene quickly, picking Paisley up for protection.

The conversation deepened as Kyle shared his own harrowing experience of being attacked by a husky while walking Paisley.

Practical Strategies for Protection

Olimpia and Kyle discussed effective techniques and tools for safeguarding dogs in aggressive situations:

• Citronella Spray: Olimpia recommended citronella spray as an effective and safe deterrent for aggressive dogs.

• Avoid Air Horns: While air horns can be startling, they may damage the hearing of all dogs involved—including your own.

• Using a Break Stick: A break stick can be a critical tool to control dogs engaged in a fight without causing harm.

RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO CANINE SIGNALS

Olimpia emphasized the importance of understanding appeasement signals, which are a dig attempt to de-escalate tense situations. Key appeasement signals to watch for include:

• Lip licking: A sign of stress or an attempt to diffuse tension.

• Changes in direction: An effort by the dog to avoid confrontation.

MANAGING A DOG ATTACK

Olimpia and Roxanne explored strategies for handling aggressive dogs, focusing on scenarios where a dog might attack another dog or a person.

Olimpia demonstrated her leather leash technique to Roxanne, explaining how it could be used to protect her dog from potential threats. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe distance and using a low, sharp tone of voice rather than a screaming frantic tone, to avoid physical confrontations.

Managing Luna's Assertive Dog Behavior

Roxanne and Olimpia discussed strategies for managing dog interactions, particularly when Luna, Roxanne's dog, displays assertive behavior. Olimpia advised Roxanne to recognize Luna's body language and intervene before Luna's behavior escalates, emphasizing the importance of not reinforcing aggressive behavior. Olimpia suggested that Luna's stare could be a warning rather than an intent to engage, and that Roxanne should move away before Luna exhibits assertive behavior.

Protecting Your Dog

Roxanne and Olimpia discussed strategies for protecting dogs, particularly in the context of aggressive off-leash dogs.

Olimpia recommended several techniques to prevent movement and have better control. She also suggested using a Citronella spray as a last resort. Roxanne shared her own experience.

CLIK HERE for Olimpia’s List of Emergency Tips & Tools

Olimpia shared a curated list of essential tips and tools for managing emergency situations effectively:

• Practical strategies to safely intervene.

• Tools to carry for deterring or halting attacks.