September 09, 2023

My 12 month old Beauceron will pull and lunge on leash when other leashed dogs walk by. Can you recommend a video so I can teach her to remain calm and ignore the other dogs unless it's playtime?

Full Question:
Hello Cindy: My 12-month spayed Beauceron pulls on her leash to greet/play with other leashed dogs. For example, we are enjoying breakfast at an outdoor coffee shop and a well-mannered dog will walk by, causing our dog to jump up and playfully lunge towards it. Can you recommend a video so that I can teach her to remain calm and ignore other dogs (unless it is play-time) ? Thank you. Cindy
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
How much obedience training has she had previously? Do you typically let her play with dogs she doesn't know?
User Response:
I have trained her for basic obedience. She plays with strange and familiar dogs at her doggie day care and at dog beach.
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
I'd increase your obedience criteria and I would suggest you cut back on allowing her to play with other dogs so much. Certain dogs become "hyper-social" and lunge towards dogs they don't know because they are overly excited when seeing them. In a large working breed like a Beauceron, it's not unusual for the outgoing friendliness of puppyhood to change to something more intense and serious as they mature. the playfulness and pulling can turn to frustration and morph into aggressive/reactive barking which other dogs may take offense to.
At 12 months old she's still an adolescent.

I allow my dogs a circle of regular friends that belong to friends of mine but I never EVER allow my dogs to run up to and play with dogs I don't know, esp at a dog beach or dog park. We don't use or recommend dog parks as there are simply too many things that can happen that will forever change your dog's worldview. If there is good supervision and the dogs are the same bunch every time then a daycare is slightly better than a dog park but I still would proceed with caution as she matures. I also want my dogs to get their fun, play, exercise and needs met by me, not by random dogs they see in the environment.

I would stop allowing her so much interaction with dogs and work on building more of a working relationship with her. I want my dogs to value me over other dogs and if they've been given a lot of interaction with lots of dogs this can become almost obsessive with a certain personality of dog.
User Response:
Thank you so much, that makes perfect sense. I so appreciate your advice.

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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