Can my small-dog aggressive dog be trained not to bother small dogs?

If you have watched the electric collar video, you know the goal is to get your dog to follow a voice command. As the pack leader, you pick and choose what you allow your dog to do. BUT I don’t agree with allowing dogs to play with strange dogs, period. If your dog is showing aggression to small dogs, it’s only a matter of time before he meets a large dog that there is going to be an altercation with. The fact that your dog has recently started aggressive behavior (2 years old is when many dogs begin pushing the envelope with other dogs) is a big red flag to me.



I suggest you read this article on Dog Parks.



But to get back to your question, if your dog is truly trained he can be told who and when he can approach. If he “loses it” and wont’ listen to you then he is not ready for off leash. With that said, I certainly wouldn’t recommend an extreme correction for this. If your dog is already showing aggression and you use an ecollar correction you can actually cause a dog fight.



I’d spend some time reading this section of Questions & Answers on Dog Fights.



I believe that this DVD could really help you. It’s titled DEALING WITH DOMINANT AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS and was a 5 year project. You can read on the webpage what is covered in the video.



I want my dogs to get their exercise and fun from me, not from other dogs. We never allow any of our dogs to sniff, socialize or interact with dogs from outside our family pack. It’s just not necessary and in a huge number of instances, dangerous. Even if your dog is social and under control, you have no way of knowing that the other dogs are. It’s just not worth it, in our experience. I actually chase dogs away if I’m out with my dogs and I am approached. I don’t care if the other dogs are friendly or not, I don’t want them around us. This is a huge part of being a pack leader.

I hope this helps.

Cindy