This is my first time posting and I hope this is the right way to do it...
Here is my issue: I've adopted a 4 year old golden retriever/chow mix about 2 months ago. His name is Lucky. When we picked him up from the foster family he was with 10 other dogs in a fenced yard and he seemed to be happy, non-aggressive, no anxiety issues. Ever since we had him and we go on a walk, he displays strange behavior towards other dogs (either it be small or large dogs, barking or just walking calmly). His ears pop up and his tail goes up, he stares at the other dog and then usually he starts whining and pulling on the leash. If the other dog is close by he pulls the leash and barks, then whines and if the other dog is across the street he just keeps looking, whines and pulls as to try to pass as fast as possible. Also if the other dog is barking, he whines a lot and pulls to try to get away asap. We have been using a prong collar which works pretty well on pulling on leash, but not so well when there are other dogs.
We bought the Basic Obedience video, Pack Structure video and e collar video and e collar (although haven't tried it yet, but will start this weekend) from this website. We followed the recommendations for building pack structure and at home he is an angel -no dominance issues with me at all, he has been very submissive. We also bought the dominant dog collar from this website but can't use it because Lucky would pull us too much down the street without the prong collar. When he displays this behavior we correct him with the prong collar, but he starts to whine even more, sits down and barks at the same time as if he was having an anxiety attack (but he still stares at the other dog). My question is should I keep correcting him hard for this or is this an anxiety issue and I should not punish him for it. I will be starting my training with the e collar this weekend but have reservations about using it when he gets anxious around other dogs because I'm not sure if it's aggression or anxiety. Please help! I haven't been able to find posts that answer this question.
Olenka

You have not watched the e-collar video and plan to start e-collar training this weekend, for fear/anxiety? I'd scrap that plan for now. You can set those extremely good tools aside for now while you do some groundwork, I'd say.

This quote: Also if the other dog is barking, he whines a lot and pulls to try to get away asap ----- just to be clear, you are saying that he is trying to escape other dogs, not get to them?

What behavior made you want the DD collar? We want the dog to build confidence, focus on you, and ignore strange dogs. This can be done.

I would stop correcting for trying to get away from other dogs.

There are many threads about teaching non-reactivity to other dogs, and several are current. React might be a good search term.

But here are a couple of questions (yes, they are related): Have you done any marker training at all? If not yet, do you know much about it?

Welcome to the board, BTW.

 Quote: olenka barry

My question is should I keep correcting him hard for this or is this an anxiety issue and I should not punish him for it. I will be starting my training with the e collar this weekend but have reservations about using it when he gets anxious around other dogs because I'm not sure if it's aggression or anxiety.

Hopefully more experienced people will help - there are many here who have worked with fearful rescues - but IMO, you should not be focusing on corrections for this behavior, you should be working on building his confidence and focus on you, so that the distraction of other dogs is no longer a source of anxiety.

It's not clear whether you actually let him "say hi" to dogs you see on the street, or if his behavior is all from afar, but I would say NO to any interaction with other, strange dogs. Since he's new to you, you should put all your energy into building his bond with you, and his trust in you as a pack leader. Sounds like you did a great job of this in your home, but the great outdoors opens a whole new world of potential anxiety for him, so you need to slowly teach him that when out on walks, during any and every different situation, he can depend on you for direction and safety.

I don't use an e-collar, but I don't think this is your answer for this particular issue. A prong collar used to keep the dog from pulling should be fine, but instead of correcting him with it for acting fearful or unsure when he sees another dog, redirect him with treats or a toy - get his attention on you, praise for focus, and keep moving. Positive reinforcement for different - calm - behavior, will be your ticket here, not correction. Eventually, he'll learn that other dogs pose no threat and he can just ignore them.

~Natalya

*And all of what Connie said!

Edited by Natalya Zahn (04/15/2009 12:10 PM)
Edit reason: responded to Connie's post

My dog has basically the same behavior, except he whines and pull to go AT dogs.

I've yet to figure a treat of high value enough for him to redirect his attention on me on walks. Even couldn't even care less about his favorite toy (he's a JRT, prey-drive incarned).

I'm not sure yet if it's insecurity, or pack structure (he believes it's HIS job to watch around and care about any noise).

All I know is whenever I tease him with a treat or toy, he turns his face around, clearly telling me he doesn't give a damn.

It's weird because in my house and yard, he'll do anything for them. It's like I'm taking him to twilight zone as soon as I leave the yard.

Francis, you are waiting too long and getting too close to the distraction. Just the phrase "redirect attention" says that. The dog's attention if not allowed to go there in the first place.

This is a slow and gradual process, and it starts with focus and ob work that's outside the range of reaction.

Connie, what I mean is my dog basically stops accepting treats the moment I step outside. He will sometimes accept it on the porch, but he remains quite distant and watchful. I certainly don't want to reinforce this state of mind with rewards.

If I say "Sit", he'll sit but keep his head at whatever direction he was watching. He knows "Watch me" but generally won't do it pass the front door.

I'm using treats he would almost die for when we're inside. I've tried starting focus training at the door, then gradually on the porch. Of course at the door he will do anything. Possibly because he's hoping for the uber reward (going outside) ? But once we're outside it's another game.

Do you have a back yard?

Yes. He does fine there.

I just experimented again last night. He played with me (and his toy) up to like 30meters of my home, then he totally stopped caring. He sometimes bit when I teased him by running backward and shaking his toy on the ground, but he didn't tug it like he generally does and promptly left it.

He does seem kind of nervous. And will generally quit playing the moment he hears a car door closing, someone walking, a dog barking, or sees something moving in the distance.

I'm doing what I can to give him the "who cares, let's have fun!" thingie. But anything can catch his attention, and he will stop doing whatever he was doing (no matter how fun it was) to check it out.

Does he simply need more repetition?

 Quote: francis daigle

I just experimented again last night. He played with me (and his toy) up to like 30meters of my home, then he totally stopped caring.

THIS is where you work. Right outside that field of reactivity. Not where he stops caring -- just before that.

Only when he is 100% focused on you, having an upbeat and exciting training session with loads of super food rewards, only then do you take one step towards where he used to stop caring.

Then you can have a family member close a car door as you are focusing him on you, and so on.

I imagine (could be wrong) that you may be sending anxiety down the leash too as you see something in the distance or hear a noise, waiting for his reaction. That's when you must be the most "lalalalala this is calm and pleasant!" of all.

Olenka, have you worked in your yard or porch with your dog?