I need help with this problem please! My dog, Belgian Shep mix? 3-4yr shelter rescue goes crazy when she sees another dog. I obtained Ed's Basic Dog Training DVD last week and have started with marker training, she really responds well (with out distractions) I was working/playing with her in an enclosed ballfield near my house with a drag leash, just to let her trot around, she likes to gallop and run circles around me. I've been using the marker training to call her to me...I call her name, as soon as she turns around I use the marker and she zooms back to me. Well just today I saw a loose lab come running towards the fence,barking at us. Luckily I was able to step on and grap the leash at which point my girl went nuts, lunging and twirling in an attempt to slip her collar, which was buckled snuggly just for that reason. Well my heart was in my throat, thinking is she get loose, I'm in trouble. I was angry because the dogs owner was very far away, out of sight. I wanted to yell to them to get their dog leashed, but thought my yelling would escalate the situation. That dog eventually ran back to its owner, at which point I was able to get Samantha's attention back on me. At present, if she sees a dog in the distance I immediately call her name to refocus her attention on me, use the marker and reward her and we proceed on. How should I handle my dog in that situation? Prong collar? I'm a little confused because the DVD explains the 3 phases of training, and the correction phase occurs only after training is established. Should I be punishing her for this behavior or doing something else? Incidently, she initially reacted to my sister's dog that way, we let them sniff, and just took them for a walk, and they are fine now with each other. Sorry this is so long winded, I want to deal with this correctly and promptly. I don't have background info on this dog, but I suspect she didn't have much/proper socialization or parameters before I got her. Thanks in advance!!

avoid that situation entirely until you are farther along in the obedience. Always assume that fluffy and his owner will show up in public and ruin your training session. So stick to the living room or backyard for awhile.

Jeff, thanks for the reply. I basically do "work" my sessions in the yard with a 20ft. cotton lead. I do take her for walks just for exercise, and we run around to burn off steam in the ballfield. I guess for now I should just stick to the stroll, I can see trouble coming and change my route. The bottom line is that she need much more obedience training!!