I've been working pretty hard with Maggie on the leash. She wears the prong and does not pull, usually walks just ahead of me-sniffing and exploring all these new things on our walks. She's 10 months old and my primary goal of the after work, neighborhood walk is exercise and manners at this point.

The problem: people in my neighborhood are starting to fence in their front yards with decorative wrought iron fences. The fence usually is only set back about 1 foot from the sidewalk. AND...they let their dogs stay out front (I presume these dogs get the whole lot around the house), unattended. Needless to say there have been several times when I walk by and these dogs rush the fence, thier heads come between the iron bars and it scares the cr** out of me and then MY dog goes berzerk. My question is how to work with my dog to ignore these dogs. Even when I am not surprised, and try to walk by calmly, she looses it. I know where a couple of the worst offending dogs live so I usually cross the street before I get to that house, but I feel like I shouldn't have to zig zag across the street when I am out for a stroll in the city. Maggie is great when we pass dogs who are on leash on the sidewalk or at the park. She gets alert and excited, but stays with me on fuss command and won't pull, she is starting to accept these dogs as a distraction she might be able to ignore soon. But these barking, lunging dogs--I don't know. (She actually ignores dogs who are barking behind a cedar fence).

I am also thinking of bringing this to the attention of the city. The fences are to code, but the unruly dogs are not. What if a toddler or young child were too close to the fence (or is it just my dog they want to goad on??) One of these people even told me the dog was friendly one day when they were out with the dog, trying to get a leash on it...the dog was not cooperating, I crossed the street and it did not stop the dog from running the fence line and barking its head off.

If these dogs are startling you there is no way, no way on earth you can expect your dog to keep it's cool. It's just unreasonable to expect your dog to put up with what looks to her like a full on assault.

My advice to you is to keep zig zagging for your sanity as well as your dog's. It's not fair that you have to do this in your neighborhood but life is anything but fair when it comes to only putting up fences to code.

" My question is how to work with my dog to ignore these dogs. Even when I am not surprised, and try to walk by calmly, she looses it. I know where a couple of the worst offending dogs live so I usually cross the street before I get to that house, but I feel like I shouldn't have to zig zag across the street when I am out for a stroll in the city."

I'd calmly cross the street in plenty of time. This isn't something I'd really view as a situation my dogs need to work with. But JMO.

I agree you shouldn't have to. Nevertheless, I would do it.

To go along with what Melissa and Connie said, I was pleasantly surprised to see how neutral my dog became to obnoxious dogs while doing exactly what the ladies just suggested. Didn't take very long before I noticed a difference.:smile:

Some dogs scared him, others he'd act obnoxious right back at them.

When I resigned to just go to the other side of the road, he started getting over it. It sure is nice when they train themselves.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

... When I resigned to just go to the other side of the road, he started getting over it. It sure is nice when they train themselves.

I looooove it that my used-to-be very reactive fear-barker now marches past his ex-enemy fence-fighter with nothing more than a patronizing sneer.

Thanks, all, I think I get impatient. You are right-- time and experience will be the best teacher. Got to remember this is all new to her. Can't wait for the queenly sneer from her though, Connie!

I do the same thing except I don't go to the otherside of the street, i just go off the sidewalk and walk on the road until we pass the house, putting more distance between Tucker & the lunging dog.
That is a hard situation for any dog to ignore when it's so close.

I do what Wendy does; in addition I always put myself between the offending lunger and my dog, even if it means she is walking on my right hand side. I will move her to my right well ahead of the threat, if I can see it coming.

At 10 months though, she would not have been able to ignore it, even if I was between her and the threat. Zig-zagging for now sounds like it might be the best plan.

Zig-zag is the plan. I know there is hope since she is tolerating leashed dogs walking by!! I have noticed I need to cross the street sooner, as she is starting to also know where the enemy lives...