Greetings from London I've just joined this site and am hoping for some advice


Six months ago I adopted a yellow Lab from a local rescue; male, neutered. Dexter was 13 months when he came to live with us. It's been hard work as he had developed some bad habits such as jumping up at anyone passing by. But with the help of a good trainer, we have made real progress.

Lately, though, Dexter has started going a bit mad when we're out walking and we encounter any other dog also on a leash. He *adores* other dogs when in the park and will happily play nicely with any dog. But when on the leash he lunges, barks and generally goes a tad beserk...

I've tried popping the lead and giving the 'heel' command really firmly as soon as I see him tense at the sight of an approaching dog. It does nothing. I've also tried holding the leash loosely in the hope he'll remain calm - this does nothing as well.

Our trainer is great but she says if I remain calm so will Dexter - however this simply doesn't seem to be the case. Can anyone perhaps help me understand what's happening here and what I can do to help keep Dex calm around other leashed dogs please...?

Is this leash aggression, or is Dex being protective? Or is he frustrated at not being able to interact with the other dog he encounters...?

Many thanks in advance for any responses.

 Quote: Tabitha Lee

Greetings from London I've tried popping the lead and giving the 'heel' command really firmly as soon as I see him tense at the sight of an approaching dog. It does nothing. I've also tried holding the leash loosely in the hope he'll remain calm - this does nothing as well.

You might be making his reaction worse if you pop his leash every time he sees a dog. (your dog sees a dog, then gets a pop, and begins to associate the pop with other dogs, so he reacts more aggressively when on the leash)

Instead, try to desensitize him to dogs by working with him in an area where he will get to see other dogs, but not so close that he reacts to them. Work on some basic obedience; a good one to work on is 'watch me' or 'look'. Once he is giving you good focus, you can start to move closer to the other dogs.

Are you doing clicker training (marker training) with him?

PS Welcome!

(for now, when walking him, if you see an oncoming dog, place yourself between him and the dog and walk briskly by.)

First you need to teach him the behavior you do want. This type of aggression is usually fear based or frustration based, but I woulnd't spend a lot of time dwelling on the why and just start to move past it.

Put in desensitize into the search bar and you will find a lot of threads on how to go about doing this.

For now when you walk, as soon as you see a dog coming. Get off the walk way or trail and keep backing up until your dog is far enough away that the dog does not react anymore.

Start the focus, heel and leave it around your home back yard and front yard - only progressing to the next place when he can work under moderate distraction inside the house, then back, then front yard - then you can start to move away from the house.

Tabitha,
Now you know another reason dog parks are a bad idea. The dog becomes more interested in other dogs than you.
Okay, rethink that misguided notion.

Have you and your trainer been working on ob for six months?

If so, I'd step on the brat. No more BS about wanting to meet other dogs.
Step on him. Ob ob ob ob ob. No more bull.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

Randy,
This forum should have a "like" button!
Your posts always hit the nail on the head!

 Quote: randy allen

Have you and your trainer been working on ob for six months?

That means, and I suggest no disrespect to the trainer or the O.P., that there should be a solid command to rely on INSTEAD OF the unwanted behavior.

Such work (as suggested by others) starts without distraction, and other dogs are added slowly, at a distance, etc., etc., just like proofing for any distraction.

Taking it on the road, so to speak, where there are many other dogs, is for a bit later.

Do you do focus work? Is there any basic ob solidly in place that maybe just needs proofing?

This dog sounds like it’s developed some bad habits. Too much kissy face as a puppy, probably one too many pet smart classes and off to the dog park for some rough and tumble. This is going to create a reactive dog every time.

No more sniffing butts and noses under any circumstances, even if he’s calm and especially if he is pulling and alert, regardless of how well he knows the other dog. All attention on you and the second that changes - ears go up alerting to another dog, even a focused glance in a dog’s direction – I would correct and head the other way to regain his focus.

What Randy said:

 Quote: randy allen

No more BS about wanting to meet other dogs.

 Quote: cj barrett

This dog sounds like it’s developed some bad habits. ...

It sure does. And let's see .... whose would be responsible for that? Hmmmm.

We don't have a lot of detail about the training, but I'm thinking that the dog has not been taught (and proofed! proofed with the gradual distractions of dogs!) alternate behaviors or desensitized and is being overloaded with lots of other dogs anyway.

So I don't know about any big corrections at this point.

Lots of good stuff here. Lynne and Niomi give info about alternative behaviors and desensitizing, and I don't know how it could be any clearer than Randy made it about the terrible idea of dog parks.

And "No more sniffing butts and noses under any circumstances" !

JMO, of course.

Ditto with Randy!
Get your obedience solid without to much distraction. Then your correcting or rewarding for behaviors asked for.
The other dogs should be nothing more then a distraction in your training. That keeps it from becoming a need to train for behavior...if that makes sense.

Connie said;
"And "No more sniffing butts and noses under any circumstances" !

Another big DITTO!
Having a social dog has nothing to do with a dog that wants to play kissy face (or butt) with other dogs. It simply means the dog has to accept whatever you add to his environment without the need for reacting to/with it.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

So I don't know about any big corrections at this point.

Absolutely agree. And depending on how the dog is trained, a simple “Nope” or “uh uh” could be correction.

 Quote: Tabitha Lee

when on the leash he lunges, barks and generally goes a tad beserk...

If this ever gets an opportunity to start again though (and this would be handler error), you must regain control immediately and remove him from the reaction zone. Depending on his intensity, the removal process may require some, unfortunate, tougher leash handling.

He’s not ready for these situations and it’s simply a matter of avoiding them while you work on the desensitization process through OB, as has been described perfectly.

Bad habits can be hard to break and this one is going to take a while. There’s no overnight fix. You’re dealing with an ingrained, learned, social behavior that’s become anti-social due his intense desire to force the meeting take place, on his terms.

Again, like Randy said, no more BS with this brat. Your terms, ALWAYS. And until YOU are his primary focus, meetings with other dogs should be NEVER.

As well, JMO.