A few months ago I adopted a male Labrador via a local Rescue. He had been dumped in the pound. For the first few months he went to bite us frequently, and also growled and barked at us. Now, six months later, we've managed to stop this, he seems to have bonded with us all and is far more affectionate.

For six weeks we've been having a weekly one-on-one training session. I've now learned how to get him walking to heel, and have managed to stop him jumping up at every single person who passes by. So I feel we have made some progress...

But: the big problem I'm having is that my dog still lunges, terribly, at passing dogs/people on bikes/various other things. Two days ago a horse and cart suddenly came around the corner while I was walking him - my dog went *crazy* and leapt/lunged so violently he managed to tear the leash from my hands. I went crashing to the pavement while my dog raced barking into the road after the horse.

Obviously this was a nightmare scenario. The trainer says the lunging/barking is fear based and that my dog is highly nervous.

I guess I'm hoping that someone here can offer some suggestions re how best to cope? The trainer is helping but after what happened with the horse I don't feel confident that I'm strong enough to counter the lunging. She says I need to correct my dog 'quicker' to stop the lunging - but it happens so fast I can't seem to do it.

Can anyone offer any advice? Thank you

How's his sit? I like to have them sit and focus on me rather than try to keep moving past these things he'll react to. Others don't agree, but I like the control I can get using distance in the beginning and a solid sit.

Hi Steve

Thanks

He will sit for a treat... I find though that if another dog is very close, or for example with the horse situation, even a treat will fail to get his focus...

Many thanks though

Thats where the distance comes in. You have to be aware of where you take him so that you can keep him at a distance from those things to train him. I just find its easier to teach a sit that they won't break then to try and keep moving right past these things in the beginning.

You might want to read some desensitizing threads here.

Use both desensitize and desensitizing (two searches) and you'll come up with several threads. If you read through them, I betcha you will have questions and we'll answer them happily.

Are you doing basic ob work at home, away from distractions? As Steve says, strong basic ob is going to be your solution here.

 Quote: steve strom

.... using distance in the beginning and a solid sit.

Away from the triggers.... starting, in fact, at home, and then the porch, and so on.

JMO.

Is it possible to walk him when it's not so busy outside? He should be very slowly introduced to the distractions. Then you will eventually be able to get his attention. Right now, especially in his state of mind, it's a lot to handle and gets very overwhelming for a dog.

Hi Katie

It's hard as there are lots of dogs in our area. No matter what time of day I walk him, we encounter other dogs, or maybe a horse, or a kid on a bike...

Thanks Connie


Yes, we're practising various commands at home, in the garden, etc.

He will come when I call, he will sit, he will usually 'stay' and he now knows 'down'.

It's just that the minute we're outside the house, other dogs for example seem to trigger some type of fear response - it looks like aggression but our trainer says it's fear...

Thanks Steve, I will definitely start trying that tomorrow!

Certainly it is virtually impossible to get him to move past some of these distractions....