Hi <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ,
I have a 6 yr old spayed female Dobe who is extremely dog aggressive. When we go out and shes sees another dog she freezes and stops listening. Then if the dog moves she goes into a frenzy, barking, growling, lunging even if the dog is submissive or friendly. No corrections can stop her, the only this that works is to literally drag her away. Then she keeps looking back but will start following my commands again. As long as no dogs are around shes wonderful and responsive.

She has never been attacked/bitten by any dogs but been confronted by loose dogs a few times but they have always backed down after her "show." I also have a Sheltie that she has injured and now they are no longer allowed together but shes wonderful with my cat(but I dont leave them unatteded)

Any deas on how to correct this problem or at least manage it somehow?
Thanks,
Nykole

Nykole,
You need to post under both your first and last name as per board policy - it's in big letters on the front of the website when you post.

I apoligize, I must have just skipped over that part since Im already a member. (is this the blush smiley <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> , <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

I am dealing with this with my dog as well. I was having the same trouble as you; no corrections were working, and I was ending up just dragging the dog away with no progress.

I went to see a trainer for a one-on-one session on Tuesday night, and they introduced me to the SENSE-ation harness. It's a little different than a regular harness because you attach the leash to the front, on the dog's chest. When the dog pulls against it, it turns the dog around so he's facing you. It works really well, and is easier to use than a head halter (which many trainers will recommend for this type of problem) because the dog doesn't have to be introduced to it slowly (it goes on just like a regular harness) and can't get out of it. It also doesn't have the risk of causing neck injury like the head halters do.

They also showed me how to start teaching her to watch me. I've never used clickers and treats in my training, but for this particular problem I think it is the best route (since I've tried everything else I know to do - from prong collars, to electric collars, to flat collars coupled with prong collars, to regular flat collars, to harnesses, to ignoring the other dog - nothing worked.

You may want to consider getting a SENSE-ation harness, and working on teaching your dog to look at you when he sees another dog. See if you can get with a trainer and do a one-on-one session. If you like, I can make a copy of and mail you the information that I got from my trainer on teaching the 'watch' command.

You might also try getting the book "Fiesty Fido" from Amazon.com. It's specifically targeted to leash-aggressive dogs.

Whenever I get a client with this problem, I recommend going to a trainer who works with many aggressive dogs for an evaluation. This way we can find out where it is stemming from at the start.

After that, depending on what was discovered, we can work on obedience and desensitization and socialisation.

So my advice is go for an evaluation with someone who knows what they are talking about, rule out any medical problems and work from there.

Also, with Dobes, as you probably know, training is like walking a tight rope -- you can't be too soft or too hard. Too harsh creates aggression in my experience, too soft and they tell you to f-off pretty much...