Wondering what I could have done differently. My great dane rescue was dog aggressive when we first adopted him at 2 yrs. old. I bought an eCollar and the videos on dog aggression and remote training from this site. He is now 9 and has not been aggressive in the last five years. My daughter volunteers with a rescue organization and also dog sits, so there is a constant parade of dogs through the house but he has not had an issue with any of them. We walk him on a prong collar and often take him to the farmers' market where there are many leashed dogs, none of which he has ever paid any attention to.

This morning I was walking him on his prong collar and also had our very small rescue dog with me. Another dog walker with a smallish dog approached. I moved off the sidewalk to let her pass and had a tight hold on both dogs but the small one managed to get under the dane's feet so I waited for the other walker to pass so that I could let my two separate. She stopped and my dane made an aggressive move toward her dog. She was quite angry with me and demanded an apology which I offered (although, on reflection, I'm not sure what I was sorry for). I don't think my dog even made contact with hers as I had a tight grip on him. I guess I should have ceded the sidewalk altogether and moved to the other side of the street? Any insights? Why this one particular dog after all this time?

In stead of moving off the walk and just holding your dog I would teach a solid sit stay away from distractions and gradually expose them to any and all distractions.

As I've had some very large dogs I will always yield the sidewalk to another dog as a courtesy AND because we have no idea how much control the other owner has over their dog.

Reward for ignoring the distractions with marker training.

When your dog does make a move you can correct it for breaking the sit and that can help take the edge off of correcting for the aggression.

The close proximity of all the dogs could have easily been the trigger if you haven't proofed for a situation like this.

I've never allowed dog aggression of any kind with my dogs but it's just a normal part of my training that helps prevent this.

Why this person stopped as she was walking by is anyone's guess but it gave all the dogs an opportunity to really make eye contact and that can easily be a stimulation for all of them.

With his past history this incident may or may not bring back some of your dog's aggression but keep an eye on him and for the time being go back to basics with his training.

good advice as always. Thank you.

Kim,

What Bob said.

What you described may have also had something to do with the little dog getting underfoot of the Dane, and creating a bit of anxiety in the big dog. I think it is a good idea to step back and consider all of the variables that may have contributed to an unanticipated behavior.

I know my mutts are unlikely to be happy and inviting if put in a vulnerable situation.

You were working both of your dogs, anticipating a dog to pass by, the little dog got underfoot, the Dane sensed some anxiety and was encumbered by the little dog's limiting its possible mobility, and the perfect storm was set in motion.

I think I would have mentioned to the other dog walker to get over it and keep walking. Then again, I resist strange dog interactions with my mutts because they don't need new best friends when they have me and my wonderful attitude.

Per Bob, a solid sit amid distractions is an essential tool in your bag of tricks but I think there was a lot going on that probably contributed to the situation.

I'm not a fan of other dog people that presume my mutts are inviting merely because they are behaving within my control. Stuff can go south in a millisecond.

As Bob noted, work on a solid sit amid distractions. Don't over think this one event. Stuff happens. It sounds as though the Dane is otherwise quite polite and predictable. Do your thing, and maybe on future walks, signal to other dog walkers your reluctance for any dog interaction. My normal curmudgeonly behavior is an outward and visible sign to just keep walking to other dog walkers. An exaggeration but not much.