Again, thank you all so much.

We just came in from ball playing, he's pooped. Will do that again before we head out to OB class.

I have truly been in tears over this, as I've not had an aggressive dog before (always had Boxers or Labs). We have an old Dob X but as she was a rescue with timid behaviors, never had to deal with that. Unfortunately being told that "he's just a puppy", "he's going through the tweens" and that kind of "stuff" has really frustrated me, as I know that this behavior is so much more than that. I'm trying to really curb my emotions and trying to maintain the calm assertive energy that both Dozer and I need.

:-)

What I did when we had aggression problems develop was get Ed's video on pack leadership and marker training.
I also exercised the shot out of the dog....Lots of shorter walks in a loose heel position. (not out front)
And mental exercise is really important.
It really worked!

Thanks Willie! We walked for a mile and a half just a bit ago at heel. If he forgot, I did an about face and went the other way, that got his attention. He did OK at OB class today. He got growly once and the trainer took him and walked him around the store, then added her dog to the pack and then another dog from the class. That went really well. He continued to do well from that point on in the class. I have been working on marker training a lot. I even take treats on the walks and stop and do marker training just to change things up. We did 2 mile + walks today, as well as fetching 3 times so he's one tired motor scooter tonight. Will do that again tomorrow. We have moved his crate out of the bedroom and into a smaller room so that he can cry and howl all he wants and he won't really disturb any one at night. Then tomorrow during the day, I plan on crating him even when I'm at home just so that he knows who the boss of this pack really is!

I appreciate all of the help. Any more ideas or suggestions/criticism will be taken and appreciated. I am a child behaviorist and it is really bad that I can't seem to help my pup. :-( I'll keep working on it though, as he is a great dog and has such potential as a companion and hopefully if he snaps out of this, a therapy dog.

Please keep us posted on the whole outcome of the behavior and how you are doing. Do you happen to tense up when approaching another dog? Or dread what may happen? Have you tried distracting him when something comes up to set him off? Just some questions maybe that will help.
I have dealt with a few "crate rattlers" howlers and barkers. My best outcome was to move the crate with them in it to a room I am in and out of a lot like the living room and ignore it. No matter how bad it gets ignore the cries, barking and anything else for attention. I only let them out when they were quiet as well. If they got all excited when I approached the cage I would stand there until they settled down and then opened the door.

 Quote: patt konopka

I have truly been in tears over this, as I've not had an aggressive dog before (always had Boxers or Labs). We have an old Dob X but as she was a rescue with timid behaviors, never had to deal with that. Unfortunately being told that "he's just a puppy", "he's going through the tweens" and that kind of "stuff" has really frustrated me, as I know that this behavior is so much more than that. I'm trying to really curb my emotions and trying to maintain the calm assertive energy that both Dozer and I need.

Hi Patt, great advice here - I don't have a lot of experience, but I do have a dog that put me in your shoes when he was about 18 months old, so I sympathize. Oscar's my first real venture into dog handling, and as a novice, I was pretty frightened by my unpreparedness for the aggression/reactiveness I never saw coming. It's no fun at all.

In addition to all the excellent points already made, I just want to say: it will take a lot of time and patience to work through this. It would be great if there were a quick fix to "snap them out of it" and alleviate your worries, but there isn't. Desensitization is a slow and steady process... Additionally, part of the solution is actually YOU becoming a more calm and confident leader for Dozer, so there is never the compounding issue of your nervousness traveling down the leash (I swear Oscar can pick up on my nervousness from scent and minute body language alone... no physical connection necessary - they're just that perceptive).

Don't lose heart, your dog is still a pup with loads of potential for reshaping bad behaviors, and instilling good new ones. As Kristel pointed out, you're nipping this in the bud early, so you've already set both you and Dozer up for success.

~Natalya

If Dozer is toy driven, I would think about doing desensitizing and obedience with toy rewards instead of food rewards for skills he already knows. I highly recommend you purchase the tug video, and the training your dog with food (both Michael Ellis vids). I think these will help you fill in the gaps of your other training.

In the mean time, avoid any potentially dangerous situations - Don't give Dozer the opportunity to get in trouble. He has the sense of responsibility of a 2 year old human! Don't let other dogs approach him, and don't let him approach other dogs. Don't let him interact with strangers and don't let strangers interact with him. Read Ed's articles on "Who Can Pet My Puppy" and Dog Socialization.

Petsmart training ..... Um, I can't say anything nice, so I won't say anything at all.... sort of.

Hope this helps!

Hey All, thanks so much for the sage advice and encouragement. I needed it. I can't wait until I get the videos from my friend and my new Dominant Dog collar for Dozer.

The gal at PetsMart really is a dog trainer (Schutzhund-her own dogs) or so she says. The problem I have with her classes is that we seem to do nothing but repeat the same old stuff. This will definitely be his last training there. That said, however, when Dozer acted up yesterday, she got him, took him on a walk then added her personal dog to the pack and then another. He was calm and did great.No growling, lungeing...During class, when he would spy another dog outside of the arena, I would take his ball and squeak it and hand it to him. That seemed to help desensitize. I will be going to PetsMart just for the socialization thing in the future.

I also go to another intermediate class but this trainer is more into using treats to deflect his behavior. I'm not sure that giving him treats when he's been growling and lungeing isn't rewarding the behavior.

I would really like to find a trainer in the area that has worked with "hard" dogs before and could help to analyze behavior and see what they thought he might be good at as a job.

He is not only food driven but also loves to play ball and I got him one of Ed's tugs. The tug is a reward for a good job in training and Dozer will play ball by the hour if I let him. I'm pooped before he is. We used the tug today for the first time and he didn't want to let it go. All balls and the tug are my property and he only gets them when I give them to him.

My PetsMart trainer suggested I get an orange vest and write on it in big letters, "Please do not touch my dog" for the Dozer so that when we are out walking, others don't attempt to approach us. Is this a credible idea?

Yesterday I began desensitizing him to things around our house that set him off, like a trash can in the garage. I had him on lead, rolled it around and treated him when he wouldn't bark or lunge at it. I will use the ball as his treat in the future.

I am trying to stay calm when I am walking him. During class my trainer looked at me and said "DEEP BREATH". I know that dogs can smell our fears and I definitely believe that my "vibes" travel down the leash.

We had a great walk last evening, good heeling and better focus on me.

What I'm really thinking also is that this dog needs a definite job and protection is not it! He runs like the wind so maybe I should set up an agility course in my back yard for something extra for him to do.

Thoughts, ideas/criticisms...

Thanks Danielle. I did move the crate to a room where I watch tv and it is right next to the kitchen where I spend a lot of time. I have no problem letting him howl. I'm used to students who cry and scream so this is really no different. A time out room of sorts :-)

I know that I tense up when others approach and need to really work on a calmer demeanor when walking with him. I have also been known to carry a squeaker with me. He loves toys with squeakers so that usually diverts his attention.

Well, I had my first meeting with the dog behaviorist and was impressed. We spend a great deal of time (about 1.5 hours) discussing what I was seeing with Dozer as far as behavior. She had me work with him and then made some great suggestions on how I could improve my demeanor with him, as well as get his focus more concentrated on me. She also video'd his first interaction with a "dummy" dog. Using that video, we discussed his demeanor toward that dog (which actually was a large stuff dog) and the steps we would take to begin to desensitize him to other dogs. It took him a bit to realize that it was a stuff dog not a real one :-)

We worked on walking on lead and correcting him when he would begin his posturing. There was a penned dog that we did that with and he did well with corrections that were not severe but moved his focus to other areas. I have definite hope for his improvement.

I will be working with him at home with her suggestions for the next 2 weeks and then we will meet again and work with a "real" dummy dog. I will keep you all posted as to our progress.

Thanks all for the help.