After thinkning about my last post I thought I should expand just a little on it.
I didn't mention that i'm raising the lab to be an assistance dog.. so I NEED her to ignore any and all distractions, Including dogs. She is 7mo. old btw..
Labs are usually a "friendly" breed, so socializing with dogs wasnt my main goal, just wanted her to learn how to communicate and act around other dogs she might meet later. I think in my case I may have over done it. She is too interested in dogs, and I now have to correct her for losing her focus and then reward her like mad when her focus is back on me.
Just barking and carrying on at the other dogs, probablly is in itself a reward for Kane's improper behavior. My lab barks and carries on as well, just, in a different way.. I can't get away without correcting her sometiems for that behavior..
Teaching her the "leave-it" and "eye-contact/"watch-me" commands has helped ALOT, with this problem. Especially with the people, she now goes out of her way to ignore and even get away from children even, to keep her focus on me.
I wonder if working on those commands will help Chastity with her seemingly dog aggressive pup?
In any case, I don't think they'd hurt <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Wow thanks everyone for offering your advice. Now as far as Kane goes. Im no expert of course which is why I turn to the forum. Kane having fear? I dont know honestly. One example is the nieghbor dogs. Two black labs. Sometimes hes fine with them and other times hes barking at them through the fence as though to say "hey Im in charge" maybe to try to dominate them? Or is it fear? I dont have any problems with domination as far as with me or the family. There are some dogs we come across that he whines and yaps at in a friendly bark and some he does not. Fear of some of these dogs but not other? There is man who walks his dog off leash in the neighborhood and this little dog will come and poke his nose in the fence knowing that Kane will go crazy which he does, acts like hes going to tear that dog up. Now maybe there its a territorial thing? Either way it has to be dealt with.

Now when I correct him with the prong should I give him any command? "quiet?" or or just correct him? Durring the "watch me" command once he knows that watch me mean to pay attention, do I also "pop" him for not listening with that? I guess its safe to assume that corrections are fine at 8 months as long as he knows what the command means right?

Again thanks for everyones insight.

Ok Jenn, difference of opinions about socialization aside. . .what do you suggest Chastity do exactly?


Everything you've posted is a "this is what she should have done." I want to see a "this is what you should do now."

Do you have a different solution to offer than mine? I have to assume you do with your comments on being "harsh". . .which I didn't suggest being.

She certainly can't just start taking her dog around as many other dogs as possible right now.

That won't do jackshat. In fact it will most likely get worse.

Aren Dickman mentioned the 'watch me' and 'leave it' commands would be ideal and I agree. BUT you only can start them at a far distance where you actually have a chance at getting the dogs attention. And, once again, instead of a correction when the dog looks away, in this instance and until the dog really understands, I'd be giving the food treat/praise when the dog looks at me. Not saying a slight 'attention' pop may not be needed on the collar, but NOT a true correction type pop.

The more CONTROLLED instances you have with your pup and with other dogs around, and the MORE your pup starts associating other dogs with treats/praise/love from mom/dad AND NOTHING SCARY HAPPENING, the more your pup will be able to get past this. It's about you being in control and controlling the situation before it goes bad.

And there is going to be a repeat breeding of my pups parents. So, Aren Dickman, you have a few months to work on your husband!

And that's different than what I said how?


Oh right, the lack of corrections for not focusing on the handler later in the training progression.


If you think that she'll be able to alter the behavior and enforce neutrality in her own dog with just the treats, then ok.

I don't think she'll be able too, especially beings that half of the issue is an obedience one.

Aren wrote: "I do know that all that socializing has made it a little harder to get my dog to IGNORE other dogs and focus on me!!"


And that's another good reason I like to limit interaction with other dogs.

We deal with dog aggression through avoidance training. I think it requires a ballance between reward and correction so I would not think that it would be a good idea at 8 months. We will do a good bit of it during group obedience, weaving the dogs in an our of the line of downed dogs. Focus is to be on the handler as you weave....lots of reward in the form of a toy at the end.... the downed dogs are corrected for any unwanted aggressive behavior while in the down.... following the idea that you are only to display aggression when I say it's ok.... and aggression towards another dog is a no no.

I know it's not the most motivational way of doing things but none of the dogs would ever be able to "socialize" with one another without an eventual dog fight..... and the mental results of a bad dog fight can realy goof up a working dog.

That's similar to how we train in a group setting as well.

Although at 8 months, I don't mind using compulsion at a certain stage of training for THIS problem.

OK heres another question... I was told not to "pop" him with the collar, but to pull up on the leash until he squirms a little and then release. Any input on this? I heard that "popping" can get them "fired up?" Or is there really a difference in the two?