I'm using the 'triple crown collars' on my 2 terriers as most of you will know from previous posts and they've both been doing really well.
I took my bitch out (she's always been the dominant one of the 2)and has always shown aggression to other dogs when on a lead and I met up with an old friend that had her dog with her. As soon as we became within a few feet of eachother she started her usual growling lunging stuff at this dog and not knowing how hard a level of correction she would need I gave her what I would say was a level 5. She immediately stopped for a few seconds and then started again. I upped the correction to possibly a 7 or 8 and this made her absolutely mental and vicious to this other dog.
My questions are, is a dominant dog collar needed for her? Did this 2nd correction have her think it had come from the other dog? Any ideas as to why she reacted this way?
This bitch I have, when off lead, will run at a dog barking but will not get within 6 feet of the strange dogs space before turning around and running away and then running back at it doing the same over and over.(I tested her out with a dog that completely ignores other dogs) This same bitch at training, completely freaks out,screaming and whining if so much as I move more than a few feet away from her (when she's tethered).
My own feeling is she is very insecure and has always felt like she is obligated to be 'pack leader' which I am working on and have been since finding this forum. The 'added' aggression when corrected has me stumped though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Anyone ???? Please !!!

PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT AN EXPERT - JUST MY OBSERVATION This is not uncommon. Sometimes a hard correction will release more adrenaline and escalate the unwanted behavior in some dogs. It will depend on the dog. My older dog is fear aggressive. A hard correction was not effective. I had to redirect her aggression. I body-blocked (stepped in front of her to break eye contact and prevent and forward movement) and pulled up firmly but not harshly on the collar and made her sit. She was rewarded for sitting and paying attention to me. It took some time-a while. But she learned to LOOK to me for direction when a "fearful" moment arised. The aggression is under control in part because I became a more effective handler and leader for her.

I forgot to add that at first I practiced the pivot to body block and refocus the dog in a sit. When a dog approached BEFORE the lunging, etc began, I did the body block and rewarded the non-reactive behavior. At times the other dog was not too close. As my dog got better and successful, the dog was allowed to get closer. Eventually, I mean EVENTUALLY, she was able to go to obedience classes and not react to the dogs in class. Do continue with a good foundation in obedience. Hope this helps.

Thankyou for that and as you mentioned about a hard correction stimulating the aggression, I now remember reading somewhere in an earlier thread about the dominant dog collar working better for that kind of reaction. I might consider trying one, but I'll definitley try the blocking and see how that goes. Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

First I am not sure if you mean the plastic type prong collars from tripple Crown (I wont sell them and dont like them)

With this said the reaction from your dog is common. The prong over stimulates the dog. It elivates the dogs nerves when you want to take drive out of the dog.

Either use the dominant dog collar http://leerburg.com/746.htm or a remote collar.

Get the dominant dog DVD http://leerburg.com/301.htm or the remote collar DVD http://leerburg.com/318.htm

I'll get the collar and the DVD as it will help me understand why she is behaving like she is and I'm afraid it is the plastic kind. I resorted to that as the prong is frowned upon in most parts of the U.K. and trainers will not allow them in their classes <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> You can use choke chains though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />