Hi,

First of all sorry for the long post.

Four days ago I adopted a ~3 y/o boxer mix. She is adapting well to our routine. I have been following this website's advice on establishing pack structure and everything seems to be going well. She is very sweet and obedient. She is crate trained and housebroken. I am giving her daily long walks and lots of attention. She also walks great on a leash. I was told she was good with the other dogs she lived with in the foster home and that she was also great with kids. She is neutered. I adopted her at an adoption day at PetSmart from a local rescue organization. The day of the adoption I saw how she behaved in front of a lot of other strange dogs and she seemed very calm. She is also very friendly towards strangers.

So far everything had been great until tonight. I was walking her around the block and there was a lady walking her dog on the opposite side of the street. My dog saw the other dog and immediately turned more attentive and seemed to assume a dominate posture. I corrected her and kept on walking. Suddenly I realize that the other dog was in one of those retractable leashes and started running towards my dog quickly coming from a distance of about 25 feet to aprox 8 feet from me. When my dog saw the other dog approaching us she went berserk and wanted to rip the other dog apart. I had to hold on to her leash really hard and I walked faster to my home. It pissed me off that the other dog owner wasn't corteous and didn't pull on her dog's leash. If hadn't held to my dog and kept on walking there would have been a dog fight. I am not experienced with dog aggression and I hadn't noticed this behavior in her in the few days I have had her. As I read in this website, I should have protected her as a pack leader would do, but it all happened so quickly that I didn't have time to react. It was also dark and I didn't really notice the type of leash she was using. I told the owner to control her dog and she did a very feeble attempt at it and kept on walking. I regret not having said anything else to the other dog owner. I guess will bring pepper spray with me on the next walk. It seems to me that this was all human error instead of my dog's fault, but should I worry that my dog may be dog aggressive?

Thanks in advance,

Eduardo Oyola

I think you should ease up on yourself a little. You've only had her 4 days and it will probably take a little more time than that to establish pack leadership. From what I've read and understand just the posturing can get some dogs into trouble which is why the pack leadership is so important. They don't fight unless or until the leader says. But I totally understand what your concern is with other people and their dogs. My dog will do the same. He sees another dog and will posture; he is getting way better as each time we see another dog and nothing bad happens. Also, by me being in control of situations. I usually am very aware when I walk him and if I see someone with a flexilead or someone that looks like they are being walked by their dog..I avoid them. However, realistically though how many dogs are going to do nothing when another dog charges them? I had a beagle do that to Bruno and I was ticked at him for giving me a rough time trying to get him passed that point but would I do the same? If I see someone charging / running at me...am I gonna just stand there? I'm sure somebody with ALOT more experience will jump on here and give you much better information as I'm new on here too and still have a lot to learn myself.

Ideally, your dog should be completely indifferent to other dogs in the area. Aggressive behavior towards another dog is inappropriate pack behavior and must be extinguished immediately. I don't know that your dog is going to automatically understand that aggression towards other dogs is unacceptable solely based on your pack structure program - especially because you don't know what the dog's history is and how your dog has been permitted to behave by previous owners.

In my opinion, in a situation like this, a strong prong collar correction would have been appropriate followed by turning away from the other dog and copious praise once your dog starts behaving in an appropriate manner. If your dog even looks back at the other dog, additional corrections are warrented until the dog focuses back on you or anything else besides the threatening dog, and then more praise.

Unfortunately, it seems like standard practice these days for dog owners to automatically allow their dogs to come up to my dog to allow them to sniff each other. I make it clear that I'm not going to allow that to happen by not making eye contact with the other dog owner and selecting a route that avoids contact with his dog. This typically sends the message that I'm not willing to participate in his socialization games.

The fact that your dog went berzerk in this situation doesn't mean that your pack structure program is a failure. It means that your pack structure program was put under a very difficult test and you know where you need work. Good luck!

My dog has this behavior as well when passing another dog on a walk. I also have problems in my neighborhood with people letting their dogs off leash. It is very hard to deal with when a lab is running towards your gsd and there is nothing you can do about it. I have tried the corrections and distracting her. But, nothing really seems to work.

 Quote: Tara Mathisen

My dog has this behavior as well when passing another dog on a walk. I also have problems in my neighborhood with people letting their dogs off leash. It is very hard to deal with when a lab is running towards your gsd and there is nothing you can do about it. I have tried the corrections and distracting her. But, nothing really seems to work.

Is this the 18-month-old?

What kind of obedience work have you done with your dog before taking the show on the road?

And can you avoid the areas where you know that loose dogs will show up?

Yes, she is 18mos. old. I am not sure what to expect of her at this age because she is my 2nd dog to raise and she is my first gsd. We have worked with her on basic obedience around the house of course. She knows "no" and she responds except when she is "excited" by another dog. Any help would be great. I am very new to this and pretty lost.

 Quote: tara mathisen

Yes, she is 18mos. old. I am not sure what to expect of her at this age because she is my 2nd dog to raise and she is my first gsd. We have worked with her on basic obedience around the house of course. She knows "no" and she responds except when she is "excited" by another dog. Any help would be great. I am very new to this and pretty lost.

First, I'd make a plan not to be on walks where there are loose dogs for now. So, is there a different time of day and/or a different route?

Then, I would work at home on focus and obedience, only gradually moving from the house to the porch to the yard to the driveway, etc.

Besides changes of venue, I would gradually introduce distractions. Distractions can be anything from the other dog watching, to someone playing fetch with the other dog nearby. But I don't introduce distractions until I have great compliance first inside, then in other venues.

What kind of obedience work have you been doing? Do you know marker training?

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: tara mathisen

Yes, she is 18mos. old. I am not sure what to expect of her at this age because she is my 2nd dog to raise and she is my first gsd. We have worked with her on basic obedience around the house of course. She knows "no" and she responds except when she is "excited" by another dog. Any help would be great. I am very new to this and pretty lost.

First, I'd make a plan not to be on walks where there are loose dogs for now. So, is there a different time of day and/or a different route?

Then, I would work at home on focus and obedience, only gradually moving from the house to the porch to the yard to the driveway, etc.

Besides changes of venue, I would gradually introduce distractions. Distractions can be anything from the other dog watching, to someone playing fetch with the other dog nearby. But I don't introduce distractions until I have great compliance first inside, then in other venues.

What kind of obedience work have you been doing? Do you know marker training?

I have a very DA Amer Staff. Distraction work was key and the most difficult for her. Another thing that has been quite helpful in managing her DA is knowing her body language and re- focusing her before she goes into drive. I have worked this for going on three years and she has come a long way. I put my girl in a down position and step in front of her when in the presence of another dog. Of all the situations that appear to make her the most "uncomfortable" (please excuse the humanizing) but she actually trembles like if she is not let up from the down she will actually explode....is when it appears the other dog has the freedom to move about and she knows she is contained by a lead.

Good luck!!!!