Quote: stefanie kitcher

He does completely fine if i ask him for a sit and focus, he will ignore the dog entirely as this puts him in a WORK state. He works in Open right now and has no problems with the group exercises even when im out of site, he must be in a work mode though.

Just a thought… it sounds like he needs a job in his crate.

He stops when you “make that sound”. What about putting a behavior before “that sound” Put him in the crate, make “that sound” which could mean something like “down and ignore” which he will do when no other dogs are around, Reward and release - taking him out of the crate. Then start walking your other dogs around the crate while he maintains the command and extending the duration before the reward and release.

It sounds like you have the ideal "real life" training set up too. Once he understands the command, bring him to your class and crate him off to the side to begin with. Give the command and tell your students what you’re working on. Have the students go about their lesson with the odd one walking by the crate, Their dog should be completely under control, outside of his reaction zone, (building trust) while he is in “working mode”. If he breaks the command, walk over to him, tell him “No” and put him back into the command. I would periodically reward and release him (take him out) in the beginning. Slowly (over a period of days, possibly weeks) have your students decrease the distance. Once he is not reacting to the dogs with you in the room, I would step out of the room and ask the students how he behaved when they walked by (similating you away showing your other dogs)

Perhpas a goal could be to have him in the crate in the center of your training room while dogs are working and walking all around him. This could possibly translate to the show grounds over time.

Lots of work but desensitizing this kind of reactivity usually is.

Again, just a thought.

 Quote: Stefanie Kitcher

yes for sure, what ever training will not be done at any event.

Im just afraid if i correct him with an ecollar in his crate, he may start to associate bad things with being in his crate,

I think you want him to associate bad things with his behavior in his crate. I think that they do this stuff because its one of those self rewarding things. He feels like a tough guy getting a reaction from that 89Lb woman with the Lhasa Apso.

You can go round and round with all the different thoughts about whats triggering what and how to fix it, but by the time it does, his showing days will be gone.

I think you need to correct him good at a show because once they've been getting away with it there, they're aware of their surroundings enough that just pulling into the parking lot lets them know your not going to enforce anything.

i suppose there is always that option, if i am just not seeing it. we only have two dogs at home right now, hardly a pack. and he seems to love and get along with the female great. but anything is possible.

that brings up a good point, while he is not the alpha at our house (my oldest bitch is) he responds much faster to hyper or dominant dogs. those that are just quiet and submissive he takes no notice of unless they are in his face.

yea it is odd i guess this is why i am struggling with figuring it out. he also is the one always stealing toys, then dropping the one he just stole to steal a new one.

i have no idea why i didnt think of that! but it is a wonderful idea! I am going to start working on it asap....

Thank you... I will let you know how things turn out...

you know the funny thing is that i could take him out of the crate and put him in a down stay and people and dogs can walk as close as they want or jump over and he never pays attention to anything but me.

so this is an excellent idea! thanks again.