What do you recommend for my 12-week old GS puppy that barks and hackles at other dogs on our walks? I cannot believe the growl and bark that comes out of that little body!
Thanks!

At that age I would just keep on going while projecting happy calm down the leash.

Make sure you are going fast enough, but not too fast for the little guy..... who by the way is too adorable!!

Thank you Jennifer, I will try that, and thanks for the compliment on Kaiser! He had just been in the creek by our house, and LOVES the water!

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

At that age I would just keep on going while projecting happy calm down the leash.

Make sure you are going fast enough, but not too fast for the little guy..... who by the way is too adorable!!

He sure is!!

Sometimes when these little pups are adjusting to their surroundings they can start barking out of insecurity or frustration at not being able to get to the other dog.

For either one, distraction is going to be your best friend. So make sure you have a hungry puppy when you set out for your walk and you are going to want to be packing a number of toys ( a ball, strip of leather, tug) and food. When you see another dog, BEFORE your dog can start his show, back away from your dog and call him into you, the whole while either feeding him for coming in or playing with him. If you zone out for a minute and you don't have time to call him in before he starts up, then you need to get out a toy and become the funnest things since sliced bread so that he redirects his attention onto you. Once the dog has passed then you can praise and keep walking.

You can also work on desensitizing him to the other dogs now by doing your really short marker training sessions around other dogs, but far enough away that he has no reaction to them and is focused on you. I always find a friend with a dog who is puppy friendly, balanced and neutral to other dogs to do this with. As he starts to ignore the presence of the other dogs, you can move closer until you can work him next to the other dogs and he ignores them. Because he is so young, your goal would be to have accomplished this over SEVERAL months.