Preventing On Leash Aggression

[Miabella]

My new 3 y.o. female rescued Rottie Ilsa behaves very nicely on leash and gets along with other dogs both on and off leash. She has not shown any aggressive tendencies towards other dogs.

However, sometimes when we are walking and she sees another dog, she will pull on the leash and whine excitedly. No lunging, no growling, and I generally can redirect her attention to me. I try to be upbeat and focus her attention by doing a little obedience drill.

My previous rescue Rottie, Mia, came to me with an on leash dog aggression problem. She would lunge and growl when any dog approached her head-on while she was on leash, but she was perfectly fine off leash. I spent alot of time working with her on this issue, and although we made very good progress on it, I feel it is something that it is very hard to ever fully resolve once it begins. If possible, I would like to prevent this from ever becoming an issue with Ilsa.

I've read that owners often aggravate or initiate on leash aggression by tightening up on the leash, allowing the dog to be molested by another dog on leash, or creating negative associations with other dogs on leash. I am very careful not to allow my dog to get into a staring contest with another dog, but what other things should I look out for and how should I, as the handler, react when we come upon another dog.

I'm looking forward to your responses!

[Judi W]

Since she is 3 and does not exhibit such behavior,........... there is nothing to prevent. Prevention takes place in the early learning phases. Correction takes place with an existing unwanted behavior.

[Miabella]

Thanks for responding, Judi, I was hoping you'd see this thread. I guess I wasn't totally clear in what I was asking. When she starts her whining, pulling on the leash antics, how should I react? Because of my past problem with Mia, I am afraid of unwittingly causing a problem with Ilsa if I correct her for this behavior. Should I continue just trying to redirect her attention, or should I actively correct her for focusing on another dog?

Thanks for your input!

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Miabella
Should I continue just trying to redirect her attention, or should I actively correct her for focusing on another dog?

Yes to both...correct her for not paying attention to you, and re-direct her focus to you...

[Judi W]

If you're in an informal situation, you can change it to formal by giving a command and then any correction is for the lack of respons to the "heel", or............ my dog's know "don't you dare pull on that lead" and/or similar threats of a verbal nature and so when they get too excited a short pop and some imprecations for the pulling on the lead does it.

Don't unfairly characterize her excitement as aggression however.

I don't believe all of life must be formal control so I teach that there is no pulling although you may move around the length the lead allows as long as you do not apply pressure beyond what I have taught you I allow.

You can also simply do the changing of the direction you're walking (turns and whatnot) as well as redirection

[Miabella]

Thank you, Judi and Anne, for taking the time to respond. I think I've got the picture now!