Agression towards other dogs

[Mygrisslybears]

Hello All,

I need some info so I hope I'm at the right place!!! A little background on our BABIES, we adopted Molly she'a nine, we have had Sabbeth since Nov. he's 7. We are Sabbeth's 3rd owner the first one kept him outside for 5 yrs. then he went to the humane league and the last owner had 3 other dogs inside a rabbit, cat and a parrot. He worked 12 hours a day and commuted 2 hours and couldn't understand why Sabbeth went the bathroom in the house!!!! We have been taking them to the beach most weekends and have been noticing an increase to him being able to stand other dogs, puppys. Molly is still great with other dogs just smells them and goes on her merry way but Sabbeth is trying to jump off our golf cart to get to other dogs and barking and pulling like crazy on the leash when he comes in contact with other dogs . He lived with other dogs and used to play with our neighbors sheep dogs but now the ONLY dog he likes is Molly. I don't know if he's trying to protect Molly or us but I need to stop him of this. Any suggestions?

[RottiMomCT]

Obedience classes.

A dog that lives with several dogs will learn to be social with those dogs, but dogs outsdie his 'world' will not be welcomed easily, hence the importance of socialization. Even being in the same general are of other dogs, not playing or interacting, just 'being' there is a help.

What do you do when Sabbeth freaks out at other dogs? Unless there is a threat, let him know YOU have it under control and HE needs to knock it off - NOW.

Is he neutered?? If not, get it done unless there is a medical reason preventing it. Is Molly spayed?

Also, please don't take this the wrong way - but they are DOGS, not BABIES. I have no human kids, just two dogs, I love them as if they were human kids, but they still eat from bowls on the floor, potty outside, and are treated like dogs...rarely, if ever, do I call them my babies...

[Mygrisslybears]

Well we don't have kids either so are dogs are our kids with fur!!!!!!!!!!!! Molly is spayed Sabbeth is neutered. Sabbeth has played with other dogs with us and at his former home this just started happening. We have a very tight hold on his leash when we walk him with other dogs around a behavorist suggested the gentle lead harness to see if that helps. No matter what we do yell NO or speak in a loud voice gets him going even more . It seems if we say good boy when the other dogs are approaching he sometimes calms down a little. We try to keep him occupied with a treat or something so he doesn't go crazy but I don't want him getting used to treats every time he sees a dog . He is a HUGE male with a lot of strength and we need to control this before it gets out of hand. I'm not talking 1 dog at the beach there is at least 50-75 dogs everyone has at least 1 or more. It is quite a handfull when dogs are everywhere and our dog is ready to kill them all. I spoke to a behaviorist in PA ( she was recommended by a trainer and our vet) but she said it is very rare a dog just decides he hates all dogs after 7 years of liking other dogs. She is booked solid for 2 months and we still are going to the beach every weekend. He has had obedience classes and listens very well except when other dogs are approaching. There is no way in h*ll I can take him to a room filled with other dogs he would go bezerk!!!

[alexav]

You need to get a handle on his behavior BEFORE you take him places that set him up to fail.
He needs a "job". Like carrying out obedience exercises that have been practiced and perfected in a setting he CAN handle.
Right now, it seems to me he has decided it is a fun job to act like a lunatic when he sees other dogs. And why not? It's fun, he gets rewarded with a big adrenalin rush, it gets his people all excited and the other dogs go away. He is having a blast demonstrating to the general public that, Yes indeedy, Rottweilers are nasty aggressive dogs! This needs to stop NOW.

A head halter is not going to cut it. Perhaps a head halter AND a prong collar so you can gain control of his mind as well as just his nose. Please find a trainer that can help you with this.

[RottiMomCT]

If you cannot predict how he will react around 50-75 dogs, don't take him to the beach.

Before he even has a chance to react to another dog, you need to remind him that YOU have it under control. Put him thru his paces - heeling, sits, downs, attention work. Reward him when he pays attention. If he goes berserk, party is over - back into the car and home he goes, or back into the house (or crate) and you continue with the party (even if it is just sitting reading a book).

Has he been to classes with you?? If not, sign up ASAP. Explain what's going on - if he has a good understanding of basic training with you, start with a slightly higher level class - if not, go to basic - Ben and I took Basic Beginner classes FOUR TIMES (once for him, 3 for me). Does not matter if he has an obedience championship title under his belt with a former owner, he needs to go to classes with you to learn to respect you.

Head halter won't really help - you need to get his attention BEFORE he goes off. Get with a trainer and try a prong collar.