Dog Aggression on Walks

[Ninasmom]

So as you all know Jake is visiting for 1 month. He's been here since Saturday, and DH is ready to put him through a wall. Apparently, Jake is VERY dog aggressive on walks. DH said that tonight, Jake saw another dog (about 20 feet away) and he got out of control. He jumped so high in the air, he cleared DH's head, and was pulling so hard that DH needed to physically restrain him. DH felt I wouldn't have been able to handle the outburst (and he never says that - I can handle big dogs well and he knows it).

He is not aggressive with Rogan and Nina. Now I know what you are thinking, he's on their territory. But they have been together at his house as well. He's never even thought of challenging either of them. He is VERY submissive with them.

Jake's got bucketloads of obedience training on him and I know that my father-in-law would not tolerate this behavior on a regular basis (DH and his father are almost twins), so I'm not sure if it's strange environment or stress from my father-in-law being gone.

Either way I need to do something with this. DH is ready to ship this dog to a kennel for a month; I won't let that happen, but I need to make sure that he is walkable without going psychotic if he sees another dog. I'm willing to try anything, I just don't have any ideas. So... anybody?

[jakesfostermom]

Michele - what type of collar are you walking Jake on? If he's not on a prong/pinch - I would suggest one if you are comfortable/experienced using one on a dog. Then I would use a traffic lead, to hold him close so that a correction can be given quickly, and not at the end of a 6' lead. One of my males acts aggressive to other dogs on lead - and this combination of a pinch/prong and the traffic lead, have allowed us to keep his attention directed on us, and the shorter lead allows you to use your strength up close, and not with a 100lb dog at the end of a 6' lead lunging all over. You are both adjusting to one another - he may well be testing how much you will let him get away with - just step up the expectations on him - be fair and clear and use the commands he already knows - but don't be disappointed if you don't make much headway in the month he's there - that's really not very long to work on a training challenge - and this might well be a behavior that he shows with your father-in-law. Good luck - I know how frustrating this can be walking a dog that shows inappropriate behavior to other dogs.

[debbiej]

Hmmm. your posts about Jake made me check if Boris had hitchhiked to Florida to fool you.

nope, he is here. (and did pretty darn good tonight walking in the city)

It may not help, but here are hints I've learned. Keep him close. no walking ahead allowed. properly fitted prong collar for control. the control is for before he gets a chance to get psychotic, not for control after he is feeling aggressive. watch for situations and be one step ahead. be ready to do left about turns to change direction. can you get in touch with your fil and find out if this is behavior he has to deal with?

[moondog]

Originally Posted by debbiej

Keep him close. no walking ahead allowed. properly fitted prong collar for control. the control is for before he gets a chance to get psychotic, not for control after he is feeling aggressive. watch for situations and be one step ahead. be ready to do LEFT about turns to change direction.

I think this is REALLY good advice. It's all about being aware of what's going on around you AND always being one step ahead of the dog, both literally and figuratively. If he is out of position at all, you won't be able to do a LEFT about turn, so keeping in mind that's what you want to be prepared to do at a moment's notice will help remind you where he needs to be at all times. Practice this in your yard first so he gets the idea, before you have to put it into practice out in the neighborhood.

[Ninasmom]

Oh he is on a prong all right. DH is not a rookie when it comes to handling dogs either; he's taken on some serious males in his life and they typically respond very well to him. You could say he's a professional with prong collars. I will have him do the turns and work on keeping him distracted, I just have doubts as it does happen so fast. This morning, we were walking the dogs and a truck drove past us - Jake went nuts; it was 0 to 60 in 2 seconds flat. DH was quick to respond and instinctively went into obedience, but just to see Jake do that was horrible.

Jake is doing so well in the house - he's a completely different dog on the walks. We're going to keep trying for Jake's sake. My father-in-law is coming back on Sunday for 4 days, so we're going to talk to him then about this. Then we have Jake from Thursday, October 26 -- Saturday, November 11. DH is worried about me handling Jake because during that time, he'll be away as well. I'm not worried though... I'll just walk the big lug at 3 am.

[debbiej]

Boris is a very responsive, easy dog in the house too. And most of the time he is good on walks. I understand what you are talking about. Although fewer and fewer, there are things that just make him react so fast and furious that you can't be quick enough to prevent them. As you add to your list of things to watch out for, there will be fewer surprises. good luck!

[Lola B Marie]

Lola is 18 months and about 110lbs. She is loving with humans and kids but other dogs, a nightmare in fur. We have a trainer from the police dept , a prong ,a gentle leader , you name it. She sits , walks well on leash until she sees another dog then all hell breaks loose.SOOOOOO long story short instead of shooting her, the trainer suggested water balloons. No joke. A small supply of well filled water balloons carried in a small back pack. If I can't get her attention before she sees a dog,I have to take a balloon and slap it on the ground as close to her feet as i can. That certainly gets her attention and she is so startled by what just happened she forgets about the passing dog and I can get up off the ground or what ever I have landed on. The trainer and the vet both said this is one of the worst cases of dog aggression they have seen in quite a while. It might even be the worst ever but they didn't want to really hurt my feelings because she is such a sweet heart in every other area. Even when the little 4yr old next door dropped his lunch in the drive way,Lola sat next to him because he was crying. She never once went for the food. She is like this all the time unless she sees another dog. She watches my 92 yr old mother and sits if she thinks my mother is about to go down the steps. She blocks the stairs until mom gets hold of the railing and gets her footing. It is just astonishing to see her go so crazy and I mean drooling teeth showing, growling jumping and pulling me off the sidewalk head first in one instance. Try the water balloons, after a few smacking the ground, he might not go as wild if he sees one in your hand.

[SCHMIR01]

My girl MoJo used to get quite hyper with any cars and some dogs going by on walks. the correct use of a prong and a short lead helped alot. on top of that I began making her sit, and stay in the sit position untill the dog or car passed. this has worked wonders for me. I still watch her body language and occasionaly place her in a sit if she is looking tense in these situations.

Rob

[debbiej]

I gotta add here, there are vast differences in the degree of reaction in dogs. Hilda will act up, but she can be corrected and controlled in every situation. Boris is a very good dog in--oh, say--- 95% of situations. it is the other 5% that matter. totally unreachable. not 'sit', not 'redirect' not treat or correct will work. People who don't know him look at me like I'm a paranoid nut when they see how careful I am with this loving, handsome, buttwiggling boy. Till they see him react to another dog that looks 'wrong' to him. Then they won't even hold his lead.

It's getting better, and I'm starting to relax a bit. but the big key for a dog like this is to watch for situations and not let them occur. I am always on the look out for the loose dog, the dog walking it's owner, the dog that jumps the fence. My solution to these is to about face, before he sees them.

[lovemypuppies]

My male Cooper was rescued 8 years ago,and because of the condition of his neck and his fear of some humans I did the gentle leader and a martingale for backup. He is very strong and insistant for one breed, Chows. If he smells one even from far away he will freak, and he doesn't give up. I can control him with the leader and body blocking. The leader seems to double my power. He has great patience with every other dog. I have built up his trust in me so I just avoid Chows and praise when he kisses a yorkie. I back him to a wall with my body and keep him close until the other dog is gone. Cooper does have a nice virtue__He DOESNT bite! Good luck.

[momasboy]

Try the gentle leader, it should stop him in his tracks. You have only the weight of the head to deal with and not the full body.

[txcobra96]

not crazy about the pinch/ choke collars..

when i was first got my rott.. i would walk him everyday after school.. i was lucky enough to run into this security guard one night.. she was watching a large parking lot for a bingo hall/ convention center type thing.. well. she had this monstrosity of a dog in the background.. sitting ever so patiently.. looking with his eyes wide, at this little creature.. (my 9wk old rott) on his hind legs going crazy... ready to attack!! :p haha.. thank god for the leash... the black dog was Vip.. he was a black lab/ pitt mix, maybe the size of a red nose pitt/ big rott... looked like a panther..

as luck would have it.. that was one of her 8 pets.. she trains rotts, shepards, pitts, dobies.. for the local PD... as the days went by.. she would bring different dogs.. all with a calm demeanor. all under precise control.. a few times, she brought out the full body suit.. and she had her buddy pretending to flee the crime scene... she taught duke how to find weenies, cloth.. different things that she could hide in between the cars in the parking lot.. i didnt plan on doing much search and rescue missions.. so i just taught duke the basics/ obedience training...


i started using a plain leather collar.. 1/2 to 1- 1/2 inch wide, as duke got bigger.. fitted loosely around his neck.. she taught me the slap method.. when he would start to disobey, walk away or well, try to do his own thing.... i would kind of flick my wrist.. (like im handling a whip) and it would slap the collar against his neck... kinda snapped him into attention..


well, the years went by.. several strays, a few larger dogs came across our path.. each and every time.. Dukes head would lift up.. ears up at attention.. he was in the ready position.. all i would have to say is; "Duuuke..." he would just look back at me with big eyes... and desist... we kept walking like nothing ever happened..

the slap collar method.. try it.. works great!