CRAZY around other dogs

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Dodger

Forums Novice
Hello all...
We recently (a little over month ago) adopted a sheltie from a family friend who was movinhg and couldn't take him. His name is dodger, he is four and he is absolultely wonderful....except for one thing....

Dodger lives in our fenced 1 acre yard and gets long walks at least twice a day (both on an off leash depending on where we go). Dodger is very affectionate and obedient and never aggressive. However, when we encounter another dog he goes absolutely bananas. He pulls at his leash to the point of choking himself, barking and growling. This behaviour starts as soon as he spots the other dog. If Dodger is off leash he will race up to the dog (which is annoying and can be intimidating to the other dog/owner). Once Dodger has reached the other dog (on or off leash) he says hello and is ready to go again like nothing happened. Dodger is never aggressive towards the other dog(s), although his craziness can sometimes incite aggression in the other dog. If another dog passes our fence Dodger also races up to the fence barking and going nuts.

We are trying everything to stop this behaviour. Mostly I try to redirect his attention to me by crouching down and getting him to sit (requires physical force at this point of craziness) and look at me but this is near impossible when he is in this crazy mode.

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting Dodger to chill out when we see another dog? If he could walk past a dog and not go totally insane I would be SO happy! It's embarrassing and it annoys other people.

Thanks everyone :eek2:
 
Make him sit when he sees the other dog and treat him when he obeys. He may see it as someone coming into his territory given the fact that he "lost" his family a month ago.
 
This is the approach I was taught by a couple of behaviourists. It has walked very well for me and I know a lot of others who have used the same approach.

As soon as he starts barking, or you notice him tense up, walk in the other direction. Dont say anything or drag or tug, just walk briskly, when he relaxes you can talk to him again, even give him a treat for being calm. Try this for a couple of weeks. The idea of starting with this approach is it lets him know you are taking control of the situation - particularly good for fear aggression and will help him learn you will look after him now. It also takes him out of his 'red zone' and teaches him to be calm before heading off. After 2 weeks of this you can start trying to get him to focus on you with treats or a toy.

Once he starts barking he has already crossed his red zone threshold and it wil be hard to get his focus, and potentially any rewarding when he is in his red zone will just be rewarding the aggression. You will need to identify the 'critical distance' he can be from another dog before he goes into meltdown and try to keep this distance between you. Once he starts barking walking away until he calms down then get his focus. You will find the critical distance will reduce - my female started with a huge critical distance, basically if she saw it she went into meltdown, but is great now.

I agree the fence barking is likely to be due to territorial issues from being rehomed. Problem is once they start with the fence barking it is really hard to stop, and it will make it harder to deal with fear aggression.

Do you know any other dogs you can try 'controlled greetings' with? Sounds like he needs some practice. I would also suggest when he is walking off lead to carry some extra yummy treats so he doesnt keep running up to other dogs. Try leaving a short line on his collar as well to make it easier to grab him before he runs off. I know several people who leave a piece of string attached to the collar of their BCs so they can step on it if the dog looks like its going to take off. If he isnt as fast as a BC then try a normal short lead (knot his own lead in half/thirds or just cut an old lead to make it shorter)
 
thanks!

Thanks you guys!
We'll try these ideas out ASAP! I've been getting roast beef left overs from work and these seem to be a treat that he'll do anything for....so maybe that will do the trick! When he sees the roast beef he tries to do every trick he knows all at once so he can get some. so funny!
 
you might want to look for a trainer or behaviorist to help you with it. Sounds like pup has no doggie etiquette and was not doggie socialized as a wee baby. He might be only excited to see other pup but they are reading bad news from his body language. If you ever end up in situation when 2 dogs are coming closer, try putting dogs parallel to each other as opposed face to face.
I second everything that Caro said, find a distance where your dog still responds to you and work on teaching your dog to give you attention and sit calmly. I know in my neck of woods trainers just had special class for such pups where 4 dogs were sitting in 4 separate corners of huge warehouse like training facility- that is how close/ far they had to be in order to tolerate it. I heard that one dog was GSD lady got for "protection" since her hubby works nights and they live in rough neighborhood... well she sure got her money worth:no: as she has 3 kids at home...
 
yes, completely what Caro says!

I think we have all had some issues around this, because Shelties are commonly very reactive.

Find what gets him motivated.. what can redirect him, BEFORE he goes nuts, lol

I also agree that he needs more practice, and I am so happy he's just a barker, not like Toffee who pretty much would like to kill all puppies or any happy dog, really lol who has the nerve to want to sniff him.:rolleyes2:

But he's come SUCH a long way, it's wonderful.. and gives me confidence so it CAN become a thing of the past, trust me! You will get there, glad to hear you're working through things with Dodger :)
 
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