Dog Aggression?

[dcag]

Our 14 month old GSD has really started to get a lot more excitable at dogs we meet on walks in the neighborhood. He is generally pretty good with dogs he knows ( the neighbors), and often will immediately lay down when he spots another dog when we are out on the side walk However, if we don't let him meet the other dog right then, his hackles will go up, and he starts a LOT of pulling and barking. It's starting to make walks pretty tough. We want to socialize him, but we also can't always stop to meet every single dog, and he shuldn't be the one dictating the walk. What's the right way to deal with this? Does this actually sound like aggression? Any help is appreciated. BTW, he was just neutered about two weeks ago...so far doesn't seem to have had any real impact on this, but he does seem to be more affectionate with us at home.

[GSDElsa]

Ahhhhhhhhh! Elsa is (it's almost a was!) the same way. It's been HARD. In her case, it's not aggression, it's dog OBSESSION. Once she actually meets the dog, she's dominant, but not aggressive. However, it can appear to be aggression because she's so crazy about it.

Do you use a prong by chace? I know people have their own opinions, but I think if the dog starts lunging and is barking you need and extra bit of serious control.

He's some of the things we've done with her....do you have any friends or trusted people with dogs that you know aren't going to show aggression back? They will be crucial, I think, for helping fix this. If you do, set up "meets" with the dogs on walks in a safe park or really quiet street.

Walk towards the dog. If he starts showing interest, correct, turn, and walk away. If he turns back to try and stare at the dog, correct, keep walking away. Don't turn around until he's back focusing on you. Then try again. It may take a LONG time, but keep doing it. Don't let him meet the dog until he's not being obnoxious. This has helped Elsa tremendously. HOWEVER...it really has to be done with dogs who can ignore them when they are acting like this. If the other dog starts getting excited and obnoxious too, I don't think it will work because at this stage it will be too hard to get him to focus back on you.

As far as on walks. If I see a dog, I've been making Elsa go into a down stay, and then stepping on the leash so it's slack...BUT if she goes to get up, she'll hit the leash and correct herself. She can fight and be obnoxious all she wants, but she's NOT standing up to go be dominant with the other dog. You're not fighting with him and getting worked up because you're just standing there. She's gotten a lot better about this, and will be interested, but stay. Her weak spot is still when other dogs get worked up too. On a walk the other day, I made her do this and she was fine until the other dog started barking at her. Then she started barking back and trying to get up......then after about 10 seconds of acting out realized that she wasn't going anywhere and resigned herself to laying back down. When she was paying attention to me again and not the dog, she got praised. I kept her in a down stay another couple minutes just to make sure she was still in that calm state of mind.

Anyhow...I'm no dog trainer, but your dog is like describing Elsa, and this is what has helped her. We've only had her 6 weeks, and have seem a HUGE improvement in her behavior.

Oh...and with the hackels going up. Only you know your dog, but I think some dogs just do that. Elsa is a hackels up sort of gal. Even playing fetch in the backyard, she's get all excited and starts running around the yard with her toy and her hackels will go up. I think it's just a "thing" she does

[dcag]

Thank you for the reply. We actually went out and got a prong collar today and it really seems to make a difference. I'd been resisting it, despite recommendations from our breeder/trainer, but you were about the third or fourth recommendation we've had. Despite what I was expecting, no yelps from him when I've had to give him corrections. We also have really tried to up the redirection when he sees other dogs, using treats or toys Hopefully this will help. He's also had some issues with small kids so we're going to try and use a similar approach. Actually it's odd, he's grown up with the neighborhood kids since he was 9 weeks, but recently has started barking and trying to run after them...usually when they run by. I'm hoping this is really just his herding instinct and not real aggression, but it sure scares the kids. THat was a long thank you, but..thanks.

[GSDElsa]

Since you seem to be hesitant about the prong (we were too!), I officially "converted" when someone told me to "correct" myself. Seriously, drape the prong over one arm and "snap" with the other. You'll be surprised at how boring it all really is. I was expecting something much more dramatic than I got. A sharp correction might get you a yelp...but just remember what it felt like when you did it on yourself, and move on!