How can I fix Drake's dog aggression!!!!

[herno1]

Can anybody give me any idea how can I fix Drake's behavior around other dogs???!!!!
Drake is 1 year and a half old, He knows his basic commands ( sit, stay, heel, down, etc) But as soon as he sees a dog, forget. He get CRAZY. I've tried changing ways, screamed, a lot of stuff but nothing seems to work.
I take him every morning to a dog park in which at 8am there is nobody there so he can run and play. Today for the first time in weeks, there was a boxer who was really exited and wanted to play with Drake. I could even get IN the park. Drake was with his hair up, barking and growling. So, we came back home.
Any ideas????
Would a muzzle work?
HELP !!!

[mkewish]

Sounds like he has leash agression, or is on the verge. Jake did the same thing . . and he goes to doggy daycare everyday, so can't say it's lack of socialization with other dogs.

Do you think he wants to play or attack the other dog?

If it's play, make him sit until he settles and then take a few steps more. As soon as the agression starts make him sit again.

It worked wonders for Jake. It's kind of like your training them to ask you if it's ok for them to play. Make sense?

[Smith3]

My dog sort of has this issue, it is more she sees another dog and wants to run up and play iwth it - but she expresses it by barking (she is extremely friendly with other dogs)

Others might have better suggestions, but I'd work on "look at me" and if you see another dog and yours starts flipping out, turn 180 degrees and walk the other way for a few feet, then turn around and continue back the way you were headed - if the dog continues to bark, just keep distracting them by turning around. reward them when they get quiet and praise

i'd take the most high reward treats you can find with you on this. i know you need to basically hit mine over the head when we are outside

[herno1]

Make sense! I'll try that. I know is aggresive cause he got into a fight with a small dog months ago. so I know is not barking and pushing to play.

[UConnGSD]

I think this thread will have a lot of great tips for you:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...page=5&fpart=1

Drake sounds a lot like Wolfie. I have taken him to training specifically to address his leash reactivity. But it will be a WIP for a long time. What I am working on right now is having him at a comfortable distance away from another dog and then just showering him with treats (create positive association). Works better with some dogs whereas with some specific dogs in the neighborhood, it's all out war. He gets really stressed out and refuses even his highest value treats. There are a lot of different tips in the above thread. Some work for me, others don't. It's a matter of trial and error to figure out which ones will suit you and Drake. I had to teach myself not to yell at him while he's going nutso. Trainer and others on this board helped me understand that it only makes it worse. Instead happy voice, calm voice "oh look a puppy, we love puppies" -- even when he's acting like a nutbag. (I do get strange looks.) Now if we are at a comfortable distance from another dog, I say "show me the puppy" and W gets a high value treat everytime he looks at the dog. Even if he lets out a growl, he gets a treat. Again, he is doing this because he is stressed. The idea is to create a positive association with him seeing other dogs while leashed. Also, the Fiesty Fido book was great in terms of helping me understand this problem.

[rucker105]

I just posted a similar thread about my dog. He gets way to fixated on other dogs, and what used to be pure play has now become more stressful for him and turns into the makings of a dog fight. I feel like Zeke is insecure and desperate to "show that dog who is in charge". Like your Drake, I wonder if this is a young male thing? It's like a teenage boy who acts really tough because he's insecure and full of testosterone.

I'm sure a muzzle would prevent any bites coming from Drake, but it won't prevent him from acting crazy and could lead to him getting hurt because he might instigate a fight from the other dog.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted By: UConnGSDWhat I am working on right now is having him at a comfortable distance away from another dog and then just showering him with treats (create positive association). Works better with some dogs whereas with some specific dogs in the neighborhood, it's all out war. He gets really stressed out and refuses even his highest value treats. There are a lot of different tips in the above thread. Some work for me, others don't. It's a matter of trial and error to figure out which ones will suit you and Drake. I had to teach myself not to yell at him while he's going nutso. Trainer and others on this board helped me understand that it only makes it worse. Instead happy voice, calm voice "oh look a puppy, we love puppies" -- even when he's acting like a nutbag.

Yes, counter-conditioning and desensitization are great techniques, and there is a lot of good info in that other thread! Just wanted to reiterate the part I put in bold - I read that the OP had tried screaming, and I cringed. It's SO important that you remain calm because the dog will read your stress and react accordingly. It's hard at first, but I guarantee that after awhile it will become second nature to react as UConnGSD describes, with a calm, happy, upbeat demeanor. Cassidy was severely leash reactive, and I'd plant a smile on my face and force a laugh, to show that *I* was not worried and there was nothing for her to be afraid of. You are in charge, and he needs to know that everything is under control.

[UConnGSD]

Also, I do the restraint exercises that are mentioned in that thread. Kong stuffed with doggie omlette, mac & cheese, cuz, anything high value.

[Riley's Mom]

Originally Posted By: herno1Make sense! I'll try that. I know is aggresive cause he got into a fight with a small dog months ago. so I know is not barking and pushing to play.

This could also be prey drive when it comes to small dogs. Mine is doing pretty darn well now with bigger dogs, but there's no way I'll let him near something small.

[Ucdcrush]

I have a reactive dog too, but he is getting better. I have been using a strategy similar to this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xkfNEStxk

Except that my dog is not interested in food, so I don't try it anymore. I just use praise, and also use the "go in the other direction" technique sometimes BEFORE he goes nuts.

I had been using a prong collar trying to "snap him out" of his fixation, but that just seemed to make things worse, unless I gave him a level 10 yank, but I just didn't want to do that.

With the Halti (or gentle leader), I can control him fairly easily. If he starts going nuts, I tell him to sit then pull up on the leash. When he sits, no pressure. Then we continue moving, whether it's towards the other dog, or away from it briefly before continuing in the direction we were going originally.

What I have learned is to not expect, or even care about, perfect position walking-- which for my dog is on my right side (puppy is on my left). When there is another dog around, he tends to forge forward. I used to worry about getting him back in perfect position, but at this point I am happy even if he tends to forge but still remains somewhat calm. I figure once he can learn to be calm around other dogs, he wont feel the need to forge ahead as much. If he does forge ahead now, I just give some backward pressure on the Halti, but nothing that's going to rile him up.

He now knows he can LOOK at other dogs without going berzerk.

You HAVE TO remain calm yourself, and to me this is where the positive methods seem to make things easier. It's easier to be calm gently lifting up on the leash with a Halti, than giving a yank hard enough to snap a dog out of something. Not saying you are doing that, it's just my experience.