Chai, have you seen any improvements since you started this thread? What method(s) have you been using?
Definitely
I've incorporated a few things, some whole and some tweaked.
Recall: gone earlier or later in the morning to our usual place when it is quieter, or a different place that is more secluded. Practicing recall on 15m long line with almost no distractions, rewarded all compliance. He has since only ignored once, due to a couple of dogs running off the path and playing about 50m away very loudly. I gave him a leash pop, jumped around and he complied very happily. Planning to stay with this low level of distraction until he is 100% for a couple weeks before moving to a slightly more distracting environment (e.g. closer to walking path).
Excitement with dogs: using check chain now, now front attach harness or martingale. Incorporating games, random changes in pace and direction on our afternoon walks. His attention on me has increased dramatically, especially at a jogging pace. We are now able to pass dogs 20m away on a walk, with a voice command of 'leave it' with a curious glance from him but then attention is back on me as I start to jump around with a tug toy. If he plants his feet/butt, pulls or barks I give a correction with the check chain and walk in opposite direction to create distance. Then it's refocus and calm down before we continue, also, he doesn't get to meet that dog.
I have stopped ALL greetings if he is displaying unwanted behaviour. If he behaves, then it's a 3-5 second greeting and we move on, PLUS he gets praise/play/treat if he disengages well. Sometimes we stop with distance from a walk path, and we practice focus on me as a dog goes by. This was trial and error as I started too close, so I found his threshold and we are working at this level
I use raw meat/liver as this is the absolute highest value treat for him. Messy and gross, but worth it.
Still to try: creating a cue for greetings as selzer suggested, I really like his idea
Overall, I've had to actively think about everything I am doing with him. i was being inconsistent, and in turn, unclear in what I expected of him. No repeated commands, no bad behaviour is ignored but actively corrected, and all good behaviour at least gets verbal praise. I've actually written out daily plans on what we are going to work on *nerd* I've also had to become more 'interesting' in everything I do with him. I enjoy nature and being outdoors, and I guess I would sometimes zone out. Now, it's 99% attention on him. It's exhausting, but a good investment I think!
I have definitely noticed an improvement. Boy, do we have a long way to go, but I am so much more confident now that EVENTUALLY I will have a dog neutral boy to enjoy more freedom with (off leash fun! hiking, beaches, fetch, hide and seek...so many possibilities).
The advice and reassurance in this thread gave me my mojo back, the comment by that lady really knocked it out of me! I have a lot more motivation now, I think he senses it too.
I did not read all the responses, but I just need to say that you did not make a mistake. There is no way to over-socialize an animal with it's own species unless you are also totally neglecting it - which you aren't!
Thanks River
I am very happy that I have such a confident pup, I learn more about him everyday and it is great to watch him grow into himself and discover the world. Recently we got charged....by a jack russell! Burst out of the patch of native trees that separates he park from the road (which we were walking on as there are usually no dogs on it). Tchai pranced out of he way, gave it a look like "what the **** is wrong with this thing" and immediately went into a sit stay when I asked. We waited calmly while the owner ran over (through the bushes) so to reduce the risk of the little guy running onto the road, and then kept walking without interacting with neither dog or owner (I was very annoyed). Also, we encountered a little pit/staffy puppy who was very shy. Tchai walked next to me on a nice, loose lead and I allowed a greet. His usual boisterous energy dissipated almost instantly, he got into a down by himself and put his head down by the puppy until it sniffed him
During this time we have also had a few bad behaviours like over excitement, pulling or barking. But I try to focus on the positives
Just today, we passed a house undergoing construction. There was a bulldozer that started up as we rounded a corner causing quite a ruckus, he started a bit out of surprise, a few hairs rose on his hackles, but I kept walking and he ended up trotting past quite happily. Also, a toddler reached her hand out of a pram and squealed as we were passing, and before I could do anything, the hand got a sniff and nose bump but nothing else. I have been a very proud mum