i'm sure this has been conquered somewhere else already

cta · 05-23-2011, 09:22 PM

I'm new to this forum, so please bear with me, as I'm sure this post is like beating a dead horse...it seems to be a common problem from what i have read thus far. Anyway, my male GSD is 14 months and for the past several months he has been super reactive to other dogs when we go for walks. I have been working with him nearly every day on the "watch me" command while we are out on our walks, both when there is another dog looming in the horizon and when there is not. So far he has done really great, I have been able to just get him to look at the other dog (maybe give a little bark) and walk on...but that's when the dog is at a little bit of a distance. Today we passed another dog on the sidewalk (I wasn't walking him), so it was close to him and he went nuts. I'm talking barking, lunging, jumping...anything to get to the dog. I guess the dog was too close for comfort, but it really bothered me because I do NOT want him to make himself look like some rabid beast. He is well socialized...or at least I thought he was...so I guess what I'm wondering is if there is anything else I can do to stop this? Is this part of his nature or is is something I can help him through? Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

sagelfn · 05-23-2011, 09:42 PM

Genetically he may have weak nerves. That doesn't mean you just accept the way he is and let him be. You can manage his behavior with time and a lot of work.

Have you read "Control Unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt? The LAT game has worked very well for us.

I would look for a reactive dog class or a trainer/behaviorist that has experience with reactive dogs to give you some additional help.

cta · 05-23-2011, 09:50 PM

i don't accept it that's why i want to change it and have been working to change it. it seems reactive dog classes would be a great help...i was just doing some research and there is one in my area. hopefully they can also give me some tools to change the unsavory behavior.

Mac's Mom · 05-23-2011, 09:54 PM

I'm sure there are other threads with great information. But I personally think there's some good stuff in this one...
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...king-dogs.html

And dog classes is a great idea. Welcome to the forum by the way!

doggiedad · 05-23-2011, 10:09 PM

find a trainer. train, train, train and socialize, socialize
and socialize everyday many times a day.

PupperLove · 05-23-2011, 10:27 PM

I don't accept it either, and I have a dog who I have struggled with in the past, and although he's not perfect now, he is MUCH better.

What helps for us when we see another dog approaching, is if I calmly but firmly give him a command, I usually use 'heel' and a little pop on his prong collar. I also give him less area to walk to get him to break that intense focus. It works best if I give him a command a few times before he locks onto his 'target' and as we are passing my. Sometimes I get no reaction from him at all- other times he hackles and perks up a bit. I always praise him after we pass if he does not react.

I tried re-directing him with a treat or holding his focus with food, but that didn't work as well for him as commands and firm leadership/control on walks. He needed to know that he wasn't in coltrol and I was. Bribing him with food gave him a choice, and me telling him NO and firmly handling him did not.

Every dog is so different in personality, drive, and nerve. What works for one may not work well for another, but that's what helped for us! Jackson is playful, has high drive, and somewhat weak nerves.

Dr89 · 05-23-2011, 10:37 PM

what works will vary from dog to dog. personally my boy is a dominant and "hard" dog, so harsh corrections is what has (is) getting us through this phase.

I have a prong collar on him and when we see an approaching dog I watch for ANY sort of reaction from him (hackles, tail raising, his little cocky gait he does

) but as SOON as any of this happens he gets a harsh correction. "NO!" first and then a sit or down command.

the sit would never have worked in the beginning because of his extreme focus which it sounds like you have. so in the beginning at any sign of interest from him he got a sharp pop with the prong collar. Some may not like this method but anything less and he doesn't care. my gf can't even pull up hard enough on the collar to get his attention in any way. So i'll be honest he gets a hard and fast tug from me.

Like i said, some may not like it but it doesn't bother him, he is confident, we keep on walking, he doesn't tuck his tail, etc. bottom line -- it works

sagelfn · 05-23-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cta

i don't accept it that's why i want to change it and have been working to change it. it seems reactive dog classes would be a great help...i was just doing some research and there is one in my area. hopefully they can also give me some tools to change the unsavory behavior.

That's great that you found one close. I would go watch a class before signing up just to make sure you like what they're doing and feel confident they could help you.

cta · 05-23-2011, 10:42 PM

it's at least nice to see that i'm not the only person with a "crazy" dog! pupperlove...the food doesn't always work for me either, which is a surprise because he is so food driven! once he locks onto his target it is very hard to break his focus, but i will keep at it because i know he's not the nasty dog people think he is when he behaves like that. when he does walk by a dog with out making a fuss, it's clear that he loves the praise, which gives me hope!

cta · 05-23-2011, 11:14 PM

Dr89...my dog does the same....he puffs up and starts prancing like he's the king of the sidewalk. commands work some of the time (which i hope will lead to "all of the time")...like i said, the food doesn't sway him much, as his focus is too instense. i also use a prong collar. i have to admit i was anti-prong because it looked so harsh, but boy that thing has helped me be able to train him.

as for the sit, we have a huge field by our house where people let their dogs run, so if i see one there, i will make him sit on the sidewalk and watch the dog from a distance. when we do this, he is able to sit quietly..as training continues, I will decrease the distance between them. Right now he is too intense gets excited very easily.

05-23-2011, 09:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	i'm sure this has been conquered somewhere else already I'm new to this forum, so please bear with me, as I'm sure this post is like beating a dead horse...it seems to be a common problem from what i have read thus far. Anyway, my male GSD is 14 months and for the past several months he has been super reactive to other dogs when we go for walks. I have been working with him nearly every day on the "watch me" command while we are out on our walks, both when there is another dog looming in the horizon and when there is not. So far he has done really great, I have been able to just get him to look at the other dog (maybe give a little bark) and walk on...but that's when the dog is at a little bit of a distance. Today we passed another dog on the sidewalk (I wasn't walking him), so it was close to him and he went nuts. I'm talking barking, lunging, jumping...anything to get to the dog. I guess the dog was too close for comfort, but it really bothered me because I do NOT want him to make himself look like some rabid beast. He is well socialized...or at least I thought he was...so I guess what I'm wondering is if there is anything else I can do to stop this? Is this part of his nature or is is something I can help him through? Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

05-23-2011, 09:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	Genetically he may have weak nerves. That doesn't mean you just accept the way he is and let him be. You can manage his behavior with time and a lot of work. Have you read "Control Unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt? The LAT game has worked very well for us. I would look for a reactive dog class or a trainer/behaviorist that has experience with reactive dogs to give you some additional help. __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

05-23-2011, 09:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mac's Mom Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,035	I'm sure there are other threads with great information. But I personally think there's some good stuff in this one... http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...king-dogs.html And dog classes is a great idea. Welcome to the forum by the way! __________________ Carrie Mac - 2 year old GSD Bart - 4 year old GSD/Akita & 3 Cats Buffy, Rusty & Magoo

05-23-2011, 10:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	find a trainer. train, train, train and socialize, socialize and socialize everyday many times a day. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

05-23-2011, 10:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
PupperLove Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,084	I don't accept it either, and I have a dog who I have struggled with in the past, and although he's not perfect now, he is MUCH better. What helps for us when we see another dog approaching, is if I calmly but firmly give him a command, I usually use 'heel' and a little pop on his prong collar. I also give him less area to walk to get him to break that intense focus. It works best if I give him a command a few times before he locks onto his 'target' and as we are passing my. Sometimes I get no reaction from him at all- other times he hackles and perks up a bit. I always praise him after we pass if he does not react. I tried re-directing him with a treat or holding his focus with food, but that didn't work as well for him as commands and firm leadership/control on walks. He needed to know that he wasn't in coltrol and I was. Bribing him with food gave him a choice, and me telling him NO and firmly handling him did not. Every dog is so different in personality, drive, and nerve. What works for one may not work well for another, but that's what helped for us! Jackson is playful, has high drive, and somewhat weak nerves. __________________ ~Laura Jackson, nicknamed "Gehngi" GSD, 5/5/10 www.youravon.com/lauranicole

05-23-2011, 09:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	i don't accept it that's why i want to change it and have been working to change it. it seems reactive dog classes would be a great help...i was just doing some research and there is one in my area. hopefully they can also give me some tools to change the unsavory behavior.

05-23-2011, 10:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dr89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 258	what works will vary from dog to dog. personally my boy is a dominant and "hard" dog, so harsh corrections is what has (is) getting us through this phase. I have a prong collar on him and when we see an approaching dog I watch for ANY sort of reaction from him (hackles, tail raising, his little cocky gait he does ) but as SOON as any of this happens he gets a harsh correction. "NO!" first and then a sit or down command. the sit would never have worked in the beginning because of his extreme focus which it sounds like you have. so in the beginning at any sign of interest from him he got a sharp pop with the prong collar. Some may not like this method but anything less and he doesn't care. my gf can't even pull up hard enough on the collar to get his attention in any way. So i'll be honest he gets a hard and fast tug from me. Like i said, some may not like it but it doesn't bother him, he is confident, we keep on walking, he doesn't tuck his tail, etc. bottom line -- it works Last edited by Dr89; 05-23-2011 at 10:40 PM.

05-23-2011, 10:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	it's at least nice to see that i'm not the only person with a "crazy" dog! pupperlove...the food doesn't always work for me either, which is a surprise because he is so food driven! once he locks onto his target it is very hard to break his focus, but i will keep at it because i know he's not the nasty dog people think he is when he behaves like that. when he does walk by a dog with out making a fuss, it's clear that he loves the praise, which gives me hope!

05-23-2011, 11:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	Dr89...my dog does the same....he puffs up and starts prancing like he's the king of the sidewalk. commands work some of the time (which i hope will lead to "all of the time")...like i said, the food doesn't sway him much, as his focus is too instense. i also use a prong collar. i have to admit i was anti-prong because it looked so harsh, but boy that thing has helped me be able to train him. as for the sit, we have a huge field by our house where people let their dogs run, so if i see one there, i will make him sit on the sidewalk and watch the dog from a distance. when we do this, he is able to sit quietly..as training continues, I will decrease the distance between them. Right now he is too intense gets excited very easily.

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