Really odd behavior around one dog in particular...

[LoveEcho]

So I've brought Echo everywhere I've gone since I've owned him. He's been very well mannered in all kinds of situations, around lots of people, other dogs, wide open parks and hiking trails. He listens, he's calm, etc. We were visiting my parents yesterday and decided to take their dog and Echo to a local park for a walk, as it was unseasonably warm. Echo was out of his mind... if I made him lay down, and Gibson (my parent's cocker spaniel) was walking farther down, he would scream. I'm not kidding, scream. He was pulling me off my feet, not responding to any correction or any attempts at diversion through obedience commands, etc. It wasn't aggressive behavior at all-- when they were close to each other, Echo was trying to play with him-- which Gibson ignored. The weird part is, we've been in identical scenarios with my friend's dogs, my brother's dogs, etc and this has never happened...this is now twice that it's happened with Gibson (apparently it happened while my parents were watching him). I took him out of eyesight of my parents and made him do heels, heel stops, sit/down/sit/down; it seems like after that distraction he was back to normal. Until he saw their dog again. So what gives? What's with this sort of obsession, and how can I curb it? He's 15 months, professionally trained, otherwise dead calm in this situation.

[MaggieRoseLee]

He's 15 months, professionally trained, otherwise dead calm in this situation.

Professionally trained by who? If it's not you, then that's part of the issue. He's growing up and things are changing!

I'd just get back into dog classes WITH my dog if I were you. Bet a few sessions will clear this issue right up.

[LoveEcho]

Originally Posted by MaggieRoseLee

Professionally trained by who? If it's not you, then that's part of the issue. He's growing up and things are changing!

I'd just get back into dog classes WITH my dog if I were you. Bet a few sessions will clear this issue right up.

Oh, definitely with me-- I live next door to a facility that trains personal protection and police k9 dogs, and they've been gracious enough to give me one-on-one sessions since I've had him. I've been itching to talk to my friend/the trainer, but he's out of town...and I like getting other opinions, as well. We still go every other day for a few hours, working on all kinds of stuff (obedience, tracking, agility), which is part of why this is so bizarre to me... when I say out of character, I mean REALLY out of character. Literally the day before we were at the same park, with my brother and his dogs, and he was the same mellow, calm, attentive-to-me pup I'm used to. I'm puzzled Although as an update, we took him for a hike today and I asked DH to continue walking so he was out of sight while Echo was in a down. He started the whining again, although with much less intensity. I do some quick obedience commands with him, and he seemed better... hm.

[doggiedad]

sounds like Echo really likes Gibson. do some
training around Gibson.

[LoveEcho]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

sounds like Echo really likes Gibson. do some
training around Gibson.

I'm LOLing at this...it is indeed the obvious answer. He's uber dog friendly in general, so the obsession with this one dog is what's strange. I'm just cracking up, because my parent's dog is...not someone most people (or dogs) like. He bites, barks incessantly, and above all...hates Echo. They've learned to peacefully co-exist (although occasionally Gib will snap at Echo... who's like "wtf did I do??"), but Gib essentially ignores him.. I think that's what grinds Echo's gears...he just doesn't get WHY this fat, mean, old cocker spaniel won't play with a large, rowdy, puppy

[doggiedad]

with you of your DH walking out of sight i think a little
whine is ok. if your dog held his stay and followed
all of his commands while your DH was out of sight
i think that's ok also.

Originally Posted by LoveEcho

Although as an update, we took him for a hike today and I asked DH to continue walking so he was out of sight while Echo was in a down. He started the whining again, although with much less intensity. I do some quick obedience commands with him, and he seemed better... hm.