Bad Manners! Help!

[Del's Mom]

My almost 11 month old has horrible manners. We train daily, he will listen when we are inside. But when we are walking or taking a potty break, if he sees another dog he will lunge at the dog barking (sometimes almost pulling me down). He doesn't want to hurt the dog, he just wants to pay but it looks aggressive to another dog owner. I have him on a choke collar but it doesn't seem to help. Any advice would be appreciated.

[qbchottu]

Choke chain or a prong/pinch collar?

Are you training with someone or just doing it by yourself?
Is it one particular dog or a type of dog? Any particular triggers you can identify? Knowing and recognizing when a situation is about to arise will give you insight into management techniques.

Consult a trainer used to large working breeds and ask about dog reactivity management.

Some good tips in here as well:
Share dog reactivity experiences
Confused with the best way - choke chain or positive method for dog to dog aggression
Dog Reactivity
Training for dog reactivity

[qbchottu]

Just noticed your location - you have a fantastic trainer in your neck of the woods. Gabor at k9imports | Nashville Dog Training | Nashville Dog Trainer| Alpha K9 In Home Dog Training. Excellent trainer, world level, might be busy for the next couple weeks, but I would try reaching out to him to see if he can help or give you some leads.

[doggiedad]

when did this problem start? did you do a lot of
socializing? do you have a trainer?

[Del's Mom]

I went to a trainer for my first GSD and am training this one myself. He is on a choke collar, not a prong collar. It is basically any dog, he just wants to play but he doesn't realize his size. I take him to the dog park on a regular basis, he plays fine there and is often submissive to other dogs there. I have asked my old trainer but he wants me to come in for private lesson (which I cannot afford).

[qbchottu]

Stop using the choke chain. Get a prong collar. It will work better imo.

I do not like dog parks. I would never bring a reactive dog to a dog park. Great way to create more trouble than is worth.

Sounds like your dog is leash reactive. You need a trainers help or else you can consult books/dvds. Get one lesson with a trainer once a month, write down notes and practice at home. You will need to actively work towards solving this problem or else it will just continue.

[Blanketback]

How is he when you approach the dog park? I'm having the same issue with my puppy, so I'm using the park to train him to be calm around the other dogs - that is, he's not allowed into the park until he's calm. Right now it's baby steps, so I won't open the gate until he's quiet. But eventually I'm adding distance, asking for sit, etc. Little hooligans, lol.

[Del's Mom]

He knows the route we take to the dog park. He starts whining when we are close and barking when we pull into the parking lot. I open the door and he darts to the gate. He is fine with the other dogs off leash, I just have this problem when he is on the leash.