Anything else we should be doing? Rudy issue
He's a sweet, loving, fantastic dog who has got to be the world's most gigantic puppy at heart, and he's really only a little over a year old (or so we've been told) so he's just learning. I get all that. He goes to obedience and loves it. He goes for walks and is learning manners. We do all sorts of things with him, but we're having one problem that really troubles me. When he's off leash and contained he plays with all kinds of dogs beautifully. He and Hudson spent the evening frolicking with two Havanese and all went well. Not one ounce of aggression from Rudy. He is a big oaf, and the little dogs growled occasionally when he stepped on them or ran at them too fast, but he absolutely respected their boundaries and changed his behaviour the instant they complained. When he's on leash and sees another dog he goes nuts. I don't think it's aggression. He barks, puts his bum in the air, and tries to "pounce" in their direction, however, he sounds formidable. This often sets off other dogs and they respond aggressively and then Rudy's barking gets more "dark" sounding. Or, if they don't it scares the heck out of the owners, who grab their dogs and run. Then Rudy barks more, and pulls against the leash and sounds even more horrible. Tonight we were putting him into the car to come home, and a couple came by with a dog in the darkness and I think it surprised him. He did his barking and jumping, and I didn't have a great hold of the leash (he was jumping in the back seat when this happened, and he turned and made a break for it.) I got him by the collar - no danger to anyone at any time, and held him (which of course exacerbated the whole thing as he tried harder to get to the dog). The owners stopped walking and stood there, about ten or so feet from us (as if THAT is helpful) and made a comment about vicious dogs. My MIL explained that this is actually him inviting play, but they didn't seem happy. Seems to me that stopping right there by the dog they were so sure was a killer doesn't exactly make great sense. If they really were concerned (Rudy was never, ever out of our control, just making big noise which we were trying to get under control) I would think they'd have wanted to get out of the situation. Anyway, Rudy goes to obedience (and we see this there sometimes too), and we're working on it. We practice a lot on walks (a chain collar helps a lot with this, but tonight he had his harness on as we needed to seat belt him in so that was different). I try to remain calm and in control, and to treat practice with him (treats given for ignoring other dogs and focusing on me). There are even a few dog owners on our block who know Rudy's issues and will let us practice walking by while their dogs sit. He's had some really good success with this. Is there anything else we should be doing? I'd hate to see this morph into aggression, and I know it is scary to others. We've been working hard on it and will keep up, but if anybody has any other ideas we could add, we'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance. |
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| Me too! Certain dogs "set Tiggy off"  It can be on or off lead but she just losses her marbles and barks and lunges and generally carries on like a deranged, rabid creature. We have worked and worked and worked with it at obedience.Two things are helping. Actually 3 now I think of it. First she's two years old. Sorry I know you dont want to hear "wait till he grows a brain!" I certainly didnt, but it has helped enormously. Second: I have spent heaps and heaps of time teaching her the "focus" or "look at me" command, even the littlest glance got a reward. See my just posted video in pictures. I'm so happy with her, she's not perfect like the goldens and BC's but she will actually sit and look at me  Once if we were out amongst other dogs I was just the darned nuisance hanging on the end of the lead that stopped her chasing and barking at other dogs. I didnt merit a glance.  Third: Find out what Rudy loves. It took me ages but I finally discovered that Tiggy absolutely adores chasing a squeaky ball. I did teach her a bit. She had completely ignored ordinary balls but I got a squeaky ball and spent a week running around like a nutcase throwing and squeaking the ball and not letting Tiggy have it. In the end she was beside herself. Now at training if she gets crazy I squeak the ball and have her instant attention. Unless I'm too late and she's already lost it or the other dog is just too tempting. The other day it was a young lab who kept play bowing and running at her. Not even the squeaky ball could beat that.  For Rudy it might be a tugger toy or just a ball or a special treat or a stuffie. Only he knows. Good luck!!! If you find anything else that works please let me know. Tiggy is still a work in progress. PS Rudy I LOVE your blog, keep it up dude, Love Tiggy |
| Mulligan still gets SOOOOO excited to see another dog, there's really nothing we can do but hold him back and let the other owner know he's just excited and happy. Funny thing is if we can allow him to greet the other dog, and IF the other dog is tolerant of this giant bouncing ball of fur and noise, he calms down extremely quickly and ignores the other dog. If the other dog responds the fun continues. It is off-putting to most people and dogs. |
| ^^^^^^^^ This is what Brick does. If he can just sniff at the other dog or just play a little, he calms right down. Many times, he loses interest totally and is ready to move on almost instantly. |
| I'm interested to hear some suggestions myself as we sometimes have this problem when I'm walking Bowie. Then again, I'm not sure its a problem if all dogs don't like all dogs. As humans, we don't like everyone we come in contact with, right? I wonder sometimes if they react that way with some dogs because they "smell" something...maybe even about their owner? Your trainer will probably be best to help with this. And please pass on the suggestions! Diane |
| Wow! We have the same problem with Gus. When Gus was younger (he's five now), he would lunge and pull if we met anyone -- walker, biker, skateboarder -- on the path. Now he pretty much ignores humans but still goes bonkers if he sees another dog. Gus is a big boy and when he gets excited I have trouble controlling him; it's to the point where I'm afraid to take Gus on walks alone. My husband is always there so if we see another dog coming I can hand the leash over to someone taller and stronger than myself. And yet, Gus is really a sweetie. Unless the other dog growls or snaps at him, a few sniffs and he calms down. |
| Frankie does the same thing. When we are checking into daycamp it's a no wonder anyone can hear. Frankie is carrying on so much if another dog comes in. And same thing, if the other dog tolerates his craziness things settle down. I'm working on a touch game where he touches my hand and gets a treat, but nothing really distracts him. He has been the same way at obedience class also. The trainer jokes and says Frankie wants to party. The sight of another dog (or time to play in his eyes) is just to much for him. Good luck and if you think of anything that works let me know. Lisa and Frankie |
| Tonks and Luna were the same. It took lots and lots and lots (read as we're still at it) of practice for us to be able to walk by other dogs while on a walk without that sort of behavior. Here's how it goes: teach Rudy to "heel". Teach him "leave it". I know a lot of people that have had great luck with teaching their dogs to "watch". Then, while walking, if you see a dog approaching, long before they get to you you start using those commands. Tonks and Luna could never wrap their brains around "watch" so we can't use that one, and everyone that does use it, well it just looks so darned effective! But I start up with "heel, heel, heel" and if I see the excitement begin to grow I'll do "leave it". I used to make them sit while another dog walked by, and then do down... anything to keep their minds off the other dog. But that failed us when the other owner did the same thing. With both our dogs sitting, one of us had to make a move, so I made my girls walk by. We still aren't perfect at it, especially if the other dog shows interest in wanting to play too. I think one bad thing about dog parks and doggie day cares is that our dogs don't learn that every dog isn't for playing with in every situation. But with constant practice, it gets a little better every time. We've been working on this behavior for well over a year, and on a walk not that long ago I got them to walk by a cat that had NO intention of moving from its seated position in our path. That was a BIG win for my girls. You can do it! Just have patience; Rudy is still very young, and that youth is going to show itself on walks and in this sort of playful behavior. |
| Wow! Same as Rufus! Especially that if I let him greet the other dog, he calms down. This is my main problem with showing I just can't get him to be calm around other dogs when he's on leash. Oh well, back to obedience tonight. Here's a thought... how about other obedience classes? Ru got really good in one, but then didn't associate that with whenever we go out. Just in that place. So we are trying a different class tonight and varying experiences. |
| Daphne still goes crazy w/other dogs while we walk and she is 5 years old. She does not mind them if they are in a yard but if they are on l leash, she goes crazy. She also calms down if she can say hello. I sometimes just run w/her to get her to stop focusing on the other dog. I tried holding her leash tight and correcting her but I ended up getting quite bruised while she lunged into me. |
I've nothing helpful to suggest but it looks like Rudy isn't alone with this and I just wanted to say I love reading his Blog  Julie X |
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