My Dobe is absoulutley dog crazy!

Deville · 05-26-2008, 12:39 PM

Hi all,
Just looking for a few tips and suggestions on a major problem I have with Diesel.

I will try and keep it fairly short and simple, because I realize this problem will require dog classes and training, but if there is anything I can work on now. ( On a waiting list for obedience classes. ) please let me know.

The problem:
Anytime we are out walking if Diesel even sees another dog he goes nuts, whining, trying to pull, etc. It's very embarrassing and to make it even worse he does not know how to greet new dogs at all.

The first thing he will do is try and chomp the other dogs neck or nose. Which has obviously led to some very near brawls.

This was a problem that slowly came on, at least the biting part. And as soon as I realized it was a problem I pulled the plug on him meeting any new dogs.

He does have a few dog buddies in the neighborhood that he plays with quite well, so I guess that shows something?

It's been about 2 months of not meeting new dogs, for fear of him getting in a fight and making the problem worse. I read it is best to avoid problems you are unsure how to handle, so I'll leave it to the experts when we go to classes, but until then, is there anything I could or should do?

One more thing, I cant really tell if his neck and nose biting is, aggression, fear, or play with me. Maybe a combo of the 3?

Also he was never socialized with dogs properly cause the guy I got him from never walked or trained him. Probably a huge part of the problem, and one of the biggest reasons I took Diesel off his hands.

Thanks a lot for your time,

Lee

thea2003 · 05-26-2008, 12:49 PM

My dog is Crazy with other dogs as well.
What i have been doing is crossing the street and making her down and just watch quietly as the other dog walks by.
Weird thing is she is fine at doggy daycare...when im not there..I have a feeling a am the major problem...but hard to work with when she is only dog in the house 90% of the time, and it is very frustrating. Cant wait for other peoples responses

**voodoolizard** · 05-26-2008, 12:49 PM

prob best to make him sit as soon as a new dog approaches. they can not jusp from sit too well.. and make him stay till they have past.
we also use "leave" when we see another dog if he does not know leave its a great one to teach and comes in handy in so many situations !!

dogs are not always good around dogs whilst on a lead. but he will learn and classes are great if you can get in !!

others will have more ideas !!

good luck !!

Deville · 05-26-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thea2003

My dog is Crazy with other dogs as well.
What i have been doing is crossing the street and making her down and just watch quietly as the other dog walks by.

I do this sometimes to, but only when I mess up and don't notice an approaching dog. He will only hold the sit or lay down for a minute then he just cannot contain himself any longer and flies off the handle.

If I see someone with a dog approaching I immediately cross the street and do the widest arch I can past the other dog, but it's a struggle as Diesel just whines and pulls to try and go see him.

I practically have to drag him past a passing dog. It's really to bad cause I really enjoy walking him, but he kind of ruins it for himself so we haven't been out nearly as much as he or I would like.

Walks are pretty limited because of this behavior to secluded areas, or early am / late pm walks.

bleh60 · 05-26-2008, 06:05 PM

when he is in the down, step on the leash close to the collar. When he decies he cant hold it anymore he will wish he had.

Work on 'leave it'.

Deville · 05-26-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bleh60

when he is in the down, step on the leash close to the collar. When he decies he cant hold it anymore he will wish he had.

Work on 'leave it'.

That never even crossed my mind about stepping on the leash, great idea thank you.

And just so I'm clear, "Leave it" as in, ignore it?

**ellenm** · 05-26-2008, 06:11 PM

My rescue boy was the same....he wanted to play but made terrible whining noises and tried to drag me over to other dogs! I had to step in front of him(blocking his view of the other dog) and put him on a sit. Then I would ignore him if he was whining until he quieted, then say good boy and release. You may have to reposition him 100 times the first few times you do this.

The clicker really helped me with this behavior because he knew: a. he'd done something right and b. he was going to get some reward for this

Now I can say leave it when Rex zones in on a dog, and he disengages, looks at me and steps back to me without me tightening the leash at all. (I've had him 3 years now, so obviously I've had time on my side!) He knows the food reward will be there. Use the absolute best treats you can find to reinforce the behavior to start with!!

You want him to automatically think.,...strange dog, sit nicely, no whining and I get lots of food!!! Your reaction will be: strange dog, say leave it, be prepared to step in front to reinforce a sit if needed, reward when dog is quiet and focused on me. I would get your friends with dogs he already knows to help you with this at first, so you can just work on the words and the sit...then try it with a strange dog.

Good luck!! I know it is hard with a full grown dog.

Deville · 05-26-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellenm

My rescue boy was the same....he wanted to play but made terrible whining noises and tried to drag me over to other dogs! I had to step in front of him(blocking his view of the other dog) and put him on a sit. Then I would ignore him if he was whining until he quieted, then say good boy and release. You may have to reposition him 100 times the first few times you do this.

The clicker really helped me with this behavior because he knew: a. he'd done something right and b. he was going to get some reward for this

Now I can say leave it when Rex zones in on a dog, and he disengages, looks at me and steps back to me without me tightening the leash at all. (I've had him 3 years now, so obviously I've had time on my side!) He knows the food reward will be there. Use the absolute best treats you can find to reinforce the behavior to start with!!

You want him to automatically think.,...strange dog, sit nicely, no whining and I get lots of food!!! Your reaction will be: strange dog, say leave it, be prepared to step in front to reinforce a sit if needed, reward when dog is quiet and focused on me. I would get your friends with dogs he already knows to help you with this at first, so you can just work on the words and the sit...then try it with a strange dog.

Good luck!! I know it is hard with a full grown dog.

Great advice, thank you very much. I'll practice this. And yes it is pretty difficult to contain him sometimes when he gets in buck wild ( Theres a dog!!) mode.

**ellenm** · 05-26-2008, 06:22 PM

Do you use a prong collar when walking him? That was the ONLY thing that seemed to get Rex's attention to not drag me around...and I'm 5'9"! He's 85# though and very strong, I know exactly what you mean about the ricocheting on lead!! He was 2 years old when I adopted him and knew NO obedience at all.

A second thing you can try is to do an about turn (change direction) saying let's go or whatever so he knows to pay attention to YOU when walking in public. That helped me break Rex's focus at first also, before he really knew what leave it or even sit meant.

**voodoolizard** · 05-27-2008, 02:42 AM

Yes leave it is ignor it till i say you can look or have it etc.. start at home with a dog treat in your hand say leave it.. if they come for it you can close your hand.. mine now will lay with the treat on there paws and wont move or touch the treat till i click my fingers and say go !!
i remeber an occasion on dt where someones dog was chacing a plane and in danger of crossing a road.. im sure they used the leave it command and it worked.. start with treats, do it when you put food down.. then go to toys anything you can think of... when they get it down it does come in very handy !!