This may be a long post, I'll try not to ramble I'd be interested in any thoughts on this. Recently Cassie's excitement levels when seeing other dogs has escalated dramatically. She's 17 months old now, the only dog in the household. She's had a mix of interactions with other dogs, visits to her sister, mother and 2 other dogs where she gets free play, also with one collie from time to time, and meets other dogs when she's on a lead and they are not quite frequently. She's also met those same dogs off lead and come away with me no problem. She behaves really well in the vets waiting room, I get compliments from the staff on her good behaviour, especially being a young lab. But lately when we are out and about at different places she's become quite crazy at the sight of other dogs, even yesterday reverting to the jumpandgrabmyarm mode, although no where near as bad as it has been, and quickly dealt with, still it's somewhat embarrassing in public . I assume she does it out of frustration. I can't help but think this started after the training class I went to where the dogs get free play before and after the lesson. I might be wrong but it seems to have given her the idea that every dog she sets eyes on now is up for a free for all. It's only a problem in that I like to take her out with me as much as possible so that she doesn't stay home alone more than necessary. She's very quiet and content at home. It's a job to know whether she needs more or less time with other dogs, or whether she just needs more time to mature.
I'm in the same boat as you, so will be interested to see what advice you get Right now I'm just managing it, eg, crossing the road to avoid head on passes with other dogs, getting up early to let my lab have off lead time in our nearby fields/woods without much worry of running into anyone, and so on. He's so giddy and excitable right now (14 months) that I don't feel comfortable having him off lead and greeting other dogs, even if the other dog is also off lead, plus I don't want to exacerbate the problem. Sometimes I wonder if I'm being too uptight though, as in I want him to be aloof when it comes to other people/dogs, when that just isn't who he is. I don't want to get yelled at though by someone who doesn't appreciate a dog coming up to them or their dog. Anyways, tangent! Training class may have something to do with it, although he never has free play time with dogs and he's still like this. He's just super friendly and wants to be friends with everyone regardless
I don't know the answer, I think though dogs as they mature almost go through phases of wanting to meet other dogs, not so bothered, then wanting to meet all of them again! I find working Bramble in structured classes helps enormously though. Then when they have a bit of free time she is fine. She is still young, and very much influenced by the mood of the dogs around her. Luckily in training they are all all fairly sensible and focussed on the job in hand which I think helps enormously.
I agree with Kate. As Hattie matured she is not as interested in approaching people and dogs other than the ones she knows well. If I see an unfamiliar dog/person approaching I can stop her get her on lead. Charlie isn't at all interested in anyone he meets out, he might approach the odd jogger for a stroke but that's it. He's not interested in other dogs and is mostly popped back on lead if we see any around as he is anxious around some larger dogs. I don't know if structured training classes made a difference to Hattie or not. Charlie only went for a few months and couldn't cope as he was very stressed so it wasn't the best environment for him to learn so we stopped. x
I've found they get better as they get older. Also having my older dogs around helped. I still though stick my dogs on their leads if I see someone I don't know and some if I do if you get my drift. There are some horrid dogs round here. They aren't really interested in other dogs now and they don't often want to play. only special friends get played with now. Its almost as if they are busy with their own stuff and other dogs are bit boring. Maybe its because there are so many dogs round here I've always encouraged them to come with me rather than play?
I also think that some older dogs, Hattie included give off good calming signals to other dogs. Hattie knows all the unreliable dogs, young, old dogs and puppies we meet, so she will act accordingly, her body language is relaxed or she gives them space etc. So with age comes wisdom I'm still waiting for that to happen to me xx
Now that's a good point, it could very well be the signals/body language from the other dogs that Cassie is finding irresistible..
Me too. But I know what you mean mine have their special friends and dogs they avoid. Rorys friends still want to play rough but he's not really interested.
This is what I find its a bit like kids pulling faces at each other. She might well being teased by the other dogs who are up for a game too.
Yes, I'm sure you're right about that, and currently it's not dogs she knows that cause this behaviour but totally strange ones that we see when out, off our usual places.
Well it could be, but yesterday she had complete histrionics at the sight of an elderly whippet tottering across a ploughed field looking for all the world as if every step was a night mare, and an equally elderly GR whose joints had clearly seen better days and that from the back of my vehicle. So I don't know, I think I'll wait for this phase to pass.
I wonder if it's a phase? Oban seemed to skip the dreaded 9 months teenage terrible behaviour, only to go through it at 18 months. Not like Cassie, in his case it was his recall and staying close off leash that suffered. We worked and worked at various methods of training, with different people, joined a field training group. What worked, finally, was teaching North/South fetch and morphing it into his recall. Now, this is not exactly what Cassie is doing, failing to recall, but the end result of our training was that I became more interesting to Oban than running far and wide, helter skelter. I think something that brings focus back to you and shows you to be the best fun is going to help. What that is you will have to work to find. More classes likely can't hurt and N/S fetch might at least be an energy outlet if not a total fix.
Thanks @Snowshoe , for your reply. I've been doing a lot of focus games etc recently with her which is undoubtedly having a positive effect on our life together. The behaviour is happening when we go out to public events which are outdoors and involve lots of activity from people, vehicles, horses and dogs on leads minding their own business. These are not new occurences for her, so it's kind of odd. She's not off lead or running about. Probably the best thing is for me to carry on with LAT training, but in the meantime she doesn't have to go out to such events. I do think maturity will help her, she's making progress in other ways.
I feel your pain, I have a 11 month old chocolate lab, who is what I like to call very happy with life and thinks all dogs are for playing with, I love his friendly nature however not all dogs/ owners appreciate his bouncy nature. He was improving until a dog of lead jumped up at me for my treat bag and gave me a black eye whilst my dog was on his lead and whether it's my nervousness or buttons reaction to the event. It he seems a little worse. I'm hoping that if I keep going with training he will improve. Cross your fingers. Hope all goes well for you.
Goodness, hope you are ok. Cass is such a love the rest of the time it's hard to remember what she can be like at other times ! She now has a new best friend, my neighbours have taken on a Romanian sheepdog rescue who she loves, and is mutual!!
I feel your pain. My boy is 12 months old, and is and has always been an utter nightmare on the lead (in terms of lunging excitedly [playfully]) with other dogs and people. I began training him on lead around the backyard before he was even old enough to take outdoors, but it's been a fairly fruitless exercise. Finally, after the fourth time being pulled over (on a very hard surface), I caved and bought a Gentle Leader (I don't know how the forum feels about this method of training so, moderators, please feel free to delete my post if I'm breaking any rules). I still put on his harness and lead, and another lead on the Gentle Leader. I use the harness lead for normal walking (and sniffing around), and put pressure on the Gentle Leader when we pass other dogs or people. It's working quite well. We had a bit of a slip up today (an old sweet but completely oblivious old man approached us attempted to give him a treat, and he just about lost his mind). I heard the other dog walkers tell him I'm training my boy so they give me a bit of room, but he ignored them and approached anyway. We'll get there...eventually. He may be stronger than I, but I'm more determined than him
No, you're not breaking the rules (at least, not my interpretation of them), even though we actively encourage using positive reinforcement training rather than devices like the Gentle Leader which, despite its name, isn't actually all that gentle... I would definitely advise you not to do this. By pre-emptively putting pressure on the headcollar, you are causing him discomfort as the collar tightens around his head and muzzle, which means you're punishing him before he's done anything wrong. Even if you're not doing it hard, it will still be acting as a threat: "if you don't behave, this is going to become even worse". Of course, I am against punishing a dog in any event, but for those that choose to do so, you should be very clear that you are only punishing something that the dog has actually done incorrectly. To apply the pressure when people or dogs appear means you are punishing him for their appearance, which can only lead to him becoming wary of people and dogs when he's on his lead, something I'm sure you're keen to avoid.
Thank you for your response and information. I hesitated whether to reply to this as I don't want to appear defensive, but the way in which I use the Gentle Leader is a little more complicated - I originally posted for brevity rather than a long explanation. I only use extremely slight tension on the Gentle Leader when his body language indicates he's going to lunge at another person or dog. Yesterday of six distractions (people and other dogs we encountered), we walked past 4 on completely loose leads - his body language remained relaxed so there was no need to remind him not to lunge. The other two - it was obvious he became excited and was going to lunge, so that's when I used the slight tension - in one case he lunged anyway...and in the other, he stood alert for a short while but didn't lunge. Prior to using the Gentle Leader (which I've only just began using the last 10 days or so), he would have definitely lunged at all 6 distractions - quite possibly pulling me over in the process. Ultimately, I consider it a training tool (which will be discarded as soon as he becomes calm around other dogs and people whilst on walks) - I don't particularly like it myself, but it had reached the point of our daily walks becoming dangerous for myself. And it is working quite well, so I don't feel I'll need to use it in the longer term.
I think it's commendable that you're looking at it as a short-term solution and are continuing your training so you don't have to depend on it
