hi, I Have a lovely 14month chocolate lab, his excitment levels are so high when he's on leash. Every time a dog comes past he lunges, cries a little and pulls to them, I get him to sit and look which he does well when they go past. will this calm down? Should I do anything else. He's very friendly but he is one of those dogs people talk about you runs over to every dog to play which some dogs don't like, ( I don't blame them.) He does listen to me but just isn't calming down. I've socialised him and his recalls good and follows commands. Is it just his personality? I know I'm anxious about his behaviour which doesn't help.
If I see another dog approaching when we are on lead walking, I will either lure my 12 month old by with a treat held over her nose as we go by or if the space is more confined, I get her to go Middle (between my legs). As she loves to do this, I use this ‘tool’ a lot. She is a very sociable dog and loves other dogs but she knows on lead walking means no socialising unless I decide. Look at That works well too which it sounds like you are doing. I always say ‘Look at that, that dog’s having a walk too’ and she knows that means we don’t disturb that dog and owner from what they are doing. I do still treat quite a lot but think for now that’s ok.
I did exactly the same as @Atemas , we also did lots of lead training in the evenings when there weren't so many distractions . I think Sam was about two years old before we mastered a really lose lead walk , hang on in there, it will happen , just repetition and patience x
Coco has been like this since we got him at 16 months - he's now 3 and a half! I do as Atemas does, put him into a sit and distract him - else he would pull me off my feet with a lunge. He is gradually getting better - we have recently managed to pass dogs that he is already familiar with (with a treat in my hand and lots of verbal encouragement). He gets lots of praise & treats for doing it. He can manage most of the time at training class (again, dogs he is familiar with). We do Look At That training when we spot distant dogs. I have not had the courage to try "middle" - a game he loves, because if he does lunge from there...I'm flat on my back.
Try it in the house for a while so you have no lead on and you are safer. (I appreciate he’s a big dog). I get Red to ‘middle’, then ask her to stay (she automatically sits) and then toss treats down and she has to wait until I tell her to ‘get it’ or ‘get ‘em’ as she can now manage 10 being thrown down before she get the release or before Sky can sneak in and have one or two . I feel this inbuilds self control and aids doing middle outside with distractions.
In a "middle", you can hold onto the collar with both hands if you need to, which helps when you have a very strong over-aroused monster. It's my "last resort" position if we're in a situation we can't escape from and we're just managing the situation. I've only had to use it once at full brain-melting force, but it's a really effective way of controlling the dog. It does help if you have a strong "middle" in the first place. Some dogs are a bit reluctant to come into that position, so they need it making into a really great place to be. Like boundaries, I build in a strong release which reinforces staying in the position itself. My problem with Shadow is that he loves middle and, because he's so bouncy from behaviour to behaviour, he sometimes throws his head up when he lands in the middle and I get a hard Labrador skull bashing my hoo-hah
Oh that made me laugh Fiona! I'm going to teach Bon middle, but thankfully she's not big enough to injure me that way!
