Hi everyone, Over the past week or so I've noticed Yalom (now 19 weeks) has developed a new behaviour. He's started being overly interested in other dogs that might pass us on the street when we're out for a walk, and lunging to greet them. Previously he's been kind of interested but not that bothered about other dogs, so I'm not sure where this has come from. I was wondering if anyone could advise on how to calm this behaviour down, as it's not ideal. I'm guessing it's working on desensitizing him gradually from a distance and that working to get closer? Thanks!
Hi @RuthElizabeth your dog probably wants to play with other dogs. But is over-boisterous. Doesn't know how to interact calmly. If you have have a friend with a calm dog. Introduce them but try to get the dogs to interact with each other by them playing with you, the handlers. For example, they can play retrieve with getting one at a time to be steady and casting the ball for the other. Make sure you reward calm interaction. Alternatively you and your friend can introduce the two dogs to scent detection. Sniffing is mentally stimulating and calming. Dogs love it.again the scent detection would be done one at a time, with the non-detecting dog being rewarded for steadiness. The idea is to teach your dog how to interact calmly with the other dog. Avoid games which just involve the dogs lunging and pouncing on each other. Otherwise your dog will think that such behaviour is the way to behave when around other dogs. If you dont have a friend with calm dog enrol in an obedience club, which emphasizes postive reinforcement. You never know, you just might meet someone who wants to train his/her dog for calmness together with your dog. Shades of the final scene in Casablanca.
I suggest you keep your eyes peeled and every time another dog appears, you shower him with rapid fire treats. Over time, he will come to believe that other dogs = treats from you, and so to become very focussed on you at the appearance of another dog... There are other exercises you can do too, like Look At That - which there is a whole thread about on this forum, so do check that out too....
Thanks @Michael A Brooks and @Jo Laurens - you never fail to give helpful perspectives. We met a couple of dogs today and although he lunged to try and get to them he didn't try and play rough due to the presence of treats. I'm keen to work on this as we are awaiting our initial assessment with a national charity that helps you train your own dog as an assistance dog (due to my various genetic quirks) and part of that is behaviour around other dogs. Although the trainer did say she'll keep in mind he's only 19 weeks!
Great, good luck! With the rapid fire treats, crouch down near him and 'fire' them along the pavement a little way, one after another, so he gets a tiny chase on each one - this will make it extra fun...
Thought you may both like to know that we had his initial assessment today and he passed (even though he was the naughtiest he's been for weeks, of course!) Officially in training now and will be using clicker training, which is all new to us, so really exciting.
Glad I read this, our 7 month old puppy also just over the past week started doing this. When you say just rapid fire treats, do I just start dropping them in front of him or is it important for him to focus on me first?
Hi @mom2labs no not necessary to get the puppy to focus on you first. You are building a good association when he sees other dogs. Good things happen when other dogs appear. But what will happen is that over time the puppy will learn the treats are coming from you. So the puppy will think, see the dog, need to look at my handler because I anticipate that the treats will start any moment.
