Hi All, I rescued a 3.5 year old lab about a week ago. I know that things will take time and it's only been about a week! With that being said, he is a big boy and strong and has some leash reactivity towards other dogs on walks. He's usually pretty good on walks, when we're by ourselves or other people pass--he doesn't really pay attention to them. When we pass other dogs, he lunges towards them. Usually doesn't bark, sometimes does. I live in a neighborhood where there are TONS of dogs. I have contacted a trainer to help with it, but what could I be doing in the mean time? I know a little about his background. Owner died, owner's family member took him in for a couple months and I guess wasn't the nicest to him and a rescue took him out of that situation. He was at a foster home for about a week before I got him. She said he needed some leash training, but didn't mention anything about him lunging at other dogs, just pulls. I have grown up with labs and don't remember any of them having this type of issue on leash, so this is new for me. Again, I know it will take some time for him to settle into my routine and home, but I'd really like to have stress free walks/hikes because it's his only form of exercise right now. (I live in an area where yards/fenced in yards aren't a big thing, due to wildlife). Any advice/help would be great! I have contacted a trainer, for help as well. Thanks!
Hi there, welcome to the forum! I think the professional trainer is going to be vital here. Your boy has clearly been through a lot, and nothing will compare to spending time with a trainer in person in order to better understand him and help him overcome his reactivity towards other dogs. Make sure you choose a trainer who uses force free, positive reinforcement techniques, and don't be embarrassed to ask for references from previous clients who had dogs like your own. If you're struggling to find someone you're happy with, then your local veterinarians can probably help with recommendations! In the meantime, you might find these articles on our main site interesting reading: Aggressive And Reactive Behaviour in Labradors How To Leash Train A Labrador A good trainer will recommend establishing good leash walking behavior without any distractions first, and then very gradually adding distractions, and building up proximity to other dogs. So whilst you get started and work towards that goal, it will take a lot of the stress out of your walks if you can drive to somewhere with very few other dogs, or walk at times when few other people are about (early morning or in the rain, for example). Since he's likely to be quite emotionally wrung out at the moment, if you can hire a secure field nearby and just play a bit of fetch or let him mooch about for a while, that would also give him a chance to stretch his legs, without setting him up to fail in a situation he's not ready to cope with. Good luck, please update us on your progress!
