Hey all, Frisbee is a 7.5 months old and he has exceed all of my expectations so far. He's the most laid back, easy going lab I've known. He knows heel and is usually right next to me on walks. Sometimes he'll move ahead but he responds nicely to no - heel and returns to my side. I know he's young still, but how do I teach him to behave when other dogs are around? Jumping around, pulling, gagging, hacking etc. I have him on a normal flat collar and nylon leash. What do you recommend I do so he calms down?!? Thanks in advance!
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! He sounds like a lovely boy Labradors often just want to say hello to everything that moves and that can lead to the type of behaviour you're describing when other dogs appear. My dog is the same First, I taught my dog to sit and look at me on cue, at home with no distractions. The first step for this is to lure your dog's gaze to you using a treat, then reward with the treat when they look at you. After a few goes you add a cue word beforehand, like 'watch'. Once we had this down pat at we could use it out in the street. When we see other dogs on lead I get my dog to sit and look at me. At first I had to put a lot of distance between us and the other dog (e.g. crossing the street) and use really good treats held right in front of his face. We sit and wait till the other dog goes by. Over time you can do this without having to move so far away. The idea is to teach the dog a behaviour that is incompatible with jumping and straining to get to the other dog - they can't leap about and drag you along if they are sitting. We actually have a 'no hello on lead' policy, as we find it easier that way, and our dog is learning that he has to look at us when we see another dog, not plan his escape so he can rush over to play. You don't have to go to that extreme though
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! I agree with everything Rachel has suggested. I have done this myself by using the words 'look at me' and bringing a treat to my eyes the first few times until she got what i was asking her to do. If I ever see a dog on lead I call Harley back so as not to disturb their training. Keep up the good work labs are very bright and affectionate dogs
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! Same here! You're not alone We've taken a very similar approach to Rachael's aswell although we often use heel as it does two things...builds on a command Riley knows well in lots of situations and it also keeps him on the move which he seems to find easier than sitting still when he's excited. It also allows me to move away from the distraction. When he's calm from walking at heel I can ask him to sit and watch me then. Distance from the distraction is key and how quickly you can close the distance is very individual to each dog. Good luck
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! Thanks for the replies! I will try the "watch" cue and have him sit when other dogs are going by. But what do I do when I'm planning on seeing a friend who will have her dog on a leash? In the afternoons I like to walk to the front of the neighborhood with Frisbee and get my daughters from school and walk home. A friend of ours has a lab/shepherd mix who is probably Frisbee's first and best canine friend. When we meet up it used to be Axel (my friend's dog) who would pull and jump around, and now it's Frisbee going crazy with Axel joining the fray at a lesser pace. (Axel just turned 1) Should I forego the meet up until Frisbee gets older or are there other suggestions? Thanks!
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! Would your friend practice with you? If your friend would bring Axel to your garden say, and you could do a few sessions not letting Frisbee get to Axel until he stops pulling, and giving big treats for calm behaviour etc. that might well help. Take it slow, of course. Otherwise, could you do just a few minutes with Axel and then walk separately, you can do more and more of the walk the better he gets. Same again - no hello until calm, and lots of rewards for the right behaviour.
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! I have a moan.......people who say, " let them say hello or have a sniff". I am too polite to say no, but ends up with tangled leads, hyper Amy pulling me towards said dog etc.
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! I always just tell them my dog has kennel cough.....they move on pretty smartish then
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! [quote author=jade805 link=topic=4331.msg52493#msg52493 date=1391631115] I have a moan.......people who say, " let them say hello or have a sniff". I am too polite to say no, but ends up with tangled leads, hyper Amy pulling me towards said dog etc. [/quote] I am NOT too polite! I used to be...but now I just say "no, thanks", "we won't say hello", or just plain "no!". I get a range of reactions, usually from disgust to taking offence to "is your dog aggressive then?". If I get the chance, I explain my dog does NOT get rewarded for pulling and lunging to other dogs. If I don't get the chance - tough, their dog usually pulls them off down the street fast enough anyway.
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! We had the same on our walk just then. Dog approaches, we move off to sit a few metres up a side path. Other dog, on lead, is dragging owner along. Owner lets dog drag her towards us, up the side path, and says "Can we say hello?". I said "No, sorry". Get a baffled look, she moves on. Gotta do what you gotta do! At least she asked! With Axel, you could try walking on opposite sides of the road. You will probably need a lot of treats. Would be good opportunity to practice your 'doggy self-control' exercise Or go on the same side of the road but one 20m (or whatever you need) behind the other, rewarding calm walking. You can gradually narrow the gap. Use it as an opportunity for training, as Julie says
Re: Awesome 1 on 1 - crazy around other dogs! [quote author=bbrown link=topic=4331.msg52499#msg52499 date=1391631882] I always just tell them my dog has kennel cough.....they move on pretty smartish then [/quote] Ha ha ha! I go the way of Barbara ....Dexter gets too excited sitting waiting for another dog to go past,an obedience trainer at our second lot of classes told me I was building the anticipation up for him,he can also be a little b£@$#r and lie down while he is waiting for the dog to pass.......that is BAD NEWs as I know from that position he is going to throw his full body weight into a lunge!so we now walk past at a smartly pace with cheerily instructing 'look at Me 'and 'Let's go' those instructions do work and as others have mentioned,whilst the distance is still great enough,Dexter automatically looks at me now for the treat coming!
