Dog loves other dogs way too much!

[Phoenix the Dog]

I adopted a 6 month old German Shepherd/ Boxer from a shelter. I was told he had been through a couple homes and he was having trouble finding a good non-abusive home. I took him home and all I found was an overactive energetic puppy, which fit great in my place, with a lot of exercise and training he has made a wonderful pet, the only thing I have had a problem with him is he loves other dogs, too much. When he sees another dog he starts crying and whimpering and obsesses over the other dog so much, it is hard for him to move forward and get over seeing them.

Now he is a year old and is still not getting any better, I take him very often to the dog park to play and over to my mother's to play with her dog, and now my roommates have even taken on a new puppy. The dog gets along great with every animal he comes across, his is just impossible to work with around other dogs. The biggest problem I have with his behavior is when I take him rollerjoring. I decided this was a great way for both of us to exercise and he loves it more than anything! But I fear it may become dangerous when other dogs are on the trail, so far we have had no accidents, but I have to grab his harness and pull him past the other dogs. He knows commands very well like "On By" and we have no problems anymore as long as the dog doesn't make any noise or movement. Second they do, we have to force past them and he keeps looking back to them.

I just don't know what to do with him anymore, I have tried training and using friends dogs and my roommate's new puppy, but after tons of work he still only ignores them part of the time. It is very difficult even when I take him on walks he ignores praise and food and me all together, so I have difficulty getting his attention away! I could use any advise possible, I am willing to try just about anything with him! I don't want to stop rollerjoring with him because he loves it so much and it is easy exercise us, but if he doesn't stop, I may have to!

PLEASE HELP!

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

You need training help. You need a training class, or private instruction from someone in your area.

This is not a difficult issue to fix, but you need to have someone show you the proper ways to go about it.

 

[Fuzz Puppy]

Training probably will help. And I'd be redy for this to go on a while before your puppy calms down. It's hard not to feel bad for your puppy I bet. I've been in a similar situation before. Let your puppy interract with other dogs as much as possible, though. So your puppy can still socialize.

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Unfortunatly, I am currently a college student with a lack of funds for training. I have trained many dogs, though I am no professional. What I really need to know is if there is any other way to help my pup without cost me a bundle! I have never seen another dog with such a extreme fixation. I have self trained my mothers dog to be a service dog for her, but she was a very intelligent dog without any extreme problems... I just really need some advise if anyone has dealt with a problem like this!

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

It's not ok to not get training for your dog. This is something that must be planned for and budgeting PRIOR to getting a dog.

This is not something we can tell you how to resolve, too much depends on your dog and the relationship between you and your dog, and timing and technique.

You need a trainer. Or at LEAST a class. Training classes usually run around $125 at an excellent facilty for an 8 week course.

Save up.

 

[Fuzz Puppy]

It's not ok to not get training for your dog. This is something that must be planned for and budgeting PRIOR to getting a dog.

This is not something we can tell you how to resolve, too much depends on your dog and the relationship between you and your dog, and timing and technique.

You need a trainer. Or at LEAST a class. Training classes usually run around $125 at an excellent facilty for an 8 week course.

Save up.

I agree with this. You need to plan to get a trainer for your dog. That's unavoidable and you need to plan for it. You need a trainer for this problem. I can't tell you how to solve this except, Get A Trainer. They can answer your questions. Did the rescue or shelter or whereever you got the dog from require you to have a trainer and or get into an obediance class? This is something to plan for, like taking the puppy to the vet or anything else like that.

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Well the problem is I am in a college town in WV! There aren't many places here that offer it. Phoenix is well trained knows more commands than most other dogs. I just can't get him to stop whining and slowing down when we are rollerjoring. He has had no problems with listening, he does come when I call him at the dog park, but he just whines and whines when we leave or on the trail when we pass any other animal. I have looked into classes and they all seem to run about $50 an hour for a basic obedience class, which he doesn't need basic obedience, he knows every thing from heeling to staying to coming etc, he is trained in all German so he doesn't get mixed up at the dog park either! I have a pretty good idea for training, i just can't train him out of whining, it just doesn't work, really I have looked for all sorts of advice and all I want is just some advice if anyone has experienced a problem like this! I'm really not wanting to be told about budgeting and planning! I know these things! I have trained a registered service dog!!!!!! I'm not stupid!

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Oh and another thing about a training class, I have tried taking Phoenix to train with six of my friends dogs and their owners. We were working on teaching their basic commands and we kept everything isolated, so the dogs didn't play, they had to listen. Phoenix took a while and finally he stopped whining and got over it (after many meetings)... I could do off leash heeling and everything past the other pups without any problems at all, but it only seemed to work with those few dogs... he is a different dog around them... and even though this was months ago he still acts the same around those dogs, but not every dog!

 

[Zoom]

Either Doberluv or Athebeau should have a good answer for you...actually I think this question was just asked by someone else...

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showpost.php?p=226281&postcount=6 Slightly different problem, but I think the same basic principle would apply.

Basically you need to start desensitizing him. Get him to learn the "watch me" command and use it whenever you see another dog coming. He can't look at you and the dogs at the same time; just make sure that you=FUN.

 

[Fuzz Puppy]

Here's and idea, talk to your roomate, friends, or your family, topp see if they could lend you thed money and help you find aa trainer even if it's a drive for you. This dog NEEDS a trainer and you need to learn how to use a command to get the dog's attention on you. This dog needs a trainer to help you control it. Training a dog with this behavior almost completely independently won't work forr long. As your puppy grows and gets older, this behavior will get worse and maybe even get you into dangerous situations. A trainer can help you stop this behaavior before the dog gets to big. It might cost you extra, but it will be worth it if it works. As said before, I';ve delt with this before. It was in a rough;y one year old dog, but the same thing. Whined every time there was another dog and even pulled on the leash. I hope your dog can get to a trainner. I'm not sure if the dog I worked with got a trainer or not, but I really urge you to find a trainer and sign up for a class. Good luck.

 

[opokki]

Get him to learn the "watch me" command and use it whenever you see another dog coming. He can't look at you and the dogs at the same time; just make sure that you=FUN.

This is what I was going to suggest as well. Teach him "watch me" without distractions first, then start over with min. distractions, again with medium distractions and finally again with high distractions.
Minimum distractions with other dogs would include dogs at a distance in which he notices them but does'nt focus so much on them that he can't focus on you...gradually build your way up with dogs at closer and closer distances. You can control the distance by moving further or closer to other dogs or if you could get friends or family to participate with their dogs that would be even better.

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

While I appreciate the advise, I know that I can take care of Phoenix myself. Driving to find a trainer is out of the options, as I have a life and being in WV I would have to drive for hours. I know that his problem is not that serious and I am capable at working through it... I was just looking for a new approach, a little advise... not a lecture about borrowing money and driving... it isn't like an aggression problem or anything major and he is already full grown now and while it may get worse... I don't think it will be that difficult of a thing to control, I just needed a new approach to helping him... I was on training block and I really really appreciate Zoom's article from dober, that is more of the help I was wanting! While I have tried techniques close to this, I haven't done everything suggested and never really taught him to "watch me" cuz he just always did and my mom's service dog never had any problems watching me, she never took her eyes off of me or my mom for anything so she was much easier to train... so I will follow it and see if it works for Phoenix... Meanwhile if anyone else has other productive suggestions, I would love to hear them!

 

[Fuzz Puppy]

I'm sorry if what I said got you upset. I just get a bit carried away when it comes to training. Kind of like a religion or something. I agree with what I saaid and am sorry if it got out of hand. I know this is a hard subject for me to control what I say witrh seeing as how this seems to keep happening, I'll contrrol it to the best of my abilities next time, too.

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Well, I have finally found the solution to the problem! Thanks to some helpful and productive advise, I have successfully stopped Phoenix's behavior on walks and while rollerjoring, now I just need to work on the pet store and going past the dog park after/ before playing! I discovered that the biggest help was finding a treat he couldn't take his mind off of! I kept trying the watch me and it wasn't really working outside/ around distractions because of the treat, didn't matter if it was hotdog pieces or store bought treats (that he normally is crazy for) nothing was working, until on day I dropped some canned ham on the floor! It has worked marvously, and he only small amounts, just enough to keep his mind on me, I switch between the ham and his treats and he is very focused. I'll keep on trucking and see how it comes out! I can take him on walks without having to grab his attention except for fenced in dogs lounging at him! I'm excited in our progress! I knew all it needed was a little time and work, didn't need to drive or pay big bucks for help, just needed a lil advise and a better treat!!!

 

[Rubylove]

Well, that's great. Sometimes it just takes finding the right thing.

Also, German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs with a VERY long puppyhood. He will not be fully adult, and calm and mellow like adult GSDs are, for at least another year to 18 months.

We had the same whining problem with one of our GSDs - not at other dogs, but at the beach. Whenever the smell of the beach came into range, and particularly when he could see the water through the car window, the whining started and he would go nuts in the back of the car. At 60kg it's not easy to control a powerful GSD, and he never really grew out of it, although he calmed down a lot when he reached adulthood.

Just lastly, is your pup neutered?? That will definitely help as well, if he's not.

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Yes he is neutered!

 

[Doberluv]

Sorry to come to this thread so late. It is great that he's coming along. You don't need a professional trainer for this IMO. But you do need some tools at your disposal in the way of knowledge which you can read about online. What you do need practice with is other dogs...lots of them and from a distance at first.... as it was said. Desensatization, counter conditioning to where his attention is trained on you rather than his enviornment is one pre-requisite. This will be helped by other obedience training....other skills too. Toss into the mix a little of NILIF trianing (look up online) and make sure your dog knows who's leading whom. Exposure and practice will need to continue for a long time.

Hope things continue to improve.

Oh...just to add: I do encourage you to continue to develop that relationship where your dog has no question as to who his leader is, that you continue to desensatize him to this reactiveness to other dogs and to teach him that he does not get to decide when he wants to sniff or go see other dogs, that he does not choose when to alert to other dogs, that you do. These manners are very important in your relationship with your dog. Down the road, it is not uncommon for dogs to go from reactive/friendly to reactive/aggressive. My Dobe was like your dog, loved every dog he saw, wanted to do nothing better than to play and kiss and interact with them. Then at about 18 months, he went from that to appearing to be vicious and lunging at the end of the leash. Now, as it turned out, he was not always aggressive, but reactive nevertheless. I had to turn that around. In fact, we're still not all the way there. But he has improved a great deal. So, not to come off negative or anything, just a caution. Your dog may always be just fine with other dogs. But sometimes an over friendly dog can come off to another dog as obnoxious and the other dog will react unfavorably and a fight ensues.

Good luck.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I'm glad things are going well for you!! I was just going to suggest using treats as distractions . I have a dog with dog aggression and with using treats as distractions, she's getting sooooo much better!

 

[Giny]

Funny, when I first read the title I thought you were talking about my Boomer. "LOL"

Boomer has the exact same problems. I even brought him to OB classes and in that setting he did great because the setting was more under control. Put him outside that environment and he becomes a yelling banshee...."need to see the doggie mama!!" Quite embarrassing to say the least! Once he's met the dog and kissed him/her a few times then things are ok. Sounds like you're well on your way to solving the problem. I may try the same thing with Boomer.


EDIT: Just read your last post, Doberluv. You gave out great pointers that I will try on my dog. Thank you!

 

[Phoenix the Dog]

Thanks a bunch Dober, actually the article that Zoom posted of yours has been the most helpful. As for the NILIF training, I had to look it up as I was not familuar with the term, I do kinda train like that automatically, just never knew there was a name for it. Phoenix always sits and waits while I give him food and water and is not allowed to his food until I pat him on the head and say "okay", same with going outside and he isn't allowed on furnature unless I tell him he can be, I believe indoors I have definatly am his leader, just going outside he questions my authority or just plain ignores me, but we are working on it and improving amazingly, I just have learned it is a very slow process for Phoenix, moreso than other dogs I have trained. Thanks everyone for your advise!

Also, does any one have any good "Truely Great" treats, Phoenix tends to get bored all the time with them, even though I switch them up a lot! I can never buy a large bag of treats as he looses interest in them when training, he's not picky at all, just not that food motivated I guess.