How to get his attention when we meet other dogs?

[ShAnd]

Shadow is 8 months old by now. He listenes to the whistle quite well so when he`s off leash a recall is no problem as long as we meet joggers or bikers .. even horses, deer or cats. When we meet other dogs and they are able to greet eachother or even play for a while and I walk off he`ll follow as well - no problem. But BEFORE he gets to play or just say hello he turns death ..

So if I see another dog I usually put Shadow on the leash - he would lie down and wait for the other dog to approach. Once I`ve made contact with the owner and we`ve agreed to let the dogs play I want him to look at me and wait for my OK before he runs off .. but he just ignores me and keeps looking at the other dog. Since I cannot make the other owner wait forever I usually release him with OK - even when he doesn`t look at him.

Should I stop that and not let him play at all?

My training so far: I do make him sit and wait in front of this food - no problem .. he stays focused on me until I say "OK take it" .. same before I let him off leash without any distraction near .. I remove the leash and say LOOK .. as soon as he looks at him he gets his OK ..

And the other thing .. if I walk off I just have to call him and he will follow .. but if I stay and keep talking to the other owner he won´t come - or just very shortly to run off again .. or while he`s playing with the other dog and a third dog is approaching he`ll run off and greet the other dog before he returns (in this case he will ignore my call) ..

I know he`s still young and I`m happy that the recall works so well under normal conditions .. just curious if you have any adivce for me on how to keep on training to make Shadow understand that (in the future) he always has to ASK for my approval first (by looking at me)??

 

[makka619]

I still have to teach my pup this.

It's good to let your young pup socialise with other dogs, I wouldn't stop that. I think he is still young and still needs to understand before you think of stopping him from interacting.

You taught him the look or watch me command; maybe keep working at it, for longer periods. Teach him to make and maintain eye contact on command, gradually increasing the duration up to 5 mins. Treat him when he doesn't break eye contact until released or given the okay.

 

[Herschel]

First of all, keep him on leash when you have even the slightest chance of meeting another dog. What if he runs up to a dog with aggression issues?

While he is on a leash, you should say high to some dogs and walk past others (just for practice). Make sure you always have treats handy and you keep your dog's attention on you. You need to make yourself more interesting than the other dog so use treats that are high value.

This is something that takes a lot of practice and consistency. At 7 months, my dog finally sits in front of other dogs, watches me, and is civilized in general. However, when he sees a dog he still pulls really hard so he can say "hi".

 

[makka619]

^^

How does one go about making themself more interesting? It's so difficault when the pup is so determined to greet other dogs. I try this at training school, he ended up whining because I was holding him back. As soon as another dog is in sight he has the tendancy to block you out. Treats are good but not always as interesting.

 

[Doberluv]

How does one go about making themself more interesting?

If there's nothing to make yourself more interesting, then you have to make the other thing less interesting. LOL. Setting a dog up for success so he can be reinforced for correct behavior needs to be accomplished. Desensatizing means starting out with a bigger distance between the stimulus and your dog. This lessens the value of the commodity or the importance, in this case, the other dog. Seperate lessons in "watch me" should be done....at home so the dog becomes reliable with the command and behavior.

It is important to get the dog's attention on you before he alerts to the other dog. If you wait until he's reacting to the other dog, you're light years too late to do anything about it. You need to prevent the strong reaction in order to reinforce the good behavior. And you need to reinforce good behavior many times. Make your treats better if you need to, fresh meat, cheese, a slightly hungry dog. (before meal time)

So, take baby steps, reinforce (with something your dog LOVES) for short periods of attention on you and no reaction to the other dog and from a distance at first. Very gradually shorten the distance between. Reinforce very frequently as long as the dog is holding his attention on you and not reacting to the other dog. Try to get him before he reacts. Everytime you don't prevent it is another reinforcement for him to engage in this reactive behavior. And so that behavior strengthens.

When you're forced to be close to other dogs as in class, you'll really have to be on your toes and watch for baby steps of improvement and reinforce. Be very consistant and alert to his behavior....what is he about to do. Distract, redirect, give alternative behaviors; ie: sit, watch me, down. Lying down often helps the dog to settle. Avoid harshness or collar yanks as this can make the dog associate other dogs with bad things. It's a long process sometimes but it ends up being more long lasting and thorough than simply punishing the reaction. You're supressing that for the time being, but the dog still hasn't gotten comfortable and relaxed around other dogs. So that kind of reaction is still likely to come up later. Getting truly comfortable with other dogs around comes from desensatizing and gradually counter conditioning.

If you're nervous about it, anticipating, he will sense this and it can make him more reactive. Try to take some deep breaths and relax.

 

[makka619]

very detailed and helpful response, thanks Doberluv.

 

[Doberluv]

You're welcome. This is difficult to work through sometimes...a long haul. My Doberman was very over reactive toward some dogs....not all, but a lot. He started this behavior at about 18 months of age. He just turned 3 and he still, at times, with some dogs tends to act up if I'm not ready for him and prevent it ahead of time. He's a whole lot better than he was, definitely. And he's an angel in class situations. He can be off leash doing obedience or agility and he just minds his own business and does his job. But out on a casual leash walk where there are other dogs, this can crop up. He had lots of socializing as a pup but some breeds are tending toward more dog aggression or reactiveness than others and Dobermans are one of those. It also helps to walk in the same direction as other dogs, like behind them. I practiced too in the beginning in places like Petsmart parking lots so he could see the dogs going in the doors from a distance. It just diffuses the reactiveness a little.

I think the reason it took this long with Lyric to get this much better is that there are no dogs around here where I live...not enough. And I usually take hikes out in the woods, not so many leash walks. But if I do, there really aren't too many dogs that he doesn't already know and is fine with. It's really in the toolies. So, he's only gotten to practice a few times when I visit my daughter in Seattle and walk along this place where everyone walks their dogs. There are tons of dogs. (Alki beach) So, 2-4 times a year is all the practice he gets. Last time I was there for 3 solid weeks and he was really getting good. But then we leave and for months and months, no practice. LOL. So, if you can work on this every day continually, I bet your dog will get onto it faster. But it still won't happen over night. All dogs just don't like all other dogs. What can you say? Lyric did meet a few who he got to play with over there, even another male dog. It's funny how they just hit it off with certain dogs. Well, kind of like us, I guess.

 

[makka619]

All dogs just don't like all other dogs. What can you say? Lyric did meet a few who he got to play with over there, even another male dog. It's funny how they just hit it off with certain dogs. Well, kind of like us, I guess.
lol very true. Gordy loves all dogs, probably a little too much? He hasn't learnt to realise when another dog is telling him to back off. An aggressive dog at my training school snapped at him as soon as he got too close. Gordy tried to go back for more.

So, if you can work on this every day continually, I bet your dog will get onto it faster.
haha I hope so! I am anxious because he is so hard to loose leash when another dog is around, on the street, or in fences barking. As soon as I notice the slightest bit of progress I will be estatic, hope it doesn't take too long. Fingers crossed.

Heaps of dogs in this area, a lot of them he knows so yeah I have the perfect area to teach it in. I have taken notes, and I will start putting them in to practice. soon!

 

[BarkingM*d]

How does one go about making themself more interesting?

I was going to say lie on your back in the middle of the park, waving your arms and legs in the air, squealing like a bush pig... but Doberluv's way is equally valid

We teach dog to dog introductions as a training exercise in class situation. Dogs are loose lead walking (rather than heeling) and approach another dog. At a distance where owner focus can be maintained (aiming for about 6ft) the owners exchange pleasantries about the weather or complement each other about how good looking each other's dog is etc. and then ask if the dogs can meet. Allow Dogs to meet and sniff for no more than 5 secs and then owner says "Fido, Let's go" or what ever command they use for loose lead walking, and continue on...

Reward focus, and self control. BIG reward when the dog continues loose lead walking at the end of the exercise. If you do get too close and the dog makes a move for the other dog simply change direction and continue your loose lead walking...

 

[makka619]

I was going to say lie on your back in the middle of the park, waving your arms and legs in the air, squealing like a bush pig... but Doberluv's way is equally valid

We teach dog to dog introductions as a training exercise in class situation. Dogs are loose lead walking (rather than heeling) and approach another dog. At a distance where owner focus can be maintained (aiming for about 6ft) the owners exchange pleasantries about the weather or complement each other about how good looking each other's dog is etc. and then ask if the dogs can meet. Allow Dogs to meet and sniff for no more than 5 secs and then owner says "Fido, Let's go" or what ever command they use for loose lead walking, and continue on...

Reward focus, and self control. BIG reward when the dog continues loose lead walking at the end of the exercise. If you do get too close and the dog makes a move for the other dog simply change direction and continue your loose lead walking...

lmao that was hilarious. I'll use the bushpig as a last resort, hopefully it doesn't come to that.

I wish my class taught it this way (or taught it at all). Just past begginers and it was all focus on individual work. It would have been a really good excercise for everyone.

 

[ShAnd]

Me too, I`d like to thank you for your posts.

In my class they actually do take us out in the fields .. dogs off leash - they have to stay with us. But Shadow seems to understand that that`s training and when we`re on our own on a walk it is not .. so when we meet other dogs he`s on the leash and he lays down awaiting the other dog .. although he usually listens to LOOK or WATCH ME or whatever sounds I make to get his attention he doesn`t in that situation .. I just want him to look at me for a tiny moment so I can release him but he stays focused on the other dog. What might work is if I turn around and run off in the other direction - I`m quite sure he would follow .. but I cannot always run off when we meet someone .. especially since he has to learn to either pass the other dog on a loose leash or to ask for my permission before I take off the leash.

I can get his attention when we pass joggers or bikers (in the beginning he would stay focused on them too), but not when we meet other dogs. And all he wants to do is PLAY, PLAY, PLAY .. as soon as he realizes the other dog isn`t friendly he would return to me.

But well .. I think I just have to keep on practising .. thx again.

 

[mrose_s]

you could try getting him to practice the "focus" command at home or when other dogs aren't around. then slowly introduce it to the dog-dog environment