Behavior question re: other dogs - Page 1

I'm trying to figure out why our GSD behaves a certain way toward dogs in one setting, but not in another and thought I'd ask here...I'm obviously missing something.  Some history:

We took in a 2yo GSD some months ago and she fit right in w/ our family.  She didn't have a problem with our Lab, there have been no issues of aggression - maybe overzealous in the play a bit, but nothing that's put up red flags.  We thought the cat might pose a problem, but he's established his dominance over both dogs :).  We introduced her to our daily walks and provided plenty of exercise and she's gotten stronger and healthier.  She's such a welcome addition to our home.

When we started the daily walks, she would lock on to any other dog she saw, crouch down, and start creeping as if she were stalking it.  We've worked through that for the most part and are able to keep her moving.  She's still not able to pass another dog w/o it taking her complete attention though.  That's if they're on the other side of the street - which is much easier for me.  I've discovered that if someone w/ a dog is coming toward us on the same side, she becomes hyper-alert and...agitated(?).  Usually, I take my dogs off the sidewalk, put them in a sit and just let the other people/dog pass.  During this, I have a firm hold on the GSD because she's tried to lunge or reared up while barking at the dog.  Sometimes the other dog instigates, sometimes not.  Once they're past us, we resume walking and she's fine.  I know it's the dog(s) she's reacting to because someone approached and stopped to talk to us this morning w/o their dog and she was fine, friendly even.

I've also realized that she doesn't react this way at all when I've taken her to the vet, where there are any number of dogs in the waiting area.  When we've gone to the vet, she's fine.  She doesn't indicate that she's anxious or anything, I'm able to sit down and have her sit and she just watches everything going on.  That's the part that has me puzzled - why would she be fine walking into a waiting room full of dogs, but react so negatively to a dog walking by her on a sidewalk?

Any thoughts or ideas about why she may be doing this?  Any suggestions on how to curb it?  Thanks.

 

jra-

Based on the information you have provided, it sounds like your dog may have some dog aggression issues which probably occurred before you acquired her. Sometimes a result of being attacked by an older dog when she was a pup.
 
She may not have an issue with your other dog because she does not feel threatened by it.

You need to find an Experienced Trainer in your area to help you with this. I could describe what you need to do, but providing advice in writing is never a substitute for being there in person to observe what is actually happening.
 
What you describe as one behavior, I may describe differently if I observed it in person myself.
 
Do some research and find an Experienced Trainer to help you, based on what you have written I think the problem can be fixed in a very short time.
 
Hope that helps.


Kim

I'll second what Kim stated. Also, It's nice when someone in essence answers their own question or has insight. Break down the things you state and you almost have your answer.

Something happened prior to you getting her. We don't know exactly what? How many times? etc., etc. My thoughts; Until you find a/the trainer(s) I would not or be ver cautious about putting her in the same situations. I, (not being mean) but I love when some say something to the effect of "I have a firm hold"...... something could happen: you stumble and use that hand to catch yourself or brace for the fell. Dog loose. That one time that she does get away....... just my thoughts. You're going to get different responses on this but if you continu where the "walking by" dogs are present maybe muzzle her? But if it was me I would remove the stimuli that gets the negative response/reaction until I met with someone. After the crouching and stalking there are only one or two actions left. She's telling/showing you her intentions.

Good luck and keep us informed.

like the other have said it was a problem your dog came with, i bet she had a bad experience with walking, that may be why she is fine in other places as she did not have a bad experience there, something must of happen when she has taken walks before , so she does sound like she is dog aggresive to a point. on walks try to use food to get her attention when other dogs comes by- this works to put attenion on you not another dog. you are going to also have to correct her  with a pinch collar  if the food does not work,-every time she even attempts to go into that state of mind, it can be corrected  , if you are a strong person. do not stop walking her she will get worst , she needs to confront her  problems. just be strong till you can find a trainer to help.  were are you located? maybe someone on here may know of a good trainer that can help.? good luck

I agree with everything that has already been posted, except stopping the walks. Like Trixx said in my experience it makes them worse, so start using a pinch collar.  The one thing I wanted to throw out there is pay attention to your state of mind when another dog is coming up, if you tense up at the sight of another dog because you are anticipating your dog causing a problem that tension goes from you right down the leash.  Your dog will sense it and it will fuel her behavior, do not tense up on the leash when another dog comes by, this also will escelate the situation, not only does she need to learn to ignore the other dog, so do you.  I don't know if you already do or not it is just a very common mistake I see made with dogs with this particular problem.

A pinch collar may not be required at all, simply popping the choke chain several times and telling the dog to leave it should be enough.

A pinch collar should only be used in moderation by someone who knows how to use it properly and fairly.

As I said earlier providing advice in writing is never a substitute for being there in person to observe what is actually happening. Find an Experienced Trainer in your area to help you.

JMO

Kim

Thanks to all for the replies.  FWIW, I'm not opposed to a trainer at all and have checked into it.  To be honest, I put it on the backburner after not hearing back from a few, not hearing good feedback about a couple, and scheduling conflicts w/ one I was most interested in.  We're relocating in a few months and I just decided to do what I could w/ what I had.  I have seen some improvement in the stalking thing - she no longer does that, but she does fixate on other dogs at times.  I'll be checking into trainers here again and see if I have better luck this time.

I suspected it might be dog aggression, but not having any experience with such, I wasn't entirely sure how to read it - and the fact that it's only in certain situations only confused me more.  As I said before, there were no problems integrating her into our house, and she's even spent some time at playcare and not had a problem.  I know that she spent a good deal of time in her backyard at previous owners (she would bark at us any time we walked by) and I don't think she was walked very often.  Could be a chicken/egg scenario - is she this way because she wasn't used to encountering other dogs in closer proximity or is she this way due to a previous event which led to her not being walked because of this reaction?  You are all correct, though, we just don't know.

Alboe - I completely understand what you're saying about "having a firm hold" and that anything could happen.  I guess what I meant to imply is that I try to take steps to minimize any incident, even if it means going out of my way or stepping waaay out of the way.  Again you are correct, anything could happen and I do concede that.  I hadn't considered a muzzle, but will take it under advisement.

Donnerstorm - good point about the tension she may be picking up from me, and I agree that eliminating the walks entirely could make the problem much worse.  I do my best to remain relaxed (and feel that I do), but she's figured out that if we're going 'offroad' or something different, there's a reason and she starts looking for it.  The Lab could care less, just new places to sniff, lol.  I feel that it's more dangerous to keep walking and pass right by the other dog because I'm not sure what the other dog/owner is going to do, if you know what I mean. 

I do appreciate all the feedback.  Thanks!

"she becomes hyper-alert and...agitated(?).  Usually, I take my dogs off the sidewalk, put them in a sit and just let the other people/dog pass.  During this, I have a firm hold on the GSD because she's tried to lunge or reared up while barking at the dog."

To continue and agree with Donnerstorm and Pirate's lair....You are not actually "correcting" the unwanted behavior of her being hyper alert and aggressive to passing dogs.  Avoiding is not fixing.  If it were my dog, I would take her alone (not with the other dog) and intentionally walk past dogs that I know are fenced, and give a correction when she even focuses on them (you know that hard stare) without stopping the walk at all.  If she is getting too crazy, then I might make her sit and down and then resume.  I would do this several times a day with various dogs.  I would also eventually try to enlist the help of a neighbor and have them walk their dog past me, first on the other side of the street headed away, then eventually towards and eventually closer and closer on the same side (but not close enough to have the dogs engage).  Each time I would correct just for focusing on the other dog, do NOT wait for a snarl, bark or lunge..that is too late.  The correction should be sharp and then the leash must relax.  Again you can make her sit and down if she is too out of control.  As she masters walking and ignoring the other dog, you can then progressively get her closer.  Eventually when you can successfully walk past dogs, you should be able to get a few other friends with dogs on leashes and work her in obedience around them, correcting if she looks at them, but that is way down the road. 

If you are consistent and fair and your timing is good and you exercise leadership at home, she will improve.