Attacks other dogs - Page 1

My 14 month old female can not be around other dogs without running towards them and going into nip or attack mode. Can someone please give me some advice as to how to change this? Thank you

Obedience, you can change the behavior but not the temperament.  You can try to socialize her around other dogs, but first you need control.  The control comes from obedience.

What environment is your dog in when this occurs? Are you at the training field, dog park, walking down the street?

For me it is not important that my dog be able to play with other dogs, my preference is that they ignore them all together. I think this is extremely important if you train for Schutzhund to limit or eliminate the possibility your dog will break towards your competitors dog during a trial, or just training.

Part of the issue is temperament but the majority is training. I start when my dogs are very young training them to focus thier attention on me rather than other dogs. When my dogs begin barking, lunging, etc. towards another dog I immediately intice them with food, ball, etc. to focus there attention away from the other dog and on me instead. After a while they will begin to lose interest in other dogs because they know that I offer something more exciting.

Although you can change the behavior of a dog that does show signs of dog agression some by focusing their attention elsewhere it may not solve the problem totally. Now you want to teach your dog to ignore other dogs. At that point you will need to let them know that interaction with, or focusing on other dogs is unnaceptable.  This will require corrections.  The initial corrections should be fair but sturn, probably using a pinch collar so they clearly understand aggression or interaction with other dogs is not acceptable. Corrections should be given when they obviously put their focus on another dog not just when they show aggression. At that point give them a correction and focus their attention away from the other dog. After a while your dog will show no interest in other dogs.

I hope this helps.

JRM .. no one can tell you specifically how to change this .. you have not provided enough information and one has to see the dog and how it is behaving. .. you are simply describing a behavior . the posts already written have merit.  BUT ... IMO : how can one go about addressing a concern if one cannot determine the origin of the concearn ? in simpicity - is the origin genetic? environmental / learned [ ? dog's past history ?] or a combination of the two - genetics i.e the temperament & learned. IMO .. i want to know the origin because that will dictate WHAT   and HOW YOU do in order to communicate and to teach the dog to not aggress. 
               on the QT:     If this is genetic in origin ... you will not change the dog .. this becomes a management situation .... If the origin is a learned behavior . then i suggestthat one  understands the cues that trigger the dog , - control those cues and triggers in order to change the mindset of the dog i.e. do behavior modification . Changing the outlook and feelings of the dog should be your first line of order. If you don't .. then the dog will always feel the same in that situation , think the same and hence act the same. In life , even with humans : first come thoughts /feelings and then comes the action . change the minset of the dog such that it's feelings and thoughts are changed - then you have a chance to substitute new behavior[s]. That is just one approach !!
     OBEDIENCE  is to diluted and to much a generalized word for me .. to often , that is translated as 'asserting your will' on the dog .. this will not always correct the problem . AND if you do not understand from where the behavior comes .. YOU may make the problem even worse. I am not stating the dog should not take you direction . No not at all .. a dog should listen to the owner... BUT there are qualitative and quantitative aspects in regards to going about to bedience training ,. sort to speak .. .
             For one  example only .. your dog sees another dog .. it decides according to it's feelings to charge the other dog .. OK .. your remedy is to , give a good leash collar 'correction ' [ i dislike that word too !]. now step back ... what is the meassage to the dog .. in the dog's mind ,   this : "oh everytime i see another dog i get punished "...     I  have seen many dogs : no matter how many times they are about to charge another dog , resulting in a leash correction .. what happens ? .. They never learn to stop a charge. They just keep doing the same thing every time they see a dog. All they have learned is : that they get punished. everytime they see another dog !! Many owners DO NOT have the timing to check that charging beahvior before it starts . Which leads me to emphasize two things .. the best way to avoid a punch - don't be there when it gets there .. meaning ..  control the context and situation before your dog gets into a reacitve state . if the triggers are missing then so will the behavior change. and : the best time to address the behavior if it is going to occur- is when the dog even begins to ' think about it '.  now to repeat -IF this is genetic in origin.. the situation will have to be addressed differently than a learned behavior . 
        Believe it or not .. this is just the short version .. this type of situation : AGGRESSION .. the average person  absoultely needs to work WITH someone knowledgable and experienced . again : understanding the dog , the origin of the behavior is paramount to a successful outcome.

I can not offer training advise, but I have a two year old female that is much the same way, as a distractor I make sure she is carrying a ball or other object as she comes out of her crate and out of the door-she still attempts to go after the others in the excitement of freedom or pursuit, but with her mouth occupied she causes no injury-it works for me.

3shep .. yes that works for some dogs/people /... a good suggestion for certain dogs ..
              i want the readers to be aware that: aggression can and will be directed toward not just dogs. agression is capable to be directed to other animals, dogs , people  and articles .. SO
       be mindful .. If the aggression is directed to an article , then that aggression is merely   " Redirected OR also called " Transferred Aggression".  Giving the dog an article MAY  manage the situation - that is to say : substituting one behavior for another .. However in light of my last post : although  placing an object in the dog's mouth can SOMTIMES have the propensity to  adddress the problem   ! .. what happens in the event that there is no article to substitute/ place in the mouth .. no way to diffuse aggression ? .... then ?   
         In summery - be mindful to the exact actions of your dog .. the differentiation between managing the aggresssion , which still internally exist within the dog , as opposed to extinguishing/eliminating the motivation to aggress within the dog.        

ALPHAPUP
In my girl, we are dealing with high prey drive and not aggression.

3shep .. ok ... prey .. 
          again i post for the general reader more so than the OP. for the record .. for some dogs .. even PREY can get out of hand ..
           3sep , maybe the scenario you have is of a different twist , --
i have owned HSDs with very high hunting insticts . that is they loved to play with the others using stalking, charging and ambushing ,techniques. howevedr , they perpetrator always ended by stopping short and at times falling and and rolling around to bounce up and present with a "play bow" ..   there are amny contexts to beahviors.                 
           But   for readers  : realize  that certain categories of prey can evolve and escalate into something more  / more serious.   but some people do have dogs that do go into an ' attack mode' and an  intentional attack ..  in posting , i do not make the assupmtion that everyone has a  'sound ' dog . many people [readers]  do  but many others do not.    OR if a dog is sound , then the dog may not be develomentally correct. 
           we simply have to know  "what is in the mind of the dog " and as i originally stated : to understand from where the behavior originates [ ALWAYS].. AP

"In my girl, we are dealing with high prey drive and not aggression. "

3Shep2 - I'm curious...how did you determine that it's prey drive and not aggression?

Thanks.

Oh, about 50 years worth of experience dealing with canines and other various mammals.