Stalking other dog while on leash - Page 1

Two days ago my 9 1/2 month old pup and I were walking down the street through our neighborhood, as we do everyday. As we went around the corner I saw my friend walking her Shiba Inu, a dog my pup knows very well and has been around many times. My pup dropped her head, crouched down, her body stiffened, ears were erect, tail was still and sticking straight out and it was as if she was stalking prey. We were about 20 feet away from the Shiba when it started. I didn't like what I saw and corrected her, both verbally and a pop with the leash. No reaction at all except a quick glance at me and continued moving forward.   I corrected her again, she looked at me and I told her to sit, which she did, but remained stiff and intense, staring at the Shiba. My friend was completely oblivious to it all and walked toward us. The Shiba approached in a relaxed manner, my pup sniffed her and all was well. My pup started wagging her tail and greeted the Shiba and her owner. The next day she started the stalking behavior again when she saw the Shiba. I immediately walked her in the other direction to break her trance, then eventually turned around and put her on a down. She relaxed, started wagging her tail and greeted appropriately. What is going on and what should I do in the future?  I am trying to figure out what was going on in her head. To give you an idea of the dynamics between the Shiba and my pup, the Shiba is 11 years old and is dominant over my pup, but not aggressive, although she puts the pup in her place when she gets out of line. My pup has shown signs of this behavior in the past with other dogs, but as soon as I corrected her it stopped. These past two episodes were much more intense. 

In general my pup gets extremely aroused over other dogs and can be quite obnoxious. Any time she sees a dog coming down the road she becomes very aroused. She doesn't bark, but if we get close enough she wants to lunge at the other dogs and acts obnoxious, but not aggressive. For this reason she doesn't interact much with other dogs, except our 9 year old Shiloh Shepherd, the Shiba and a male Lab pup. I am working hard on her focus, impulse control and obedience, but she is a strong willed pup, so some things are slow going. 

No help to your question, but one of my females, Cirberus does the same thing with the other dogs.  She is not on a leash, but she will even stalk through grass.  She does not hurt them when she pounces; they usually go rolling off playing.

I have always considered it a game.

I would say keep working on focus on the lead, & your responces so far have been good. Goal being dog pays attention to you, & not other dogs, obviously.
jackie harris

Thank you Fawn and Jackie. I'm not so sure it is a game with her, but even if it is I dont feel it is appropriate while on leash.  The intensity is a  bit unsettling for me and I wasn't comfortable with it. It took me by surprise and I wasn't sure what to do except I knew it couldn't continue. I don't want her to be a dog park dog, but I expect good manners and appropriate behavior. We have a lot of work ahead of us! 

I agree with all above but I would also find a group training class even if it is basic obedience for her and attend until that behavior improves.  Has helped my boy who just turned 9 months old immensely and I will keep taking him to the group class even though he has already graduated from basic ob. as the socialization for him cannot be matched anywhere.  He has made a lot of friends along the way and loves going and is learning to work with many different distractions.  That is about all his little puppy brain can handle at this age for now even though he is now 80 pounds.  Still a puppy brain...  good luck  Nan

On leash, I totally agree.  Focus should be on you.  Good luck.  I have a behavior book that I recently got.  I will look to see if it offers any clues

Thank you, Nan. We have taken classes religiously since I got her at 3 1/2 months of age. The weird thing is (and maybe not so weird?) that when I got her she was great with other dogs of all ages. At about the 5 month mark is when I started to see changes. One day we were sitting outside at a restaurant, as we had done many times, and a Basset Hound walked by and my pup growled barked and lunged at the dog. I was stunned because she was always relaxed with dogs walking by in the past. That behavior escalated in spite of my best efforts. She has never had an obvious bad experience because I've been very intentional about socializing her very carefully. I am the only one that handles and trains her. The only thing I can think of is that while taking the obedience classes there we are few very reactive dogs that lunged and barked a lot. I stopped taking classes at that facility and went to a different trainer.  My pup is improving, but we have a very long way to go. In addition to the obedience classes, we have taken a focus class and most recently took a reactive dog class with her, which has helped. I work with her everyday implementing all I have learned. But this stalking behavior is a new one :(  

Star, your pup is initiating play. I have two eight month old pups. The days when I put them in a big yard together, I see exactly what you are describing. The male I put out first. When I bring the female up the hill to the yard, the male will be walking very slowly, head dropped into stalking mode. By the time we reach within ten feet of the pen,he is laying flat, stock still, watching her approach. He doesn't "break and attack" until I open the gate to let her in. She is watching him during all this, and when she goes thro the gate, the stalking game is over and they are in full out play mode.
Your pup knows the Shiba, they are buddies, sounds like, and the Shiba understands the body language. They are having fun, and as long as there is no harm in them playing, I'd let them have their fun..after all, why be a pup if you can't play a "joke" on a friend ?
Jmo.
Btw, the mother of my two pups still does the same thing to me when she sees me approaching. :-)

I have pups who do the same. They hide behind trees, stalk, and jump on their friends, siblings, or mother when they come out. Never has it ended badly. I trust you know the difference between stalking as if she wants to hunt and kill something and stalking a friend in a playful way. 

Good point, Jenni, about the difference in stalking behaviors.

Also, just wanted to comment; when I see the pups/dogs doing this, I could just hear the "stalker" and the "stalked one" giggling and squealing with delight and excitement during this game.