Hi Guys,
Looking for some help in removing our pups aggressive tendancies.
We recently rescued a 1yr old (we think) Cocker spaniel x Poodle. She is a very happy little dog that just LOVES attention. She walks very well on the lead, and we have been doing attentiveness training with her, so she knows she is supposed to pay attention to us on walks.
However we are having occasional problems with her being aggressive. She loves to meet new dogs, and often rushes to the end of the lead as we approach. Through the attentiveness training (with a check chain) we have been trying to curb this rushing, but whenever we check her for rushing out she get really revved up and starts to bark at the approaching dog. If the owner of the approaching dog isn't put off, and they keep coming, then once our dog has met the other party she is fine and friendly and they usually get along.
The barking started off playful, but lately has been getting more and more aggressive sounding.
A friend suggested that if she misbehaves we simply turn and walk the other way, so if she is too focused on the other dog she will get checked and then return to us. This worked a small bit at first, but once she caught on to what we were doing she just ends up being checked, runs back to us and keeps barking while we are walking. the same thing happens if we try to continue past the new party without meeting.
When she is checked she will pause, and it seems she knows she shouldn't be barking, but then continues a moment later, and it has gotten to being quite a viscous bark.
We attend dog training every weekend, and she is fine. She is very excited to get there, but after a small walk around the car park outside, she settles down and then we go in. She is very well behaved and has lots of friends there.
A couple of our friends have just gotten puppies, and she is very gentle and plays with them well.
We do everything we can to ensure that she knows that we are the pack leaders and she is very obedient normally, except when meeting new dogs on walks.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan.
