How To Train Your Dog To Not Be 'in Dogs Faces'

[Miss Monster]

After reading a few posts on people letting their dogs get in other dogs faces, how do you get dogs to settle enough that they don't just run into play with other dogs?

I don't take Bakari to dog parks or anything unless it's just him and Meisha in there, because he is very full on/excitable. I would never let him off lead with other dogs that I don't know around because I don't want to be one of those people.

He does try to play with smaller dogs but he doesn't seem to realise his size/strength so when he tries to play I feel it's a bit too rough. We don't know many smaller dogs so the main dogs that he socialises with are husky/staffy x, mastiff/staffy x & 2 border collies.

At obedience classes I have to go early to run him around let him have a sniff and get used to all of the other dogs being around because he just doesn't focus when we first get there - he's just too hyper. We have 2 staffies in our class and when they do the normal staffy cry he play bows and jumps and all focus goes out the window - he wants to play.... Same thing at shows.

Any hints/tips would be appreciated!

Bakari is a 10 month old Ridgeback (about 70cm at the shoulder and 45kg) but still very much acts a puppy.

[dogdude]

Pretty normal for a 10 month old pup I would suggest..................just be careful that you don't promote the behavior too much by constantly putting a high value on "doggie play"

You don't need to let your pup play with scores of dogs to socialize him. If you put more value on yourself as the centre of fun, it will help to direct less excitable attention towards other dogs while in your company.

[melbournecritters]

Rather than leting him play with the other dogs before training why not taking him for a quiet, relaxed wander around the ground, that way he can see the other dogs but he calms down and gets into focus with you and then afterwards its doggy play time.