claireybell Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I have a 17 month old English Cocker Spaniel, Jesie. She is really really friendly. I'm sure she thinks all animals and people were put on this earth for her to love. I like that she's so friendly but she does have a tendency to lunge at other dogs sometimes to say hello, she's never aggressive. Here's the scenerio: We're at dog club for obedience classes, all dogs are on lead. Jesie see's one of her friends and lunges towards the dog to say hello. Now the other dog is fine about it as they know each other but my concern is that she will do this one day to a dog she doesn't really know and trouble could happen. How do I stop her from lunging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Have the obedience instructors suggested a particular method? What have you tried already? What equipment do you walk/ train her on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireybell Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 No instructors have suggested anything? She has a flat collar and a regular leash. Someone said to use a short leash? Would that help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ownedbyamstaff Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I'm definately no expert, but my Amstaff liked to try to meet all the other dogs at obedience, so I was advised by the instructors to try a halti. It has worked a treat for him & he is now listening to me rather than checking out what is going on everywhere else. I'm sure more knowledgable people will have more/better suggestions. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole... Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Must be a cocker thing... Lomani does the same thing. We have a really short lead and she still tries to do it. It means that she can't lunge so far but if you aren't prepared for it, it can still seem a bit daunting to another dog. I don't know how to fix it, but I am aware she does it and always keep my distance from other dogs when we are at classes, especially if they are dogs I don't know or that I have been warned aren't all that friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireybell Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks guys. I have a short leash so will give that a go on Sunday. If it doesn't work then I think I might invest in a halti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Please don't use a halti for a lunging dog- if you don't know how to use it correctly you could end up damaging your dogs neck. Talk to the instructors at obedience- they can see whats actually happening and try to come up with a strategy to suit you and your dog. Alot will come down to your handling and timing so regardless of the training equipment you use, you'll need to be shown how to use it correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 if your dog is still lunging then they do not have an adequate understanding that the end of the leash means the end of the leash. I would go back a few steps and teach the dog the concept of what a leash means and that there is no tension at all times - this is a problem sorted before 12 months not still continuing at 17 sometimes a correction chain or a matingale collar can help as well with this, then you need to redirect the dog and improve focus - so when your dog DOES see another animal etc and gets excited it will automatically look to you for permission instead of lunging if your club has trouble with this concept PM or email me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) If your dog lunges at other dogs, then you can either make it unrewarding or train a replacement behaviour or both. Has she been dragging you towards dogs in the past and you've allowed it to happen? When she lunges, what do you do? I'd be starting by increasing the distance between her and the dog she wants to reach every time she does it. If she's not focused on you.. no greeting occurs. In the meantime, start much further away from dogs and train her to look to you when you say a 'focus' word and cue her to sit(this is eventually when you'd ask the owner if its OK for her to greet them) . Having a focus word is very handy for regaining control in the face of distractions. She needs to learn that if she's not focussed on you and sitting first, then she doesn't get to greet the dog she's interested in. I'd would never use a halti on a dog that lunges.. disastrous for a dog's head and neck. Edited April 3, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 has anyone ever watched Dog Borstal? saw a trainer on there with a JRT in a halti on a long line ... teaching the dog the boundries by letting it hit the end of the leash and whipping about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I've watched a few episodes of DB Nek - which trainer was it?? That's terrible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
:ange: Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I have this problem with our dog. I walk on a flat collar and normal length lead. I try to be aware of my surroundings - if people with dogs are coming or runners etc. I will generally walk off the path a bit and get her to sit. I repeat 'Leave it' and she will mostly wait at my side. Like you, my dog thinks that everyone loves her.. The problem isn't really fixed as such that we can continue our walk normally if people and dogs walk past. It just means that she isn't lunging at them to get to them. I presume once she gets old and cranky this will pass.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) I know I recoiled in horror .... err it was the 'positive' trainer (woman) who dealt with a couple with 2 jack russells she was a complete nuffer, did nothing for the dogs in the end at all and her training was so haphazard and random Mic Martin on the other hand ... wa wa weee wa The problem isn't really fixed as such that we can continue our walk normally if people and dogs walk past. It just means that she isn't lunging at them to get to them. I presume once she gets old and cranky this will pass.. nope. you need to train the dog and provide her with the desired behavior during that circumstance. A check chain or martingale can provide a consequence and also prevent the dog getting too excited so you can better control the dog at a lower anxiety level, and easier to get her attention to teach focus. I see a lot of these types of problems, it takes one short lesson to get the ball rolling with the dog of what is wanted and unwanted behavior. ETA when I use the word anxiety I dont mean it in the human context - I mean it as in 'unfocussed energy' that can then swing to behaviors such as over excitement, fear, aggression etc so its not limited to one 'emotion' per say Edited April 3, 2009 by Nekhbet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I know I recoiled in horror .... err it was the 'positive' trainer (woman) who dealt with a couple with 2 jack russells she was a complete nuffer, did nothing for the dogs in the end at all and her training was so haphazard and random Mic Martin on the other hand ... wa wa weee wa Yes she's quite useless. I just went over to youtube to try and find a classic Mic Martin clip to link to, but all I could find were fangirly video clips of MM close ups Did you ever see the episode with the two women who owned the beagle called Crumpet? bahahaha, it was a crack up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 OMG yeah some of the owners on that show I cant get over people that cry when told their dog is .... drumroll please .. A DOG *faint* although I have made people cry too ... I told a lady to put her destructive young dane in a crate to help with house training and she burst into tears about 'OH I could never cage my poor baby' well OK then you live with destruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I've heard about Dog Borstal but haven't seen any episodes - how does one get to see it cos I'd love to watch it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 look up dog borstal torrents or try limewire (just virus check the files before opening) its ocassionally repeated on foxtel but fairly haphazardly which is annoying not much on youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 not much on youtube It's just all the MM fan club videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 i'm over youtube - its now overly commercialised and has also become the place where you advertise how STUPIDLY and dangerously you can do something and somehow (unfortunately in some cases) live on to probably procreate and spread your stupidity ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireybell Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 Thanks for all the replies guys. Jesie walks beautifully on the lead, no pulling, a few sniffs but never pulls me or tugs on my arms. But when we do see another doggie she gets that excited that she pulls like a freight train and lunges at the dog. I usually say "Jesie wait" to no avail and then its a tug of war between me and her. She has a focus word of look where she looks straight into my eyes and she's really good with it. Should I tell her to look when we see another dog so that I have her attention? Nehkbet, whats Dog Borstal? Also your pretty clever (suck suck), I'm having issue's with Jesie's drop/stay again! Its so frustrating. She gets it right and then it all falls apart! I'm positive it's me and I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. In her obedience class she should be doing a 5 minute drop/stay and some weeks she cant even manage a two second drop/stay! Grrrrr. Are you able to tell me the basics for getting a dog to do the drop/stay? I think maybe I need to go back to the beginning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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