Lunging dog

[JasmineMahikoa]

My dog is just turned 3 years old husky great pyranese.  He pulls on walks and when he sees other dogs, he lunges to them.  I realized that is what he does at the off leash dog park.  But on walks, on trails and other places where leash is required, he drags me with him.  Is there any trainings I can do to make him know he's on leash?

[Adrienne]

Hello, and welcome to the forums, 

I would like some more info to better assess the situation.

When he is at the off leash dog park, is he lunging in an aggressive way? What happens when he does this to other dogs at the park?

Does he have a history of getting along well with dogs?

How long have you had your dog? Is he neutered?

Does he bark or growl as well when he's on leash?

When he drags you on trails or other places, is it only when he sees other dogs? Or is it constant pulling?

Thanks

[RuthMccollum]

Hi Adrienne.  I have a little 10 month old miniature schnauzer who had really improved as far as barking and lunging at other dogs when we're out for walks.  I anticipate any issues ahead of time if I can, giving him some distance, distracting him with treats as soon as I see a dog in the distance.  Once in a while he does react, especially when we see other dogs when it is dark outside.  However recently I've been unable to get his barking and distracted behavior under control for more than a few minutes at a time.  This is happening at a dog training class.  Bruno starts barking as soon as I let him out of the car.  The instructor put up a small fence with blankets so that I can bring him here out of sight of the other dogs.  Then when he stops I lure him out with treats and back again when he barks.  I am missing most of the content of the class because I am so stressed and focused on the barking.  Feeling discouraged and wondering if Bruno's behavior is beyond my ability to handle.  Bruno was recently neutered and if anything he has gone from wanting to jump and play with other dogs to barking aggressively. 

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by RuthMccollum

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi Ruth McCollum,

If your Bruno was progressing fine when on walks, but now is struggling at training class, it's likely because, in class, you are unable to grant him the distance he needs for staying under threshold. https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/threshold-levels/ Too many dogs, too close, can surely negatively impact the best plans. 

It's great that your trainer is using a barrier to block the visual aspect as this can turn extra helpful in keep the dog under threshold. 

Ideas that come to mind is arriving early in class so that he doesn't bark as soon as you let him out of the car and he sees the other dogs. If you arrive first and can place him right away behind the barrier, than that may help at least decrease that initial barking. 

Another idea is not luring him out when quiet. He is apparently not ready to see the other dogs this up close and letting him bark stresses him out and doesn't help ameliorate the situation. Or maybe the trainer can place the barrier farther away. 

 Classes shouldn't be stressful to dogs, and if after a couple of classes and various adjustments, the dog still struggles to adjust, I feel it's time to think about plan B. In other words, if things don't improve, it may be important chatting with the trainer and asking if perhaps it may be best starting with private classes and then slowly introducing him to other dogs in class. Another option is working with a trainer specializing in "reactive Rover" classes where reactive dogs are gradually introduced to other dogs.

It is interesting that you mention that this behavior change occurred recently after neutering. How long ago was he neutered?