Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 11/12/2007

Question
My 2 year old Puggle, Clover, is a great dog in everyway possible.  We rescued her from a local breed-specific rescue organization 3-4 months ago where she remained in a great foster home with 2 other dogs, a child, and a cat.  She got along great with these animals and children.

My husband and I currently live in a 3 bedroom apartment in a semi-wooded area where dogs have a place to run and play just like a normal backyard (only they have to remain on a leash), unfortunately, our 'backyard' between my apartment building and another are also the 'backyard' of two other smaller dogs who she has openly shown she does not like. When she sees either of them being walked or played with by their owner she goes absolutely insane and thrashes about trying to get to them.  This behavior is not only embarassing, but since she is on a leash I'm afraid she's going to wind up hurting herself by choking or jerking. I understand it may be a territory issue, but she has never acted this way before around any other animal, including my mother's dog, Ralph, who has come to the apartment to stay with us a few days.

Last night was the worst, where growling was involved and I literally had to drag her back inside the apartment complex and let her calm down.  I then let her know that this was not exceptional behavior by firming saying: "Bad dog" and not petting her or touching her (since dogs do not like to be ignored) for a small amount of time.  This seemed to let her know that her former behavior was not acceptable and she sat down submissively and had that typical: "Sorry I'm pathetic" look dogs give after you yell at them for being in the trash or catch them by surprise when you find them tinkling on your carpet.

In any other way she is a well behaved, well trained dog.  I just don't understand what's with her and these two dogs.  Nothing I do outside while the dogs are in the vacinity will affect her.  I can snap, yell, block her sight of the two dogs, tug on the leash, or even take her to another part of the apartment complex and she'll still go insane trying to find them.  The owner of the other dogs will not speak with me at all (I'm guessing because of Clover) and probably thinks our dog needs to be put down or something because she's so horrible, when really, this is not the case.

So I guess my question really is...what is causing her to have a heart attack everytime she sees these dogs and how in the WORLD can I fix this problem permenately?  

Thanks,
Bethany

Answer
Dear Bethany,
She is addicted to the brain chemistry that occurs when she gets naughty. Solving this problem requires much more than one can write in a forum. Please visit http://apdt.com and search for a trainer near you.

Alan J Turner
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