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Dogs - Dog rushes at other people and dogs
Expert: Lynn Houston - 9/30/2008
Question
Our staffie is 11 months old and pays no attention to us when other dogs are in the park. We have had to stop letting him off the lead because he rushes over to other dogs and jumps all over them. This results in them getting nervous and snapping at him and we are worried that he will snap back. He's already been bitten on the head before. Is there any way to teach him to stay with us.
Answer
You can try socializing him. That means, slowly introducing him to other dogs. By that I mean, keep your dog on leash and bring him into proximity of another dog (better to do it with one dog at a time, but should work at the dog park if you go slowly enough). If he shows any excitement, move back until your dog can be calm. Once your dog is calm, move up a couple of feet and have your dog sit or down. Treat for calmness. Keep moving up. If you get to a point where your dog is getting excited again, move back and slow down. All along, treating your dog for calmness. Pretty soon, you'll be able to let your dog play with calm greetings.
Now, if you don't want your dog playing with other dogs at all, you need a strong recall (should have one regardless). Again, slow process. Start within a foot or so of your dog (on lead) and give the command you're going to use (come, here, whatever). If you're happy and enticing enough that the dog comes to you, treat and praise. If not, tug the leash a little. Slowing increase the distance (use a long lead or just a long length of rope). Once the dog is reliable at a distance, start introducing distractions (other ppl, other dogs, squirrels at a park, etc). Once you're dog is reliable for distance and under distraction, then you need to make sure he's reliable if he doesn't have a lead on. Use fish line and test his recall. It's like enough that he won't know he's on lead, but strong enough that you can still reel him in if he doesn't respond to your command.
Good luck. As in all dog training, slow is fast.
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