Hi Everyone
I need your help to deal with a problem with Rosie our BC.
I dont know why but just lately when she is on the lead and she see's another dog she goes absolutley mental. If they come near her she lunges and growls and has a high pitched bark. I have to let her off the lead sometimes, and then she calms down.

I know dogs can feel threatened when they are on the lead but it's getting worse. Also if she see's another dog when she's off the lead she runs over and almost bowls them over. I know this seems very dominant, but I dont know why she is like it. Her sister is completely different and just ignores other dogs.

I've tried to ignore her when she does this, but sometimes I find it very frustrating and very embaressing when she nearly pulls me over! :)

Your help would be much appreciated with this problem

Thanks

Jo
xxx

This is complex but you really need to train her.  She must not be allowed to charge at other dogs when off lead - this will cause both problems for her and for other dogs.  Other dogs have a right to feel safe.

Has she been socialised properly and has she had sufficient interaction/play/training with you.  Dogs don't come into a human world automatically knowing how to behave - they need guidance.

We have similar issues with our new boy. When another dog approaches I get him to look at me rather than eyeball the other dog and Im working on his reaction distance - how close can the other one get before ours kicks off. You need to start teaching the dog to give attention to you on demand at home, in the garden then without distractions and then when the object of disaster is far away, etc. We use his fave hot dog slices or roast chicken for this, maybe your bitch has a toy she loves etc. I also found with Manic Morse that keeping him interested in doing things with me would stop him going self employed and investigating everything in sight. Now you dont say how your bitch looks when shes doing this so is it fear, wanting to play, or bullying? Youll lnow and it will change what you do to handle it.

You may find a head collar will help. I find these the best http://www.naturaldogfoods.co.uk, you then have control of the head and they can't get the lung and pull behind it.

Sandra

Sparky doesn't lunge when we see another dog - but he does freeze, stare like mad and hunch up in standard collie herding position, which means he gives out bad vibes and we end up with other dogs going for him because they feel threatened. When I see dogs coming now I put both of mine in a sit, and talk to them constantly in the silliest voice I can muster up, saying "Watch meeeee, what a goood boy" etc. etc, and giving them a treat every ten seconds or so, when they've kept eye contact. If they turn their heads I tickle their noses and say "gotcha", which gets their tails wagging and their attention back on me. We're getting to the point when they are automatically turning to me now when they see another dog approach - hoping for a bit of sausage, no doubt ;). It's been a long haul, and the key is consistency - you have to do it every time, but it is starting to pay off.
HTH :)
Tracy
PS Both of mine are on gentle leaders.

Hi Everyone
Thanks for your replies.  When she see's another dog she just stands there for a while and then runs towards them. I must admit though when I took her out earlier we saw 2 dogs and she was looking at me constantly as if waiting for a reaction, but I just carried on walking and just said 'come on this way' and she was fine.

I wonder whether in the past I have said something to her when a dog was approaching and this has just in-bred the behaviour more, maybe she is protecting me??. I will start taking some treats with me.  I'm not so worried about the behaviour off lead but on. shall I adopt the same method of getting her to watch me when we see another dog and she's on the lead??

Thanks again

Jo

Don't under any circumstances use a head collar for this dog. You could damage her neck if she takes off before you can stop her. Get her to watch you on and off lead with either treats or a ball. Let her have the ball occasionally so that she is tuned into you for a game. Be careful what words you use as dogs are very cute at knowing what is around when you use a word to distract when there is something you don't want them to key into.

As long as you use a head collar on a normal lead and not on a flexi you won't do any damage to the dog.  Infact you will do less damage then with her lunging with a collar on. And most certainly less damage to yourself.

It gives control of the head so you can stop the eyeing of the dog she has focused on.  In an ideal world you would have control without this, but if you have a collie with a strong eye it is very difficult to break the stare, which is why the headcollar is so good in these situations.  But it must be used with a short lead not a long one.

Sandra

i must say,id be quite happy using a headcollar on her too!

shes a pretty normal collie,but shes taken complete control!-as they do!

when shes on the lead,get out a bally or tasty treat to distract her, dont just let her eye up the on coming dog. YOU neede to take control before she starts pulling & barking.

when off the lead,dont let her go up to other dogs like that or one day shes going to do it to one thatll have her & then youll have other problems. if you see another dog, QUICKLY get her attention & walk off in another direction. also work on her instant down so if she does bugger off then you can at least stop her.

Sounds as if you are doing the right thing in distracting her and not making a big fuss. Depending on her body language etc, it could be lack of confidence or over excitement. Personally I use a very gentil harness to give me good control without the possibility of damage through lunging, but if you have your wits about you a collar is fine.