I have a two year old shepherd mix. She is great with the entire family. The problem seems to be with other dogs. When she sees another dog she barks viciously and pulls on the leash uncontrollably. Around the house she is very obedient but when another dog is in the picture she is an entirely different dog and will not obey me. I am afraid that she might attack another dog if given the opportunity. I would love to be able to take her places with me but I am afraid. Do you have any recommendations. Please help

A lot depends on how well your dog was socialised when a pup (as all owners esp. with dogs such as shepherds should be activley socialising their dogs) and why you feel she reacts this way with other dogs. Many dogs bark like mad but are basically saying to the other dog "Go away, I am scarey and can hurt you" but are themselves scared underneath it all. Shepherds often take this stance ;) if they are at all unsure. A dog who is really meaning busiiness is often the sort of dog who will give very little vocal or physical warning.

Has your dog had any bad experiences, or actually bitten other dogs, or does she body barge? It is very difficult to help via the internet, as all sorts of things need looking at and IMHO a lot depends on the relationship between dog and owner as to whether it can be sorted. Has she been seen by a vet andhad her health checked? As sometimes a medical condition can cause aggression in certain situations.

One thing you can try is to get her used to a headcollar (there are various types, you may like to do a bit of research fisrt) and also use a lead attached to her normal collar for security. Get a friend with a calm and non reactive dog to help you, and walk a fair distance apart - on opposite sides of the road, say, with the other owner and dog coming towards you.

Totally ignore inappropriate behaviour (to the best of your ability!). Use the head collar to turn the dog's head away from the other dog (this is important) and praise and reward (use a clicker if you are familiar with it) calm behaviour. Keep doing this until the dog is very calm and relaxed, if she gets to this stage. Don't rush. It may take some time.

Over time, use different owners and their dogs to help you, and have them coming closer (never head on) and keep rewarding for good behaviour.

This will teach several things - that when she barks and lunges there is no reward for her because the other dog doesnt go away, and that the presence of other dogs can be a good thing because she gets rewarded. She will also learn that she can cope. Over time it may be possible to let the dogs meet and say "hallo" but choose the dogs carefully and remain relaxed ourself or your worry will transmit down the lead.

My best advice would be to find a trainer who is used to aggressive dogs and who understands their behaviour, as they can help "on the spot" as it were. Have a long discussion with them and ask aabout their track record, and methods. Giving advice over the net on aggression is never the best thing to do as there can be so many things to look at, but anyway, good luck :)

Lindsay

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Hiya,
I have been on the net today to look for advice on this very same problem, and just wanted to offload I guess, part of me feels sorry that you are experiencing this too, but part of me is relieved that it isn't just my Sash that does it. The last few weeks have been miserable, as I am on constant edge, scouring the area we walk in for any other poor unsuspecting dogs that Sash may decide to take a dislike to.  What I can't understand is that I have introduced two whippets into the house since I have had Sash, the first sadly passed on.  The kennels that she has stayed in a couple of times have put sash in with a year old pug (they know of sashas bad behaviour) whilst we were away for two weeks, and two other breeds, and all has been fine.  I took her in one day and they asked if I would be interested in fostering a stray whippet (we had already tried a lurcher, but he hated the cats!) and I said I was unsure as to how she will react.  They let the whippet (female, but lurcher was male) out of her cage, and into the kitchen area.  There was a rough and tumble moment when Sash pinned Bailey down, bailey submitted, they both got up and trotted off to the exercise yard!!!  I was so so shocked.  And they have been best pals since then.  (She was fine with the Lurcher as well, but we could only have him for a night)

Walking however is a different matter, and I get so upset with her behaviour. I dont want to shout at her, but when she is pulling me bodily along to get to another dog, and barking, there is nothing else I can do.  I don't understand it when she can walk with my friends jack russell and chihauha (??!!) although she has her muzzle on, but she cannot ignore other dogs, and is barking and pulling, and generally aggressive.  I have tried to introduce, carefully, as some dogs she has been fine with (albeit grudgingly) when she has been over and sniffed them, but others, like the beagle we meet in the morning, she just wants to fight, and when he has starts barking back, all hell breaks loose. She has a muzzle and a harness, and I am not that little at nearly 9 stone, but her sheer strength can pull me along the ground if I cant dig my heels in, and I just wondered if there was anything that could help (people have suggested electric shock collars, I think this will make her problem worse as she will associate other dogs with getting a shock) and I love her so much, put her in a room with my nephew and she would lick him to death, but put her in an open area with a dog, and I couldnt trust her for 5 seconds.  I am thinking the only way is to get a professional to come out with me and witness the behaviour, but at the moment money unfortunately wont allow, so for now it is just a lot of praise when she doesnt bark, as I see that as a step, I try and keep her occupied by walking briskly along, so she doesn't spend too long assessing the other dog, and if she is good she gets a treat.  Trouble with GSDs is they arent very food orientated, and she would rather get to the other dog than have something yummy. 

I also havent said that I have had her since 4 months, and that this problem has developed over the last 2 years, she is 3, and that we have been to obedience clicker training.  If there are other people who have had success in improving this behaviour, I would so like to hear from you!
Nic :o)

My GSD bitch is the same as yours but only 21 months old. We have been to training classes and also a behaviourist but not managed to cure the problem About to give up and just have to live with the problem. I too would like to hear from anyone with success in this area.