I cant get my dog to approach another dog nicely, he gets so excited he goes in all fired up and most of the time the other dogs tell him off and then he runs away. Hes not agressive but very full-on. If I approach another dog on lead he tries to get there too fast as well but cant be too rough and normally ends up licking them. At training he is fine and not interested in playing as he knows he is there to work, but once outside its a different matter. Why doesnt he get the message that these other dogs dont like it? He is 3.

How long have you had him?  How old was he when you got him?  Does he live/has he lived with other dogs?  What breed is he?

hi, Digger, I have had him since 7 weeks, he is an only dogs but has a few friends that he sees a couple of times a week, he is a GSD, I have always tried to let him meet other dogs as much as possible but as he is big and clumsy i have to monitor this. he is neutered. he is fantastic with people and very calm. hope this helps, in the pub today he went to sleep next to a spaniel pup, but i knew if i had met it on a walk he would have been all over it.thanks for your time.

It could be that in trying to monitor his behaviour, you've sent tension down the lead.  I'd suggest you find a local trainer who understands your situation and would be prepared to have you come to classes with socialisation in mind.  Ask your vet for a recommendation, or try the APDT (www.apdt.co.uk)  HTH

hi i have a gsd and she is just the same they just want to play but other dogs see it as agressive it will came down as it gets older they dont get they brains till about twelve months old as long as its not barking it will be ok have you tried taking it up to the dog and letting it sniff at it you have to watch other dogs dont turn on it if it has a bad experince it may turn but if you can get it to six month it will be fine hope every thing turns out ok

hi emjip,  mine certainly wants to play!! hes agood dog but gets excited when outside and the possibility of a play arises, its just that he goes in too fast and some dogs  get scared. any way at training today we did it all of lead and he was great, its just the odd situation. I think I have in the past transmitted stress down the lead as Digger suggests but now I try not to. often he will meet dogs very well, its just the odd one, i am wondering if im seeing a pattern with black and white dogs actually.

dogs are like people they dont like every dog they see and if a dog looks at them in a funny  way or stare at them they will get in first gsd cerntainly dont like white dogs dont know about black ones i had a gsd dog he was lovely he was gentle giant but if he saw a white dog he went mental dont know about you but were i  live you get to know the dogs and owners and some of them are as daft as the dogs and if i see one i make her sit down till they have passed then tell her to play and how good she is if you make them sit down it takes the aggression out of the situation  he will be fine you seem to be doing ever thing right taking him to a trainer and everthing  just keep your eye on the other dogs some dogs dont like puppys and a gsd  wont forget  so that dog better watch out when he gets big hope you have a lot of fun with him

Lots of dogs don't like pure black dogs with dark eyes as they can't see thier eyes as they approach.

Bev