My Golden Retriever bitch is now nearly 8 months. I take her to dog training regularely, and we do her training in the garden and on her walks every day. She is very responsive, and loves to please.
HOWEVER, the situation changes completely when another dog is in sight. Any training goes out of the window, she doesn't listen anymore and just wants to get to the other dog and play. I put her on the lead when we see another dog coming, as I don't want her bouncing all over other dogs in the park. She's been told off by some dogs for being too bouncy, and then she throws herself on her back, shows her submission and then keeps her distance.
What I would like to know is what I should do in terms of training... I don't want to excuse her behaviour by her being young, but I don't quite know where to go from here. Do I just continue with her training and hope for her to calm down at some stage? Is there anything I can do? Or not do?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you!!!!

You do need to keep at it, and train as much as possible with other dogs around her. You need to try your best to make yourself MORE interesting than the other dogs. What does she like best in the whole world, apart from other dogs? Some really special food treats like sausages or liver, or perhaps a  toy? Try using that. My oldest Golden would ignore ANYTHING else if he knew there was a chance of doing a retrieve, he'd die for a retrieve -it's his life and always has been.  A lot of Goldens invite play by throwing themselves on their backs so it isn't necessarily a case of her just being submissive to the others either. :) The bad news is, you can expect her to calm down when she's about 8 YEARS old or so. :D That's Goldens. Never grow up.

Hi,

I am no expert by any means but with my ten month old boxer things have eventually started falling into place and he is doing what he is asked most of the time. The training seems to finally be working. He always runs towards other dogs and just as he gets to them he will lie down then pounce as they get close, all in the name of play you understand?

Obviously not everyone wants their dog pounced on especially elderly dogs or ones on leads. I keep a ball in my pocket and just as he's about to run I call him and throw the ball up in the air to myself. He then focuses back on me and we play with the ball. Sometimes I have to run around and use lots of commands to keep him interested but it really works. On the occasions where he has bolted at a million miles an hour as soon as he looks back I wave the ball around and he comes back to play. I never thought it would work but to my amazement it does and he is not really into retrieving that much so it might work even more so with your breed.

Now all I need to work on is the lunging on the lead when he sees another dog! Argh, it never ends eh?

Rosie

Hi,
thanks for your comments. It helps to know that I'm not alone!!!! I'm just worried I'm not training her correctly as obviously I'm not pack leader enough to keep her in check when other dogs are around?
Honestly, I don't know what I can use to keep her focused on me when we see another dog. She LOVES treats, but even if I put her favourite one in front of her the other dog is more interesting still. I've also tried toys, but no success there either. I tried calling her and keeping her focused with different training commands in combination with treats, but it only works if we're at the end of our walk and she's puffed out...
I should add that when we go to dog training class there are obviously plenty of other dogs around. She behaves like a lunatic for about 5-10min, but after that she calms down and even does a perfect stay in the midst of all those dogs. So I'm confused...

Hi ulrike

have a look at THIS SITE - you may find some useful tips to overcome your problems there :) 

It's very difficult to get through to some youngsters as we are not naturally as exciting to them as thier own species but perhaps something in the link will give you some further clues as to how to become a suitable rival for canine companions.

HTH, Teri

i can completely sympathise. i have a 14month old rhodesian ridgeback who is totally dog focused. loves to play with all dogs, regardless of size etc, and regardless of whether they want to play with him, he keeps trying lol.
he is a very food orientated dog, but even the most delicious treat is not enough to take his attention away from other dogs like yours. nothing i can find is more exciting than other dogs, and i have tried everything. (i joke the only thing more exciting would be another dog, i need to keep a chihuahua in my pocket lol)
i take him to obedience weekly and ringcraft every few weeks, and hes great, doesnt bother too much with other dogs. same as shows, he goes in ring and doesnt even look at them, outside however its a different story, if hes off lead he would just be bounding up to anything with 4 legs that barks. like your pup all my boy wants to do is play, however hes 45 kg of solid muscle and most people dont appreciate him running over at full speed. i keep him on lead in busy areas or if small dogs are about. i try arrange to meet up and walk with people, esp with bigger dogs, and im lucky that i have a lovely big field leading onto moors behind my house where i dont ever meet any people so he always gets a good run off lead each day.

sorry, havent given much advice, but at least you know your not alone.

Suz1985 I ditto what you have said.
One of my girls is the same and it can be very annoying indeed. I find i am very restricted as to where to take her safely.
I to spend alot of hours on our moors with her, as to not meet so many people with dogs.
Food will not temp her in any way to return to us,we have had many dogs over many years and this one takes the micky.

She is 2yrs old now and brilliant in all other areas,so just this to conker now. Been a challenge i suppose for us.

Thanks suz1985 and goldie for your comments. It does help knowing that I'm not alone! I really started to doubt myself whether I'm training her correctly. I try to work on this in the way that I ignore her behaviour, keep her on the lead when we pass other dogs, and keep walking, trying to keep her occupied and praising her every time she looks at me and not the other dog. But it's hard. Especially if you meet other dog walkers whose dogs behave perfectly off-lead... As you said goldie, my Golden is also so perfect in all other areas. It's just this dog madness that we really need to work on.

yeah, im the same, my family has owned dogs for years, mostly GSDS, and none of them have even been remotely as interested in other dogs as my boy is. he is a great dog in all other areas too, so friendly, loyal, loads of fun, fairly good at obedience (but he loves it) doing quite well in show ring, and handsome companion. i tell myself that if this is his only fault, then it could be a lot worse....he could be aggressive, dog or people, he could run away, could have a high prey drive etc etc. i only pray that he always stays as friendly, and that he doesnt turn funny, as some of his breed can do when they are mature males. i cant see any reason why he should though.

his face when hes playing with other dogs is magical, hes totally in his element, its his favourite thing.

why can i never met people like you guys when im out on a walk hehe, never met anyone with a dog as dog focussed as mine!

Zuma is now 17 mths and is the same, he will still go tearing up towards another dog , slows down about 6 ft away then wants to play when off lead.
He used to pull like crazy to other dogs when ON lead but I taught him a really solid 'leave' command with food then toys and extended it to dogs etc.
It means 'whatever you are looking at - forget it , you aint getting it' and I am now working on it for offlead stuff but it may take a while..... :-)
Chris

One of my dogs is like this, when he sees another dog he gets really excited and wants to play (and he screams when he can't). He's ok when there's a lot of dogs e.g. shows or classes, it's just when he sees 1 or 2 he can't cope. He's 8 next week....

All training needs reinforcement, and 'proofing' in different situations.
When you know she will recall reliably in one situation you have to take her to another situation and START ALL OVER AGAIN, eg on a long lead at first, and just build it up slowly in the new situation, preferably in a controlled environment (so you can control the intensity of the distraction) if possible.
So, for example, at first you could do the training recall cycle  where your dog can see some other dogs at a distance, on their leads, when she is reliable at that, you could go somewhere where she can see them at a distance when they are off lead and playing, and get her coming back reliably, then you could slowly reduce the distance between herself and the distraction, every time you change a variable go back to training her as if she doesn't know the command at all, and just build it up at her own pace. If she fails, take a small step back so she can succeed again before you finish, and don't train for too long at difficult things each day or she will get it wrong through being distracted by tiredness.

> it's just when he sees 1 or 2 he can't cope. He's 8 next week....

gulp.....

> One of my dogs is like this, when he sees another dog he gets really excited and wants to play (and he screams when he can't). He's ok when there's a lot of dogs e.g. shows or classes, it's just when he sees 1 or 2 he can't cope. He's 8 next week....

Oh dear, Felix takes after his uncle!
Although if I have the chuckit he completely ignores other dogs so if I take that everywhere we're ok!

> Oh dear, Felix takes after his uncle!
>

:-D :-D :-D

Thank you, RReeve, for your comment. I have been trying to do this with her training. We started indoors with sit, stay, down, stand, recall etc, then in the garden, and now we're at the stage where I do it on walks in the park or woods. She's very solid there. But now it's finding the right moment to start on walks with dogs around. Today we trained and there was a dog in the distance. She was all interested, ears up and geared up to run towards that dog (even though it was quite a way away). I did manage to distract her, which made me very proud!!! With dogs nearby though there's no chance. So I think training with dogs in the distance it is for now... 

Oh I have the exact same situation, a Golden Retriever girl of 9 months who is terrible at ringcraft classes. She is very energetic and bouncy the rest of the time but with training she's got LOADS better. She's actually not bad off the lead, she'll go and say hello to the dogs but come back as soon as I whistle her as she's always keeping an eye on where I am - which is great. But, when she's on the lead, it's another business and no matter what i say, do or use, she just wants to see that dog that's standing next to us, and pulls and pulls and pulls till my hands are red raw! It's so infuriating as I feel quite silly and embarassed by her behaviour. I know she CAN behave even if she's a bit of a naughty one, but in these situations, she's hopeless...