Any advice on a problem that has developed since I was out walking my two young newfies about 6 mths ago and a dog lunged at them suddenly and frightened all three of us.  Unfortunately ever since when I walk them together they will lunge at similar looking dogs. They are well behaved out singly and I can walk passed all and sundry without a problem, its just when they are together.  I have been saying "no" sternly whilst pulling them back and making them heel and then explaining to the other dogs owners I am trying to retrain them and when they stop pulling which is usually immediately I let them meet the other dog.  They are without exception always friendly, its just an initial lunge which obviously is scary to the other owner.  But they dont seem to be improving.  Do you think when on lead I should not let them meet the other dog at all if they lunge, only let them meet if they dont lunge?  Any ideas would be appreciated.

I think it would be best to walk them separately to stop this behaviour becoming a habit.   Each time they do it, it will become more hard wired in their brains.   The more they 'practice' this behaviour the harder it will be to get rid of it.

Your best hope is to try break the habit by walking them separetely for the time being.

Wendy

When you see another dog coming how would they react to putting them in a sit before they get to the distance where the lungeing occurs??  Its hard to lunge in a sit ;)  just until they get the idea that lungeing will get them nowhere :)  You could train them to this separately at first then try them out together??