Help please with Misty my lab

poochi

Hi, I'm new to this and not sure how to do this pet chat forum. I'm hoping there is someone out there who may be able to help me with some advice.
I've got a beautiful, gentle flat coat retriever, Bertie who's just 7 yrs and Misty, my 6 yr old yellow lab who's as gentle as anything at home and great with the kids, but out and about she's a completely different dog. Over the last few years she has attacked other dogs completely randomly (has not actually injured any dog, but it sounds horrid and can be frightening) she got so bad now I have to walk her on the lead which really is a shame, and of course she's ten times worse on the lead. I've tried more training, but with the trainer she's as good as gold. I've tried to be more dominant with her, but nothing seems to work. Has anyone any suggestions?

pollaton

i have exactly the same problem with our dog. i have found that the only way i can walk wilson is with a halti. it doesn't stop him from going crazy when he sees another dog, but at least i am in control of him. he never goes off lead either. again wilson is great with dogs he knows, and also regular dogs on his walks don't cause as much of a problem as strangers dogs, so i tend to walk him the same routes so he gets used to the dogs around him. this way it is less stressful for both of us.

i have tried all the various routes of dominance and pack leadership, in the house he is an angel out of the house he is a devil.
____________

littlelab

Hi Poochi

Welcome to Petchat, I completely empathise with you on this one!

My Utonagan Maia, was a nightmare for this, I have been doing lots of behaviour modification on the lead work.

It is hard and there are no 'quick fixes'

You need to go armed with 1 dog or at least have 2 people walking so you can concentrate on Misty, and a pocket full of VERY HIGH VALUE treats (these should only be used for this purpose), and a ball or favourite toy, you need to find out what triggers the attack, watching her body language is very important and probably the hardest thing to do is stay clam and relaxed, if you feel more comfortable with her wearing a muzzel or halti then do so (this helps calm you down and makes you less anxious).

You need to start with walks past other dogs, (if she is wearing a muzzel most dog owners will put their dogs on leads as well, ensuring even less aniety on your part) when you walk past a dog, keep her distracted with a ball or toy when she exhibits good behaviour reward her with a treat.

If she starts to get anxious, walk the other way away, from the dog, when she relaxes and exhibits good behaviour reward her with that treat.

A good place to go is a training school where there will be other dogs present in a controlled environment, perhaps you they will let you sit on the outskirts observing from a distance, as she relaxes bring her in closer, when she gets uncomfortable move out again.

Do you know what triggered this agression, is it fear related, or outright dominance agression?

Approaching another dog (or they approach you) DON'T tighten that lead, get Misty to sit and watch you (if she feels more comfortable standing let her do this), as the dog approaches watch for the body langauage, when she starts to freeze, firm AR AR and get her to stand again, if shen you AR AR she relaxes give her a treat, when he dog has walked past treatb reward. She then starts to associate a dog walking towards her with a nice positive reward.

Unfortunatey you may never be able to let her run around freely with other dogs, but what will happen is you can bring her back to you on recall put her on a lead and she will calmly ignore the other dogs as the come past her or up to her on the lead.

I hope some of this helps.
Very Happy

____________
Natalie and Co xxx