1. What I try to convey to the owners is to keep the dogs mind moving forward. What this means is to redirect the dogs mind in the event that they become distracted to a point where you are unable to communicate with them. If you are walking down the street with your dog, you must be able to anticipate a situation whereby your dog is going to have a blow up that is directed towards another dog. You have to be especially aware of what’s going on in front of you (any dogs coming my way). The moment that you see your dog sees the other dog, you must turn and walk away from the oncoming dog. You will notice that your dog will try to continuously look back to eye the other dog. You must be attentive to that and continue to move in the opposite direction while giving your dog a tug on the leash (quick but not hard) toward your body. You must also be as quick and punctual with your praise as the moment my dog looks straight ahead or at you, you let them know in your own way how much you appreciate their attention and that correct behavior. In other words, you praise them.
2. DO NOT STOP WALKING. Once you feel you dog has his mind on you, you can turn and start walking towards the other dog. Your goal is to give the dog quick correction at the moment he looks at the other dog. This is posturing or staring and can quickly escalate into aggression if your dog’s attention is not refocused. The most common mistakes I see are when people wait way to long to correct their dog or not at all. You know what they say. . . “Timing is everything” so please do your best not to let you dog get into a mode of staring at the other dog. If this happens, you must react quickly and decisively to again turn away from the other dog and repeat the process as described above.

Remember that training dogs for any unwanted behavior is done through repetition and consistency. You may have to practice by passing 20, 100, or 500 dogs before you start to see a difference in your dog. It really depends on your commitment, handling abilities, and your dog’s learning curve. You cannot avoid other dogs in New York, it’s just not possible and it’s not healthy for you or your dog to be tense and upset when these situations arise. That state only leads to an aggressive mindset for your dog. Please understand that this is one method that you might be able to help a dog with this type of behavior. Different dogs will respond differently to different techniques. It is important that you remain patient and be flexible in your approach. Although the techniques may change, the principals of good leadership and appropriate discipline remain the same.

Please feel free to post your questions or comments. Thank you all and please never quit trying to make your dog as happy as they make us.

Stay tuned in for more blog entries with helpful training advice.

Alex

Brooks is the owner of the Midwest Canine Center in Des Plaines. His seminar, “Training To Be Top Dog: Guiding Your Pet To Good Behavior,” covered behavior-related issues including how to train aggressive, timid or overactive dogs.

The seminar covered basics, like how to issue basic commands, end excessive barking, and get a dog to walk properly on a leash, and offered tips on choosing a dog and introducing a new dog into a home where a dog already lives.

Brooks is a regular guest on Comcast Cable TV’s “Contempo” and has served as an expert witness for Cook County’s Department of Animal Control. He also has trained dogs for the K-9 units of several police departments.

In his spare time, Brooks volunteers at local animal shelters by training stray and abandoned dogs so they become more adoptable. And he trains dogs to assist people with physical handicaps.