well, this is the 3rd time, but 3rd time is the charm!
;--)

this is pasted copy on reactivity, but it also applies to aggro or fears -
and 85% or more of dogs who exhibit aggro do so out of a fear of
_____ - the other dog, the situation, too close, too many hands,
something in the environment = oR = within themselves - like pain
(chronic pain makes dogs just as cranky as ppl in constant pain),
a diet that predisposes them to a low threshold of irritability
(corn-based dog foods or a high corn percentage - it creates a
shortage of serotonin in the brain, making the dog less tolerant
of stresses of all kinds), etc.

======== pasted =============



there are a number of good books out that can help with reactivity; it does not matter what the root is, over-arousal, frustration, aggro, whatever, each of them can be re-trained with DS/CC - desensitization + counter-conditioning.

* Click to Calm - excellent book, theory + background in the front, literal step by step recipes for coping and B-Mod in the back. many of my clients have had good success using this, all on their own.

* Control Un-leashed:
another goodie - Look at That! is a technique that rather than having U react by pulling the leash tight + stop breathing when U see/hear another dog, which only cues the dog to react, instead U cheerfully announce, Look at That! a dog... and start paying out treats as fast as the dog can swallow. (if the dog cannot focus enuf to eat the treats, or if s/he is actually barking, U are too close - back-up a bit, and U can keep feeding while fading back, as long as s/he will eat them.)

the local library may have one or the other - if not, try Interlibrary Loan.

by *treats* i mean SMALL but extremely high-value, low-fat items - not biscuits!
tuna bits from a pouch, grated-low-at-mozzarella, meat-based cat-kibble, anything that is stinky, tiny, and very-very Good. each tidbit should be no more than 1/4 inch cube, and preferably less - an 1/8 inch is fine.
i have also used salmon-bits mixed into low-fat cream-cheese, organic yogurt (vanilla),
and other messy stuff the dog must LICK, not bite - which keeps them very busy! i use a camping-squeeze-tube for the gooey stuff.


NEW section!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
for dogs like terrierists or ball-mad Labs, etc, whose passion is not food but Action!, a short spell of Tug-of-Peace with a dedicated interaction-Only special tug-toy can be a terrific reward for any and all calm behavior, or as a positive-association for the presence (sight, sound, smell) of other dogs - Other dogs are around? Whip out the toy, Look at That! a dog... and commence happy play.
a fetch toy on a drag-cord can be used, also (that way if U throw it + the dog fails to retrieve or only brings it back halfway, U can pull it in vs go-and-get-it - bending over to pick up the fetch toy offers a moment when Ur reactive dog may take off, hit the end of the lead, bark or just silently-stare at another dog - a THREAT - and U might miss the whole thing, and wonder ? why is that formerly-calm dog going insane over my dog? they were fine just a moment ago... ?? )
a sturdy tug-toy of firehose is a good one - they last a long time.
BUT - this is ** not ** a chew-toy, nor is it to be trophied! it does NOT go to the dog - it is YOURS, and U share it by allowing the dog to play with it, *with U*.
that makes it significant, and it becomes a signal for play, very potent.
~~~~~~~ End new section ~~~~~~~~~~


keeping the dog UNDER threshold during the B-Mod process is important - meaning Not barking, lunging, etc. so U need to work in an area with lo-o-o-ng sight-lines, so that U and the dog are not caught by surprise with a dog coming out from between parked cars right in front of U. and preferably there should be NO loose dogs - so a parking-lot near a pet-supply with a stream of dogs arriving at a distance is perfect. a block away from the dog-park, with dogs passing by as U sit under a tree off the walkway, is another.
sitting within sight + sound of the vets office is a good one!

i would skip introductions on leash until he has largely got past the barking + lunging - giving him a possible opp to practice the Un-Wanted behavior is very if-fy.
Practice makes Permanent! is a training mantra.

cheers, and happy B-Mod!
--- terry

terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF