Hi all you dog lovers out there,
If you are needing to socialise your dog with other dogs I have found a way which is quite easy. When you go out for walkies bring LOADS of treats with you and every time you see another dog, just pop a treat into your dog's mouth. It is quite a slow process but gradually you will see your dog's agression towards other dogs disappear as they see it as an opportunity for getting a treat.
I have done this with my rescue JRT and he now quite happily wants to play with other dogs and not bite them. (Took about three to four months!).
Hope this helps anyone having the same problem.

this is a great idea ! do you give the treat when you are really close to the other dog ?
my little treasure starts to growl when they are quite a way away

on "its me or the dog" Victoria was doing exactly this today with a boxer and it seemed to work. I took ziva over the park today (she has been snappy with other dogs since she was attacked) and feed her lots of treats while a dog went past, she was sitting. i said "dog" and gave her the treats (victoria suggested this!)She was brilliant. i gave her loads of praise too. I know this is only once but i am feeling really positive as i have an easy technique...keep your fingers crossed for me Vitoria also suggested special treats for this work ie cheese (ziva adores this) and to only use this treat for this behaviour.

Yes this is a common counter-conditioning method used by behaviourists when you have dog-to-dog troubles. It means that the dog or pup builds positive associations with other dogs.

High value treats so chicken, liver, cheese etc.

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Use your brain, not a choke chain.

At least 111 suggestions in here!: 111 Socialization Opportunities for Puppies

Just a note on this - if your puppy shows any discomfort signaling when socialising its important to get out of dodge and work hard on this situation from a distance that your puppy can cope. Socialisation is not just about exposing puppy to different things but about ensuring that puppy forms positive associations with all manor of scenarios - to do this make sure to recognise early, polite discomfort signals.

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Hi
You should give the treat as soon as you know your dog has spotted the other dog in the distance, even if it's really far away. You can also say "doggie" in a high pitched excitable voice whilst feeding the treat. This way your dog feels you see it as a good thing.

When you have progressed a bit on this, and can get closer to other dogs, it is a good idea to keep a long lead, as if your dog feels any tension on the lead it will think you are trying to keep it away from the other dog, and therefore want to behave badly.

It's a bit of dog psychology going on here, but I did this and it really made a big difference.

Good luck.

I have been using this method with Bob for a while & it really does seem to help with his dog agression, he is now sedate & calm as opposed to barking & stressed when we go past other dogs now

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That is so good.
Of course after being attacked she will be fearful. But it will take some time. It is a simple technique but it really worked for me and Bobby.

He just loves to play about now, like a normal friendly dog except when a dog off-lead comes bounding over to him, he doesn't like it and tends to snap but otherwise is ok.

Just keep doing it and i'm sure in about six months or so your dog will be the same.

Good luck. Keep in touch and tell me how your doing.

we went to the park today and as soon as i saw two dogs in the distrance i started to say dog and got the cheese out, she really switched her focus to me. I kept say dog as i gave her cheese. she was on her long lead so i left it loose and she walked off with me barely looking at the other dogs.

ok the dogs were a long way away, but this made me feel really posivie that we can do it. i know it is a tiny step and will take a long but my lack of confidence in her beahviour around other dogs had reached a point where i was thinking of muzzleing her!!

just bought some more cheese so bring those dogs on!! ziva is gonna be social LOL

I know its so easy and does seem to really work.

I need some advice now on how to stop Bobby (my rescue JRT X) wanting to bite everyone that comes into the house. We have to muzzle him when anyone comes in, he goes really beserk and tries hard to get it off so he can bite them.

Any ideas on de-sensitising him to people entering his territory.