Sorry in advance for this being long!
Brief history.
Axle - 7yr old Dalmatian, neutered male. Reactive to other dogs i believe fear based as he was attacked by a large dog at around 9 months old and again by a GSD last october (just as we were making good progress in getting him better) barks and lunges when encountering another dog, used to just be on lead but since last attack has reacted off lead too - not going off lead atm.
Generally gets quite stressed by road walking, not helped by me getting worked up about his behaviour round other dogs.
Today i decided to take Axle to the local country park/nature reserve. I decided that as the signs all say dogs on lead i had every argument if anyone said anything. As Axle is happy to wear a basket muzzle i used it and he was on a harness and 5m line. We encountered 3 maybe 4 dogs all off lead, he barked at all of them. The first one stood and barked back at him, the others just looked at him as if to say, whats all the noise about there is no need for that! I'm kind of thinking that whilst i don't want to reinforce the barking etc that if the dogs are not trying to fight him and don't really care what the spotty dog has to say it is ok interraction?
Incidently the owner of the first dog stood and chatted for a bit and both dogs were quiet and Axle seemed quite fine to be in close proximity to the other dog.
I feel less worked up by him barking if he has his muzzle on as i know he couldn't do any damage (not that he ever has)
Any info greatfully recieved!
Hope all that makes sense.
Jessy

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Jessy from SD Petcare est 2002
www.sdpetcare.co.uk

How is he if he meets another dog while he's not on his lead?

IMO he is happy to wear the muzzle, you are more relaxed and confident when he wears the muzzle, the more you relax, the less he will react. Good move. Do be sure though lot to let him feel overwhelmed or under threat. You can use what you are currently doing to gradually build his confidence back. If he can walk on lead quietly and calmly with other dogs that will help, but don't let him be overwhelmed by boisterous or aggressive dogs.

Cool! He is fine in the muzzle, i got him used to one when he was young as he had a habit of chewing seatbelts in the car! he has also often worn a headcollar, in fact he is less bothered by the muzzle than he is the headcollar.
I'm pretty good at reading his body language and he didn't get overwhlemed today, i think my main worry was that he was going to be practising the barking too much, but i've kind of figured its not getting a reaction from the dogs we are meeting so maybe they know something i don't!
I haven't tried him offlead with others since the time he rarrred at the doodle type dog soon after i took his lead off! I guess i don't want him to cause another dog to be like him! If he was going to meet other dogs off lead i would still have the muzzle on but i would need to know the other dog wasn't going to react if he did as he would be unable to defend himself.

J

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Jessy from SD Petcare est 2002
www.sdpetcare.co.uk

With the muzzle on you must be his defence and in control to escort him away from danger, walk away not run.

Can you meet again with the friendly dog person, and walk with them for a while?

Getting a social dog to walk/play with if possible would be great.

However, in the mean time on walks when you encounter strange dogs, try building a positive association when other dogs come around. Dogs learn via association, so the more we pair a scary stimulus like another dog with a highly enjoyable stimulus like small bits of cheese, chicken or sausage, the less scary that stimulus is going to become.

If you see another dog, you can say something like 'Yes!' and reward a number of times in quick succession with a toy or a handful of small pea-sized treats. As soon as he looks again, the bar is open again! As soon as the dog is out of view, move on.

You may also like clicker training for this, instead of saying 'Yes'. So when he looks at another dog, click and treat, treat, treat, treat, treat (5 time), he looks back, click and treat (again, treat a number of times). Be sure to remove some of his daily meal food.

Hi Jessie,

I just wish I could offer Beau to help Axel out, but being honest although he is usually good with dogs I would never guarantee his response and being Beddie when he does go he really means it - I am trying to think of anyone local who could help............ Have you tried walking in Holywells Park? lots of on lead/well behaved dogs there (I have not yet come across any out of control, rush up to you dogs when walking there) and other owners often stop to let Beau say hello, course he is a wolf in lambs clothing so people think butter wouldn't melt!

I am interested in what you say about the on lead thing though - was it Orwell CP? we go there a fair bit and see loads of dogs, often off lead,. We keep Beau on lead unless we are right down by the river as if he sees a rabbit or squirrel in the woods he goes totally deaf.

Good luck though

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Hi
Yes Orwell Country park, i tend to park in the Bridge Wood car park, the notices all say "dogs on lead welcome" It's been like that quite a while but not everyone takes notice.
I took him down to Languard point at Felixstowe yesterday with my mum and her dog, that is also a nature reserve with on lead notices (which people ignore!) didn't get up close with any dogs as i knew my mum would probably freak out! Axle is definatley not bothered by the muzzle though so all is good.
Jessy

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Jessy from SD Petcare est 2002
www.sdpetcare.co.uk