I need help this time.....

If you have a dog who is not good on the lead when meeting other dogs how do you stay relaxed???? as I know I am up-tight which is sending the wrong signals to my dog................

Probably need a little more info.

What breed do you have, age etc and are you using a collar and lead or halti?

What kind of issues are you experiencing when meeting other dogs? Is it friendly or agressive behaviour?

I have had awful trouble introducing my puppy ESS puppy to my Labrador and terrier............ terrier ok with pup, Lab NOT and actually bit puppy................... got professional trainer in through APDT and this forum link and she is wonderful. she has set me homework as my Labrador is really up-tight and showing agression to dogs now because of past dog attacks........ and intro to puppy has stressed her out.....
My homework is:
I have to walk my Lab alone out on streets to introduce her to other dogs which I am doing twice daily excluding her ususal run around the grounds at home....
She tenses up when she spots another dog and does this staring stiff reaction and I am NOT helping as I know she wants to attack... therefore I NEED to relax to help my Lab but I am struggling...
I use a collar and lead, I've been told NOT to use a musle,head collar, chain etc. My Lab is 4yrs old.

I understand what you are suggesting, your tension is being picked up by your dog and so responding to the only threat there is - the other dog. Your apprehension become self forfilling.

If you have a positive mindset (think of the good doggie meetings not fighting to control your dog) you body will relax and your walking motion will be more 'normal'.

I'm fairly sure I've written here before about introducing your dog to a stranger (stooge that you have agreed with before) dog by walking up behind them. Allowing your dog to sniff the strange dog, if your dog reacts badly take him on a diversion circuit (instantly walk in a circle away from the other dog) - you dog learns that when approaching other dogs him tensing up or a woof results in being taken away from from the situation.

When the dog is calm and does a good greeting he gets rewarded, praise/treats.

Walking with other dog owners helps.

Do you know why you have been told not to use a head collar? I use a Dogmatic and it is wonderful for allowing me a relaxed walk in situations where I know Kilo will get excited. We have had a horrible situation this summer where the local kids made it their mission to tease Kilo and try and get a reaction by chasing around us on their scooters and bikes, yelling at him, running towards him as fast as they can, then swerving away etc ...if I see them coming and I don't have his headcollar on I automatically put tension on the lead and get nervous in case he lunges - and he does. With his Dogmatic I can walk with the lead absolutely relaxed, safe in the knowledge that I can easily control him if needed. Because I am relaxed and have a hand free I can click and treat for the "LAT" game and we have made great progress.

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[QUOTE=Manoy Moneelil;1061446646]I understand what you are suggesting, your tension is being picked up by your dog and so responding to the only threat there is - the other dog. Your apprehension become self forfilling.

If you have a positive mindset (think of the good doggie meetings not fighting to control your dog) you body will relax and your walking motion will be more 'normal'.

I'm fairly sure I've written here before about introducing your dog to a stranger (stooge that you have agreed with before) dog by walking up behind them. Allowing your dog to sniff the strange dog, if your dog reacts badly take him on a diversion circuit (instantly walk in a circle away from the other dog) - you dog learns that when approaching other dogs him tensing up or a woof results in being taken away from from the situation.

When the dog is calm and does a good greeting he gets rewarded, praise/treats.

Thank you for your reply...

My dog trainer bought in her old sheep dog Griff who she has worked with for years and shown him in shows etc, he was very wise and could read other dogs letting the trainer know what he thought of the new dog.......... the trainer let her dog griff out and he put his back to sophie my Lab who was licking her lips and staring and evenutally relaxed......... after 20 mins of my Lab de-stressing she eventually followed him around the garden, he came up to greet my Lab.......... in a split second my Lab bit him and told him to back off................. the trainer said my Lab was giving such suttle signals if any...... this is why I have to walk my Lab in dog areas, with no close up contact with other dogs, just to get her used to seeing other dogs giving me the chance to distract her and walk on... unitll I crack normal walking pass a dog even if it is a calm dog like Griff I need to keep her calm then the prosess will begin to introduce her to more dogs closer............ but I know I am not helping and I need to relax and show her not to fear other dogs................

I will try to think of good past experiences where she has met some nice dogs and she was nice back.......................... not easy is it! especially when I can see her stopping going stiff and staring..................

Can you carry a squeaker from a murdered toy? I use one to break Kilo's concentration when he starts to stare at things sometimes, or turn him away using his headcollar to break the eye contact?

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Oh that must be just awful, shame you can't get a water pistol on the local kids, but you'd be done with abuse!!! even though they deserve it.

I will mention your idea of this Dogmatic to my trainer and she what she thinks. Thank you..

ooooh there's a good idea......... I'll try that today, I have to stop her infactuation with balls as she has become possessive over them since the puppy came along.

Brill idea. I'll be know as the squeeking lady.

Kilo is known as the 'primula dog' by local riders as I used to give him squeezy cheese as we went past horses to stop him reacting - works as the dog has to work to get the cheese from the tube - maybe try that too?

I look like the ultimate crazy lady at times - walking along saying 'what's that?' in a happy voice and clicking / treating, sometimes squeaking, sometimes turning around and going the way I have just come, sometimes walking along with Kilo glued to a tube of cheese......

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