DEAR OLD TRAINER: Quinn, our 2-year-old Belgian shepherd, plays with all the dogs at the dog park and gets along with them all, but when I walk him on a six-foot leash he gets aggressive with every dog we meet.
What is causing this and how do we deal with it?
-- Puzzled, Auburn
A: This is common with many dogs, Puzzled, and you just supplied part of the answer as to why it occurs. Quinn gets along fine with other dogs, but becomes aggressive when on the leash. Therefore, the leash is the problem.
Several canine psychological factors are at work when dogs bark and lunge while on a short leash:
1. Pulling on Quinn with a short leash alters his dog body language and can make him feel trapped when relating to another dog.
2. Tension and anxiety that the owner feels is transmitted to the dog through the tension on the leash. Just as your dog feels happy when you feel happy, he will become tense when you are tense. He sees the change in your body language. He will hear any change in breathing, no matter how slight, and sense the tension. He looks around to see what is causing it, spots the approaching dog, and starts to show aggression.
3. Frustration. Dogs are pack animals and will automatically go meet any other dog they see. If the dog is jerked to a stop before he engages in normal canine activity he will show his frustration by barking and lunging.
The first step in breaking any bad habit is to make sure Quinn is looking at you so that his attention is on you. The command will be "easy, Quinn." It means just what it says, take it easy and relax.
During your walk, when there are no other dogs around, give a gentle pull on the leash, and give the command, then pet and praise him when he looks at you. Do not try to keep the leash tense, use the command to control him. If he insists on ignoring you, slap your thigh with a rolled up newspaper and give the command when he looks back to see the source of the sound.
Every time he looks at you, pet and praise him. Repeat half a dozen times. Do it every time you walk Quinn. It will help if you can arrange to practice with a friend and a dog that Quinn knows. As the two dogs walk toward each other, give the command, praise him, then let them approach each other and behave in normal canine behavior.
Make sure you are relaxed and that your tension is not being transmitted to Quinn. Talk to him while you walk and praise him for being relaxed and for responding to the command. Be as relaxed as you are when you take him to the dog park.
Do not force Quinn to put up with rude behavior from another dog.
Switch from the short leash to an expandable leash. Just having more room on the leash will immediately relax Quinn.
Send questions for The Old Trainer to theoldtrainer711@yahoo.com.
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