DEAR OLD TRAINER: Buddy, our 2-year-old Lab/German shepherd mix, is never aggressive and plays with all the dogs at the park without incident. When I walk him on a leash, though, he gets aggressive with every dog we meet. What is causing this and how do we deal with it?
-- James, Le Grand
A: You answer your own question as to why this occurs, James. Buddy gets along fine with other dogs, but is aggressive on a leash. Therefore, the leash is the problem.
This is a common problem caused by several canine psychological factors:
1. Dogs are pack animals and will automatically go meet any other dog they see. If the dog is restrained before he engages in this activity, he may show his frustration by barking and lunging.
2. Pulling on the leash alters Buddy's dog body language and makes him feel trapped when relating to another dog.
3. If you become tense when approaching another dog, that anxiety is transmitted through increased tension on the leash. Buddy looks around to see what is causing it, spots the approaching dog, and, because you are tense, starts to show aggression.
4. Some owners exacerbate the problem by using the leash to keep their dog from sniffing and exploring the other dog. This is nonsense and is the most common cause of aggression on the leash. There are two steps to solving the problem. The first is the command, "Easy, buddy." It means just what it says -- slow down and relax.
During your walk, when there are no other dogs around, give a gentle pull on the leash, and give the command. Pet and praise him and relax tension on the leash when he slows down. If he ignores you, slap your thigh with a rolled up newspaper and repeat the exercise when he looks back to see the source of the sound.
Each time he slows down, pet and praise him and relax the leash. Repeat half a dozen times, walk for a while, then repeat the exercise. Work on this over and over.
Talk to him while you walk and praise him for being relaxed and responding to the command. Be as relaxed as you are when you take him to the dog park.
The second step is to let Buddy sniff and interact with any friendly dog you meet. Keep tension off the leash while he is doing so. Practice with a friend and a dog that Buddy knows. As the two dogs walk toward each other, give the command, then let them approach each other and engage in normal canine behavior.
Do not force Buddy to put up with rude behavior from another dog. If the other dog is pawing at him or rearing up on him, he is within his rights to warn the dog to behave. Such a warning is not aggression -- it is simple canine communication.
If you are using a short leash, switch to an expandable leash. Having more room on the leash will immediately relax Buddy. Practice every time you walk, make sure Buddy is relaxed and that you are the same, and the problem will disappear.
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