dog training advice

[handmaiden97]

I could use some advice on dog training. I just enrolled my German sheperd and I in an agility course.....he can do the obstacles fine, the problem comes when we get to the class and he see's all the other dogs, he freaks out, goes brain dead!!!! Every time a dog comes anywhere near us he lunges towards them....he wants to play and is harmless although when he lunges at them and barks ferociosly he does look down right scarry!!! I spent the class last night trying to keep him from lunging at the end of his lead......infact I have hands that are blistered and missing skin, my back and shoulders ache and Im dreading next week......I have the course to myself on Thursday and that will be great, alone he knows the obstacles, is well mannered, sits, heals, lies down promptly on command. Alone he is extremly responsive, in fact up until the last two times I have had him in that class I though he was well trained......then I get around other dogs and he goes biserk.....the hard thing is I can correct him very eaily in that setting, most the folks there think of dogs like kids, and so Im not sure how to correct him with out making them mad....

A choke chain does not work on him and Im going to try a pinch collar this afternoon

 

[Dagna]

Has he ever been trained in a group setting before or did you do basic obedience at home?

 

[kellyc]

is he neutered? that would make a really big difference with regards to behavior. it seems like even tho he is well behaved in some settings he's not yet fully trained. you might want to work on him in a group class so he can get past his excitement. good luck!

 

[handmaiden97]

Yep he definatly needs manners when in public, I generally train my dogs at home, this is the first time I have ever taken a dog to class....but I didnt know anything about agility and wouldn't know where to start in training him....

No he is not nuetered nor will he be.......I know we had well mannered stallions so Im sure a dog can be just as good or better in social situations....I just need to learn how to work on it. how do I correct him?

 

[Dagna]

Do you plan on breeding your dog? If not, get him neutered. It will not cause him any harm and by not doing it you are risking your dogs life. Neutered dogs can be shown in agility, only conformation dogs need to be intact. Intact male dogs can (and usually do) become aggressive, usually at about 2 years old is when you'll really notice it. Intact male dogs are also at risk of testicular cancer (obviously), they are more likely to wander from home, usually when a female dog is in heat (which they can smell a mile away), and they are more likely to mark territory, especially in the home. I can't stress enough the importance of getting your dog neutered. This will help the behavioral problems you're experiencing.

Past that, get the dog into professional basic obedience in a class setting with other dogs. Right now, you're dog isn't listening to you because he's 1. not neutered and 2. because he doesn't know how to behave in a group like you're in...there really is no "correcting" him. He needs to be properly trained to be in a situation like you're in, using positive reinforcement.

 

[handmaiden97]

thanks for the advice, I can't nueter him though , since I do plan on breeding him....he is the first non nuetered dog I have ever owned however....but in the past I always owned mutts!!!!!!! This is the first dog I ever actually had to invest real money into.

 

[BlondieLashes]

Hi. I agree with the other posters that recommed to get him neutered. I mean this in the most gentle way...there are too many pets without owners out there already (I am a huge advocate of spaying and neutering...I work at a vet and know how many "unwanted pets" are out there already!

Okay, climbing down from my soapbox...have you tried something like a Gentle Leader or a Haltie? They basically are a type of muzzle/leash that allow you to have control over where your dog goes. Great for training puppies and not harmful or cruel to the dog in any way. They aren't that expensive and you can get them at just about any pet store!!!!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[alwayz_remember_Calvery]

I say correct him there like you would at home. It's your dog, not anyone elses and if they have a problem with you correcting your dog then it's THEIR problem, not yours. (unless of course you're abusing the dog instead of correcting it). You said something about having stallions...think of it like this: Would you let your stallion misbehave in publid? No, because it's dangerous. Same thing with the dog.

 

[Jody7818]

If the neutering works, then that's great. You may also want to just get him out so that he can play with other dogs. Sounds like a social problem. Plus, I've heard that German Sheperds can be a little aggressive.