[bigpawsup]

My 2 year old lab/terrier mix has developed an interesting (and annoying) behavior.

Let me preface this with she is very friendly, both people and dogs, but has the attention span of a goldfish. Training has been difficult but she has a good sit-stay, decent down, and normally a very strong leave it with items and a good recall off the fence (I do not allow her off lead except in enclosed areas – then she’s fine). She has been going on hikes, walks, and dog park trips since we got her 17 months ago. She has never had this problem until the last 3 or 4 weeks.

When we are out, walking, hiking, riding in a car – doesn’t matter, she has started to go insane if she is not allowed to greet other dogs. If she is allowed to greet, she’s fine (sometimes tries to play but accepts no/let’s go). She will walk with me up to the other dog, interested but not pulling on the leash. Give them a sniff, usually a play bow or a “yip” (little bark), but we can move on. Used to be if we had to walk past a dog she would be interested, maybe bark or turn but a leave it and she moved on. Not anymore.

Now if we have to walk past or turn around before she gets to greet the other dog – all hell breaks loose. She barks, she bows, she wiggles on the ground, rolls over etc – hubby laughs and says it looks like she’s having a “happy spasm”. Happy spasm is not happy for me or the other people around her. She is 70 lbs of play mode and I cannot turn her off. If I body block, she tries to wiggle between my feet to look at the other dog and bark. IF I can get a sit she’s leaning her head around me to bark and the tail is going 1000 mph. If I try to walk away she is flipping in the air like a fish or worse throws herself to the ground and I can’t move her. Getting her attention is pretty much impossible but when she finally hears the “leave it” she’ll lay on the ground and bark, refusing to move. Food means nothing, toys actually make it worse (more vocal), and she is just trying to get past me to see the other dog. I can drag her off with the easy walk, but this is not what I want or need.

This can happen almost a block away – all she has to do is SEE the other dog and then realize she can’t greet to start the craziness. However, if we continue walking towards the other dog to the point where they can sniff, maybe a little “yip” and some crazy tail wagging – nothing more and she’ll move on. I’ve tried walking on the opposite side of the street and she is fine, until we pass the other dog. Then she immediately turns around (knock me over once) and starts.

Now, I’m not certain how this is relevant but I know it is. She does not try to approach the other dog and she is not lunging at the other dog. She stays by me, just barking and going nuts. The leash only gets tight if I try to walk away (or she starts flopping at my feet). The point is she wants me to progress with her to the other dog.

I cannot even drive past the dog park any more. She looked out the window and went crazy in the back seat. To someone not knowing that this is mostly play behavior, she looks deranged. We were hiking at Indiana Dunes on Saturday of over 5 hours, she could barely keep her eyes open, yet as soon as we got near the dog park – boom she’s off.

Exercise is not helping, she get is up to 2 walks per day at an hour each (trying to stay to back alleys at this point to avoid other dogs), she get to go to the park 2 or 3 times per week, and we hike on Saturdays. This is the same schedule it has been for over a year.

We have some “unfriendly” dogs in the neighborhood and some small dogs that are afraid of her, so we have to walk past them and it is just not working. I’m open to giving just about anything the college try.

[piratekitty]

This is really strange behavior for a 2yr old, I see this all the time with puppys, or dogs that are a yr old. It dosent sound like your dog is mean aggresive, but just wants to meet and play. Dose your dog get play time with other dogs, and if so how often? I understand your concern about not letting your dog meet every dog, some dogs you dont want to interact with because of being aggresive, or little like my 9 lb dog. I feel the same way.
In the dog classes I attend we work on good greeting behavior when meeting dogs. It is important for your dog to know to sit and wait for you to say it is ok to greet or not the other dog. If you know of someone who has a friendly dog, but your dog has not met, maybe they would work with you on greeting the dogs. In our class we have our dogs sit in a heal position next to us facing each other with 20 ft between us. We walk towards each other in a controled heal, and have dogs sit,still facing each other, 10 ft apart. When both dogs are showing controled behavior, praise, move closer, let dogs meet for a moment, praise for good behavior, turn and walk away to repeat greeting over. If any dog dosent show a good controled behavior ( sitting and waiting for your ok to meet) turn your dog away saying ahaa, or leave it. Dont get frustrated, stay calm, because your dog will feel it in the leash or hear it in your voice. I think you just have a very social dog who loves to meet others, it will just take time and trainning to make him know that he has to wait till you say its ok. I have seen some really crazy out of control young dogs over come this with work, so I;m sure your dog will learn good meeting too.

[bigpawsup]

Overly social is how my vet described her. I didn't think of trying a slow move to greet, because she greets fine. I have a friend who 5 yr old might be perfect to try this with. I'm wondering if sitting next to each other and then moving on might work. I have to get her to understand she can't always say "hi and play".

I know this is weird in a dog her age (2 yrs 3 months), but Tazzy seems to defy logic.

She get to play on Tues, Thurs, & some Fri at the dog park. Saturday's either a big hike or short hike and DP. Maybe some more actual play dates will help. She has a Pittie buddy she doesn't see nearly enough, I'll try to set something up there more often.

I'm just hoping it's a "phase" at this point but thanks for the idea.

[Lara's mom]

I understand this is a problem for you but, the good part is that your dog is friendly and wants to interact and play with other dogs. Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with friendly dogs wanting to interact with my girls. In fact, I welcome it and if they jump on me in the process, so be it. Any dog mom who expects to go through life without a pawprint motiff on her clothing is dreaming!

Just imagine if you had the same issue but, your dog was not friendly toward other dogs. Then, you'd REALLY have a problem!!!

[lange]

I;ve never known a dog like this either. I was curious to see what replies you might get when I first read it.

The only thing I wonder is what would happen, when you're walking (not in the car!lol) and you just do a dead stop and freeze when she goes nuts like that? I'm sure it'd be so hard to do but I would think once she calms down you could take a step forward. Then ff she starts again, you could stop and wait it out again..and on..

Normally, I would think, turn around and walk away (like when leash training) but from what you posted, you might be better off just stopping and freezing. Although, it'll probably take a good while for her to gain some self control!! Hope you're patient?

Hopefully, it IS a phase, for your sake as well.

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I understand this is a problem for you but, the good part is that your dog is friendly and wants to interact and play with other dogs. Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with friendly dogs wanting to interact with my girls. In fact, I welcome it and if they jump on me in the process, so be it. Any dog mom who expects to go through life without a pawprint motiff on her clothing is dreaming!

Just imagine if you had the same issue but, your dog was not friendly toward other dogs. Then, you'd REALLY have a problem!!!

Just shows how different we all are. My nightmare's are hyper acting dogs. Over excitement is one of Kuma's triggers so for us, it'd definitely be a dog I'd want to stay away from for that alone.

[Lunareclipse]

Buster gets overly excited when he sees another dog too. He drug me face first across the street once to see the JRTs over there. I should have let go of his leash. He's really strong.

[bigpawsup]

thanks guys. Fortunately I have tons of patience for dogs so hopefully I will outlast her. I'm going to try the heel training priatekitty suggested. See if I can trick her into walking past.

People just look at her like she is so vicious when she's barking. They see big, black, dog and in their minds she's "mean".

I have to say she is one unique mutt!

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Buster gets overly excited when he sees another dog too. He drug me face first across the street once to see the JRTs over there. I should have let go of his leash. He's really strong.

See, this would be worse! I'll live with barking and flopping!

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by bigpawsup

See, this would be worse! I'll live with barking and flopping!

I was not amused. I had severe road rash for two weeks. I almost got hit by a car. Thankfully he isn't as bad as he used to be. I just think he has ADD and he has OCD when he sees other dogs. At least he doesn't go through the screen anymore when he sees a dog on the sidewalk. He will bark and run around in circles though.

[bigpawsup]

I'm glad to hear he's better now. Gives me hope.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by bigpawsup

I'm glad to hear he's better now. Gives me hope.

He's better. That still doesn't mean he doesn't act all hyper and uncontrollable when he sees another dog. If he's on a leash the behavior seems to be worse than when he's not on a leash.

[piratekitty]

Y

Originally Posted by bigpawsup

Overly social is how my vet described her. I didn't think of trying a slow move to greet, because she greets fine. I have a friend who 5 yr old might be perfect to try this with. I'm wondering if sitting next to each other and then moving on might work. I have to get her to understand she can't always say "hi and play".

I know this is weird in a dog her age (2 yrs 3 months), but Tazzy seems to defy logic.

She get to play on Tues, Thurs, & some Fri at the dog park. Saturday's either a big hike or short hike and DP. Maybe some more actual play dates will help. She has a Pittie buddy she doesn't see nearly enough, I'll try to set something up there more often.

I'm just hoping it's a "phase" at this point but thanks for the idea.

Wow your dog gets lots of dog time, Your dog is just really happy social, Happy is a good thing, you just want to control the the social just a bit.
Any training exercise on getting your dog to listen to you, and pay attention to you instead of wanting to great the other dog should work, change it up to what you think your dog will be successful with. Thats what is important, your dog success. The main thing is that it should be your idea to meet the dog, not your dogs. Because there is dogs out there you will not want your dog to meet. And pay attention to readding the signs your dog shows that she is going to react, and change it so she will be successful.
Just last week when Hunter, Nina and I were on the walking trail, a very agressive large dog was coming the other direction. It was already lunging on its leash at 20 feet from us. Nina paided no attention to it, as I was having both dogs heal, telling them good heal, good heal. I noticed Hunter starting to react to this lunging dog. I had already decided not to meet this dog. Just as the dog was almost passing across from us I put Hunter in to a sit from our walking heal, I knew I had one more comand of down if I needed , but I had his full attention with sit. I praised both dogs and we moved back into a walking heal. With Hunter not giving that dog another look. I had given him comands, and had his attention on me, he for got about the dog, and would rather please mom because he love praises.
Ive put alot of time and trainning in to Hunter, and Nina. But its paided off because I can be out anywhere and feel I have good control and behavior from them. My theory is if you have the trainning in your dog, you need to practice good behavior and attention skills all the time, or your dog forgets it, and thats when bad habits start to appear ( use it or lose it. ) Good luck and let me know how its going with you dog.