Aggression towards 2 other dogs.

Hi all again. My OH flew to UK already so now I have Debo to myself. And because I've got more time now and can spend it with him, would like to work on some issues he has. So, he's pretty good with dogs, just get very exited when he sees one so we are working on his "watch" command( I know he's already 2 ). He's doing alright. But there are two dogs he hates and they don't love him. He met tchem twice or so and they didn't go a long. So now everytime we passing their gardens Debo goes all tense, ready for the action, even if the dogs aren't there. He just simply switch off. When they're in the gardens if he could he would rip of the fence. What I do at the moment ( and please correct me if it's wrong ) when we getting close to their gardens I start the " watch " command and we keep walking, Debo watching me, when we get closer Debo's attentions goes to the garden, so I change diraction, when I've got his attention back on me, we are back on track. And on and on untill we pass the gardens with Debo's eyes on me. Am I doing the right thing? My OH didn't see it as a problem but I do, I know I won't change it in week.

Sounds like you are doing the right things, could you take a different route to avoid this house ? Maybe also try a squeaky toy or treats to also help distract him while going past this particular house. Keep going with the Watch Me command as you go past the house if you cannot avoid it.

Sounds like your on the right track to me also. Kathy is spot on with the toy etc. I use Flo's stick to distract her and it hasn't failed yet.

Thanks, I use treats at the moment but will get a squeaky toy, he loves tchem.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things and great advice above

Hello! It sounds like you've got the techniques right, maybe just work on the timing so that you catch him before he begins to get tense? Once he's left his "baseline" and noticed the trigger he will begin to escalate which will shut down the learning part of his brain. Basically what you need to do is condition him to expect something positive when he comes towards these houses, so anything he never usually gets but really really likes (cheese, bouncy balls, squeaky toys) and begin to interact with him with there a few minutes before he leaves baseline and then until he's well past the houses.

Thanks Rachel. Now I know what I've been doing wrong. I didn't get Debo's attention quick enough and also will get something special for those trips. We went that way today and I've manager to get Debo nicely sit close to the garden with the other dog barking like mad. But as soon as I tried to walk DEbo went for the dog. At first I was worried that he might be DA but he's fine with all females and most of the males, it's just males that for some reason Debo dislike.