Stopping fixation with other dogs?

We have had Buster for 8 weeks now. When he first came to us at almost 6 months he didn't have any training and hadn't had his jabs so hadn't been socialised well (although he was still with his mum). Since coming here we have been training him and he is really good and very friendly. Too friendly.

When he is off lead on walks he will come back to me whenever I call him as long as there is no one else about. He has got better with people now and will not run off to see everyone unless they are very close and start making "awww" noises to him because then he knows he is likely to get fuss.

My big problem is still other dogs. If I see one coming I call him and put him onlead. When he see's the dog he becomes fixated with it. He will not look at me, no matter how much I call him, or what silly noises I make (the other dog walkers must think I'm mad! ) If I'm lucky he may move his ears back when I make a noise, but that is for a split second before all his concerntration goes into the other dog again. He is never nasty to any other dog, even one's that snap and snarle at him, and there are a few dogs we have met while out that he can go and play with (although he they doesn't come back when called unless the other dog comes back aswell).

If he spots another dog before I do and he is off lead then he is off and no amount of calling will get his attention, then I have to try to catch him to put him back on lead and he is a quick little bugger!

We have been going to puppy training for about 3 weeks. He is pretty much ok there, as long as he doesn't have to come off lead for a recall within the first 15 mins because then he runs off all excited. He will do recalls, sit, stays, heel and everything fine.

Does anyone have any idea how I can make him at least look at me if another dog is about? I think that if I can get him to look at me then I can start getting him to concentrate on me more and hopefully start making progress.

Believe it or not, you're not alone! This is a common problem with staffs, especially rescue staffs! (Ask Gee, a member here -he had awful problems with his Troy!) Don't despair!

Firstly you need to stop him running off - don't give him the oportunity. Get yourself a long line (80 feet or so, you can get them on ebay quite cheap), and when you let him off lead, clip the long line on him & let it trail. Every so often call him back & if he doesn't come immediately, reel him in! That lets him know that he is still attached to you & he can't take advantage of the free running.

Also, try teaching him the "Watch" command. When you're at home, have some treats in your pocket & every so often take one out & hold it in front of your face. At the same time say "Watch" and as soon as he looks at you give him the treat. This'll probably take a while for him to catch on, but he'll eventually look at you when you say watch even if you don't have a treat. Once you think he understands, try the same thing outside. A bit more difficult, but he should catch on reasonably quickly if you've done the groundwork indoors.

I'm glad it's not just Buster! I have just ordered a long line and will start with training watch tonight. I think he will pick up watch quite quickly as he looks at me almost everytime I speak to him at home so a treat for doing it will work well! lol.

It is fustrating when he is so good the rest of the time, even at training classes, but when we are out and he see's a dog people then think I have no control, and that he is going to be nasty because he is so fixated. The long line thing will work well too I think, not sure why I had never thought of it before!

I will soon be able to have a relaxed walk without having to constantly be on the look out, I hope!

Good luck!

I have the exact same problem with mine, they will come back but they have to say hello, I'm always on the lookout for other dogs when i let mine off..I'm looking into classes at the moment, will try caryll's advice too..

Well, I've been teaching watch, which he does perfect in the house, or out, untill there is a dog about, then it's back to blanking me I will keep on with it though, hopefully it will click one day. His long line has arrived this morning so I will be walking him on that later and hopefully we will start making progress

ditto i can have the same problem about 5%of the time there nothing i can do to distract the attention from other dogs 95% of the time he will just ignore them but with others he must just scence something that puts him in an alert state

Hi,
yes I can confirm it is not just with rescue dogs, Stella is terrible with running away, I have her on long flexi lead when there are people or dogs around and let her off only when there is a safe area to play or when there are no strangers around.
I tried the long line but it was not long enough, just some 8 meters and she often goes further from me so it was not very successful because I wouldn't have been able to grab it anyway.
I try the "watch" training but she looks at me and pays attention only when there is nothing else around
So I'm just hoping it will get better when she is older or she will just have to be on the flexi lead.
There are plenty of places were I can go and people either know me or there are not any so she can still get loads of running and playing free and she looks happy on the lead as well anyway.
Good Luck

maria0077 wrote:I tried the long line but it was not long enough, just some 8 meters. Good Luck

You can get long lines of 100' from ebay quite cheaply!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-ft-Long-Dog-TRAINING-Lead-LARGE-in-Various-Colours-/130506236996?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&var=&hash=item1e62c72444

I have got a 50ft line (dont know how many meters that is) Im hoping it will be long enough as he doesnt go too far from me - he used to, untill I hid from him one day now he stays fairly close and keeps turning back to check on me! - if it isn't then I will buy a longer one. Round here there isnt many places to go without dogs about so I really need him to stop running off. I have a retractable lead for him, but he prefers a good run about off lead.

Hi,
Yes I am thinking about hiding sometimes as well to make her aware that she has to keep an eye on me
I had a rescue German Shepherd years ago and she was so careful not to wander too far away - she was heeling the first couple of months and I had never had to train her really she was just very obedient by herself But on the other hand first couple of months she was trying to attack dogs who get too close to me (even if it was just an innocent passing because of too narrow path) so it was not ideal either until she calmed down so I guess every dog has some special personal things and they just need patience and love and never to give up the training
I remember when Stella was tiny she didn't want to come back in a park one day she was just sitting and looking around (she loves doing this) and my friend told me "OK, lets get in the car she will go when she sees us leaving" but she was still sitting and thinking about something some 10 meters away, a wee thinker she is, completely relaxed, not the slightest anxiety of being left alone there... She is funny sometimes

I will get the longer line, thanks a lot Caryll!

I am quite lucky that Buster doesn't like to leave me. Even in the mornings if it is my lie in day he wont go downstairs with the OH for a wee, he will wait for me to get up. If he is sniffing something and he wont come when I call him I just turn and either walk or run (depends how interesting the other thing is! Lol) and he is by my side like a shot. Again, this is only something that works with no dogs about though

Buster's_Mum wrote:I have got a 50ft line (dont know how many meters that is) Im hoping it will be long enough as he doesnt go too far from me - he used to, untill I hid from him one day now he stays fairly close and keeps turning back to check on me! - if it isn't then I will buy a longer one. Round here there isnt many places to go without dogs about so I really need him to stop running off. I have a retractable lead for him, but he prefers a good run about off lead.

a 50ft line is about 15 mtr and 100 foot about 30 mtr iv got both i would say the 50 foot more practical as the 100 foot are a bit bulky to carry round and you tend to trip over them lol i only use my 30mtr on hill walks

*note too self: make sure when using a long line that the collar Buster has on is a strong one, or when you go to stop him he keeps going!*

So the first walk on the long line was going ok. We got onto the field with another dog on there and he did well coming back to me when called for the first five minutes. Then he decided he was going to say hello and blank me. I stopped him and called and he came back. I went mad giving him loads of fuss and treats, then he thought he'd have another go. I called him back, he kept going. I went to stop him and a short tug on the line, and he kept going! His collar snapped! Luckily the dog he went to see I have seen about and I know she is friendly. I felt a bit guilty cos her poor owner was doing training with her and she was doing really well. They have been having problems with her running off so he was fine about it. So after they had finished playing I had to carry Buster home.... I'm now thinking I might put him on a diet!

Tomorrow I will buy a new, STRONGER collar and we will try again.

Are also having this problem with Heston he loves meeting other dogs and despite going to obedience training you would think he'd never been...

If there are no other dogs around he will stop and wait or catch up with us, if we get too far away for his liking! However if there is another dog he goes completely deaf and will do anything to meet them and initiate play, regardless of size, age, personality of the other dog....he has even been set upon by two little vicious JRT's who hung off his face bit his feet, but he still came back for more!!!

When we go to obedience class he 'performs' all of his tasks off lead without showing this behaviour, but when when we go to sit down he crawls across the floor and rolls on his belly and will do anything to meet the other dogs! I think it is part of a lot of staffies' personalities and I am hoping with consistancy he will mellow out...god know what will happen if he tries agilty!!!

Well it is only day one of trying the long line (with a new collar) and its typical that we have seen hardly any dogs compared to normal! We did see two this morning though and I dont think it will take him long to realise what he needs to do. He only tried three times to get to them and then he started stopping as soon as I called him, and then coming back. He knows when the long line isn't on though, so I will be keeping it on him for a while even if he starts being good, just to make sure! Thank you Caryll

Our Belle is the same, but reacts differently. I'll have her on the lead (I don't trust any dog enough to let them run off in case I never see them again!) and she'll be fine. Pulling a bit, sniffing, running with me.

BUT! The minute she see's another dog she stares at them with her ears up and she becomes very very rigid. We'll call her, she'll look away but then back at the dog. I end up dragging her away from the dog just to make her stop.

ive trained my two to come to a whistle as Skye had decided to ignore me (started off indoors with lots of lovely sausages)
she is still a bit deaf at times but loads better and my voice dosent get sore lol
but she is also one that loves dogs kids anybody she sees she tends to forget any training and just wants to give kisses (not good for the kids or poeple who are a bit wobbly on their legs even me shes had over with all her love)
Buster on the other hand is very good and never strays too far but he is scared of dogs
both go back on their leads as soon as i see someone coming

it's reassuring to hear it's a common thing with staffys. Ive used a retractable lead for some time now as the short leads are a pain. He didn't get enough flexability on it. The tips on pulling him in when they see another dog and don't listen are interesting as ive tried so many things. mine will stay with me when off the lead but i'm constantly on edge as other dog owners (not all thankfully) often react badly when they see a staff running toward them. it's ironic as in most cases ive encounted, its the other dog that has been aggressive when mine just wants to play.Thats the main reason i need mine to start listening when preoccupied off the lead!! Mind you, muddy paws and him jumping up on people is a nightmare too . lol

Buster is responding really well to the long line. He is loads better than he was. He will come back to me straight away if the other dog is walking away or quite a distance, although if it is walking towards us he will still blank me, but we will get there.

Jumping up is something we have trouble with too, but we are working on that. It didnt help that when OH was taking Buster to work he was allowed to jump up the people there! I kept telling OH that he needs to stop it there too, but he wouldnt listen. The other day Buster got out of the front door while OH was putting out some rubbish, this isnt normally a problem as we dont have a road out the front or anything and he normally comes straight back in, but this time Buster spotted a woman walking along. He ran off and jumped up her! OH had to shout me to call him in (he doesnt listen to OH much). Luckily the lady was ok and owned dogs herself, but OH has now agreed to stop him jumping up at work too - at last!

my poppy jumps up on people in the park and wants to lick their faces and this is not always appreciated. she does not do it all the time so i have to be on my guard all the time. i find the best thing to do though is if i see someone approaching i give poppy a treat or throw a stick and it always works as a long as i see the person before she does. i think she will grow out if it