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I don’t have a lot of games I play with Ace, but I like to goof around with him and make fun of him. One thing I do is throw a blanket over his whole body, spin him around and see how quickly he can get out (not quick). He also likes to find things I hide and run back and forth between Josh and I as we run in opposite directions. Sometimes I play hide and seek with Ace, but I am always the one to hide. He also knows “get Scout,” which means to find my cat. How about you? What games do you play with your dog? Ace and I could use some new game ideas. Email your dog-related question to me at Lindsay@thatmutt.com, and I’ll post it for others to answer. Click here to read all of my weekly question posts.
I’ve seen this same issue with my family’s golden, Elsie. Elsie used to growl and strain at the leash when other dogs passed during a walk. With her, it seemed like she had low self confidence and acted out with aggression toward other dogs because of her anxiety. In her case, using a Gentle Leader for walks solved the problem. She is a different dog while wearing it. She is calmer and doesn’t try to control every dog she passes. Although I don’t think the Gentle Leader (or any similar head collar) will fix the problem entirely, it is a tool that can help control a dog that is acting dominant. If anything, the owner will be more relaxed and confident and the dog will pick up on that energy and also become more relaxed. Correcting an aggressive dog on a leash is similar to correcting a dog that whines on a leash because in both cases the dog is not under control. Many of the strategies to correct a hyperactive, crying dog will also work to correct an aggressive dog. Make sure the dog is getting enough exercise so he is less likely to release his pent-up energy in a negative way. As far as correcting a dog, the worst thing to do is hold the leash really tight because the dog will naturally want to resist and pull even harder. Tension will cause the dog to act even more aggressive, so make sure to hold the leash loosely. Also keep the collar high on the dog’s neck where you will have the most control, and give quick leash snaps when necessary to correct the dog. Practice walking your leash-aggressive dog near other dogs in a controlled situation with another person and dog you trust so you can make quick corrections when needed. Make the aggressive dog sit at your side and have another dog walk around him from a safe distance. Again, hold the leash loosely and give him a quick leash pop the second he growls, barks, stares at a dog or starts to lunge. Signing up for a group obedience class is a good idea so your dog can practice being around several dogs while on a leash. Does anyone else have a solution for Lora and Apollo? Have you ever dealt with leash aggression? What caused it, and how did you fix the problem? Email your dog-related question to me at Lindsay@thatmutt.com, and I’ll post it for others to answer. Click here to read all of my weekly question posts. (Image from m-star.tumblr.com)
These questions have been asked so far: Training/behavior: What is your dog’s worst habit? How do you deal with leash aggression? How do you stop your dog from crying on walks near other dogs? What do you do to get your dog to stop whining? Do you kennel train your dogs? Does your dog sleep in your bed? Pet services: Travel: Issues: Is it OK for other people’s dogs to poop in your yard? Entertainment: Who’s your favorite movie dog? What is the silliest game you play with your dog? Health: Is it bad to give your dog human food? Other: |
