Dog training help needed! Lunging/Aggression Problem?

Question

I just adopted a 2 year old Boxer/Chow mix and we're working hard on getting his walk together... He's starting to pick up on heeling but completely loses it when he sees another dog. If he ever gets loose on me he doesn't seem to try to hurt other dogs aside from doing the "boxer" thing with his paws. I'm starting to feel a lot calmer whenever we're in that situation, but it's time to get the behavior fixed.

I've read that yanking on the leash and keeping constant tension whenever he's lunging at other dogs will only make him more determined to attack.

What are some ways to break his fixation and keep him calm? This dog shows some signs that it may have come from abuse, and he's VERY strong. A quick tug on the leash doesn't even register.

All ideas and walking advice are appreciated!

Answer 1

If all he does is lunge and act like a jerk on leash chances are the leash is the problem.  He's already excited by seeing another dog, the leash is amping him up with opposition reflex (you pulls, he pulls) and the dogs can over-react to each other because they are pulled artificially into a body language that suggests they are challenging each other.  This gets called leash aggression, but I'm a fan of labeling it as reactivity (the leash/tension disappears, the reactivity subsides). But if it doesn't get replaced with an alternate behavior, you're right, it will get worse and can turn into something a lot more serious.

I wouldn't use a choke or pinch collar to correct the problem.  This assumes the dog is somehow going to figure out that his behavior is  wrong and by acting friendly the punishment will stop.  In my experience, dogs are simpler and more straight-forward than that and learn the simpler association that other dogs predict punishment for him, which tends to increase the aggression.  

That's why I became a dog obedience instructor 10 years ago, by the way.  I tried using punitive methods to correct the increasing reactivity in my shepherd and after many classes with highly-thought of instructors I got a dog who not only screamed her head off at the slightest suggestion of another dog, but one who went in for the kill.  And then I was told to "get rid of the dog" that they helped me to create.  

I like to start off training this type of dog by teaching attention and there is actually some exciting new training being offered called "constructional aggression" which doesn't use treats but uses the concept of taking pressure off by having the strange dog move away when the dog offers a more acceptable behavior than lunging.  The results look incredibly promising with this protocol.  

I'm a huge fan of Gentle Leaders halter collars (these seem to be losing favor, but I've used and loved the things for years).  My aggressive dog is over 12 years old now and I've managed her behavior over the years.  She learned her lessons well, she hates other dogs and tolerates the rescues I've brought home through the years.

It's a lot easier and effective to reward the behavior you want than to try to teach what you don't want.  My opinion, anyways.  

Answer 2

I suggest that you enroll in a obedience class, they are very good.

Try using a choke collar, not a nylon or leather collar when walking your dog, you can also use a prong collar with the little rubber tips on, never use the prong collar with out the tips, you can hurt your dog.

Keeping constant tension on the collar doesn't work, you have to snap and release, that why you need a choke collar, when you do that it mimics the mother dog giving the puppy a warning bite to let him know he's not behaving.