Other dogs on our walk

[Sara & Trix]

I am starting to get a little frustrated.

Trix is almost 10 months and really starting to improve on her walks in terms of training her heeling and walk with me on a loose leash. When we meet other dogs on our walk, my little lady turns into the Tasmanian Devil. The other dog and owner see us approaching and I can tell they want to say hi - who wouldn't want to say hi to a cute doodle that is behaving so nicely on a leash...but then as soon as she sees they are approaching, she starts to bark and jump in excitement. No aggression, just total craziness and high pitched barks and wanting to jump and play. The other dog always has the same confused look on its face saying "what the hell is wrong with this dog?". I ALWAYS stay calm and try to have her sit and say hi, but by this point, the other owner is thinking "yeah, I'll just move along before your dog has a heart attack". Then we turn around to keep walking, and boom - she's back to being a perfect little lady.

Trix should be very well socialized by now since she has been going to daycare twice a week since she's 4 months old! I just don't know what to do. I could always just change sides of the street until she is a little older, but I would rather find a way to fix this. Have any of you experienced this and managed to find a solution? Is it just an adolescent thing?

Thank you!

[Adina P]

You might want to join the Training group to discuss this.  It is really a training issue rather than just puppy-hood stuff. 

In my opinion, this is not about socialization. In other words, a dog can behave this way regardless of how many dogs it has met. Meeting MORE dogs and being socialized with MORE dogs does not translate into good behavior or obedience. Only training solves this problem.

So basically what I see, from your description, is a dog that has not been trained around distractions that the DOG considers distracting.  It is easy to obey commands when everything is boring, but easy to disobey when there is something the dog wants more (i.e. to go bonkers with excitement and meet the other dog).  It is up to you to either avoid such situations or plan them on purpose so that you are prepared and can appropriately train during that time. 

You need a training plan and you need to set up situations like these in which you can practice over and over and over.  Are you working with a trainer in a class or otherwise? 

[Sara & Trix]

Good point - I'll post this in the training group!  Yes, she is about to start her level 3 training on January.  She does well in class while training with and around the other dogs. 

[Adina P]

The key will be to practice all these things OUT of class too.  So no casual walks.  Only walks where you plan to meet these distractions at first and have a plan on how to respond to her.  It's not how SHE behaves, but how you respond to her behavior that will make her learn a new behavior. 

Remember that in class there are lots of dogs not just one to focus on. And after a while she gets used to them.  She needs to learn that NO brand-spankin'-new distractions, new dogs, dogs that pop out from behind a bush, etc are reason to disobey or go berserk.

I would not allow her to meet & greet any dog on walks for now.  If anything move slightly out of the way if possible and then have her sit.  Or move slightly out of the way and keep her walking.  But don't let her get close enough to go bonkers until you have a training plan.