Leash Pulling and Agression??

[shay19]

I need some tips on teaching the pups not to pull on their leashes while out on walks... Bruiser has done this ever since we got him since he was never on a leash before and was just allowed to roam wherever, Aida only started this after we got Bruiser and also only does this when we walk them both together. I'm going to work with them 1 on 1 with it then when they have it down I'm going to add the other dog and keep at it until we can walk both of them together without being dragged our whole walks.

Also, I think Aida and Bruiser are starting to show dog aggression, not towards each other, but other dogs... Just last week I had my sister over and told her to watch the dogs for a second so I could use the bathroom and I came out to hear "Stop! Stop!" I thought Aida and Bruiser were fighting over something and I knew she couldn't break them up if they were. But I ran out and saw my new neighbors puppy sticking its nose through my fence and barking at my 2. They were going nuts, trying to jump the fence, hair standing up, growling everything. I managed to get in the backyard and grab their collars to keep them on the ground but they were still trying to lunge (sp?). The people who owned this dog were nowhere in sight, they allowed their 8 yr. old daughter to play with it unattended who then put it in a backyard with holes in the fence and that's how it ended up in front of my fence. Anyway, the whole time I was holding them I was just screaming "Somebody grab this dog NOW!" I reallly didn't want my 2 to go up and over that fence and possibly kill it. (This same dog escaped out of the fence and ran away last weekend too, nobody has seen it since, I even tried to be nice and checked the shelter listings and nothin... All I can say though is that's a version of karma for leaving a puppy outside)

And again last night while we were out for a walk we were close to turning onto our street and here comes a Pit Bull puppy and a little Poodle thing... My 2 instantly tried to lugne at it and again had raised hackles and were growling like crazy. My fiancee and I had to hold both of the dogs up, arms under front legs and kind of lifted them off the ground so they couldn't bite the dog. There was 1 person outside and they did nothing but watch while we tried to keep our dogs from going after the puppy. Finally someone came out and grabbed it, but it seemed like we were standing there forever trying to keep our dogs from going to it.

Now my question is, these 2 are normally VERY good with other dogs, they love them. But it seems like in the last week they've changed. I don't know if this is true dog aggression or if they are reacting to the other dogs running up to them. Either way I need some tips on how to manage it, I know Pibbles are like more prone to dog aggression so I'd like to find a way to controll this before it worsens.

[adoptapitbull]

Keep in mind, too, that dogs do tend to learn each other's bad habits. If you walk them separately, I'm sure the pulling won't be as bad. Same goes for the fence fighting. Plus, if one dog starts getting sh!tty with another, they tend to all take it to that level. It could be some barrier frustration, too. We've had one or two fence fights (luckily it's a privacy fence) with the little terrier next door. It started getting sh!tty with my boys, so they got sh!tty right back!

Try training them to focus on you in a sit stay when a dog walks by. Use your clicker and some yummy treats to work on them. If they ignore the passing dog, then you'll feel much better about handling them.

[shay19]

I definately want them to learn to focus and be in a sit stay whenever a dog walks by, the problem is though we've never had an issue with a dog that was just walking by... My 2 want to go meet them but that's it, the problem we have is the dogs that aren't leashed and run up to them... That's when they freak out and start lunging, growling and barking. I have no idea how to control that at all and I really don't want them to end up in a fight because of it.

I can't wait to get out of this neighborhood, nobody around here leashes their dogs (except one couple who owns a rottie, but he looks scary, I didn't even want to go near that dog and I usually don't care about the looks) whether they're puppies or adults. I think once we move into our new house and the nicer area we won't have as much of a problem with this as we do here, but for the next month or so we're here and I really need a way to get them out of this habit (or at least control it) before it worsens... If I can't find one we'll be resorting to only playing in the backyard til we move and I don't think that will give them enough exercise.

[michele5611]

For starters I might suggest the sensation harness for both dogs. Also agree with adoptapit if possible for you to walk them separately at least for the time being. It sounds like you have a lot to deal with while walking in your neighborhood from your own account that most dogs are not leashedso it is tough enough to keep your eyes on one dog and your surroundings let alone two dogs. Are the neighborhood dogs out and about all day? The reason I ask is maybe it is possible for you to walk your dogs at odd hours when the chances of you running into other dogs is less. If you really do not feel comfortable about walking them right now and if you have to excercise them in the backyard for the next month than so be it. Better safe than sorry-just my humble opinion.

With regards to the issues it could be leash reactivity as well as barrier frustration with regards to the fence issue. From what I remember both Aida and Bruiser are pretty young...correct me if I am wrong...they may just be reaching maturity now and so you are seeing their "true colors" with regards to their level of dog selectivty.

I would also suggest start clicker training them if possible. Lots of info on clicker training on the training board.

[shay19]

I would love to try the sensation harness, do you know of a good website/store to get one? I've heard you all say so many great things about it that I think it may be perfect. I do want to walk my dogs seperately, but by the time it cools off here (we've been hitting close to 100 since June) it's about 9pm (and still around 80) and my fiancee hates me going out in this neighborhood by myself at that time so we'd usually just take both dogs out (that way I don't have to go out twice) and he'd walk Bruiser I'd walk Aida.. I haven't been able to walk Bruiser for months cause he just drags me around.

Anyway, yes alot of dogs in our neighborhood are out all day, sometimes all night. It's hard to find a street around here that doesn't have at least 1 dog unleashed. Sometimes we get lucky and don't run into them or know exactly where they are and avoid them. Last night the puppy and poodle came as a surprise, I didn't even know dogs lived there cause I like to make a mental note of where all the dogs are and which ones are allowed off leash.

But yes, they are both young, still under a year so is there anything I can do as far as training to help tone down the leash reactivity/barrier frustration so it doesn't get worse? I already do a lot of clicker training with the two but I wouldn't know where to start with these 2 issues.

[adoptapitbull]

I don't think it would be a bad idea to maybe put walks on hold. It's much safer for them to play in the yard with you rather than run the risk of running into and fighting with a dog. In a 3 dog fight, it's almost certain that you will get injured and so will your dogs. It's not your fault that your neighbors are irresponsible!

[shay19]

That's why I hate this neighborhood so much, everyone lets their dogs roam and they just don't care.

I hate the fact that I have to take walks away from Bruiser and Aida now because of other people, especially since they love them so much. I know it's not my fault but in my opinion it really sucks. I don't make enough to get them a bunch of toys like they used to have (before they were destroyed lol) and now their walks will be gone too. I really wish people would start paying attention and realizing that their actions really do affect that of other's.

Anyway, is there any fun games we could play with these 2? I think the only toys they have left is 2 ropes and a squeaky toy... Any kind of homemade toys or just fun little games would be great. Something that will wear them out too..

And thank you for the input, I don't know where I'd be without ya guys!

[adoptapitbull]

lol Shoes and toilet paper seem to be my dogs' toy of choice...but that doesn't mean they're MY toy of choice!

A good game of "monkey in the middle" always goes over well here! You could play that!

[shay19]

lol shoes are a definate favorite toy here, I'm down to one pair now... I never thought of monkey in the middle though, definately going to try that, it's going to be interesting with 2 dogs at once lol

[sugar]

With my rottie, I used to take old jeans that were unwearable (lets just say my big hispanic thighs wore holes in them, lol) and make them dog toys by cutting off the legs and then tying them into big knots. The jeans material was fairly durable and it was a great way to recycle. Bonus points if you can use discarded squeakers in the jean-knot-toy

[adoptapitbull]

Be careful with monkey in the middle if they can be toy aggressive at all. You don't want them to go for the toy, smack heads, and start something!

[jdbjd123]

A good indoor activity/toy is the 'Dispense-a-treat'. Its a plastic ball that you fill with bits of dry food that drop out when the dog 'dribbles' or pushes it around with his nose. I got
some in the pet section at Walmart a few yrs. ago -- cost about $8. Some dogs took awhile to learn to do it, but they still play with it today and I use it fairly often on a rainy day. They do get tired from the mental exercise, so its a good alternative when outdoor exercise isn't possible.

[maryellen]

make a flirt pole. its basically a plastic pole about 4 feet long, you string a rope thru it, and let that hang out 4 feet, then tie a stuffie on it and stand in the yard and twirl it around and watch them go at it. you can get a cat toy at petco too its a plastic pole with a feather attached by a string at the end, great for exercise

[adoptapitbull]

Oh yeah, forgot about that one, ME! Good idea! Mine were never really into it for some reason. I think Aida would go for it more than Bruiser, but it's worth a shot, shay!

[shay19]

Ha that's funny I don't even have to buy one, I already have one lol... I use it to play with the ferrets but never thought of using it to play with the pups, that is an excellent idea!

But yes adoptapitbull, I think you may be right about Aida going for it more, she loves playing with anything I give her (especially boxes, they are by far her favorite) and Bruiser is just in it for the chase lol... Although he does like to chase the flies out of my house lol, he's never actually caught one but he still tries to. He'll sit and watch them and then jump all over like a madman trying to catch them. It's just too funny.

[pricklepuss]

i got a 6 week old pit and when i try to walk him with the leash he acts scared after getting a certain distance from my home but if i take him off the leashe he is perfectly fine and will walk when i walk and not take off running. any clue y he is doing what hes doin with the leash?

[adoptapitbull]

For starters, don't let him off leash unless you are in a secure yard or other fenced area. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I've not dealt with any puppies, so I'm sure others can help much more with this. My advice would be to treat the leash like a way to get a reward. Use a clicker and click-treat when you bring it out, then when you put it on. Maybe let him walk around the house with it on for a few minutes to get more used to it. If he goes out and resists, just wait, don't force it. Click-treat when he advances. Keep in mind everything is brand new to him at 6 weeks. Don't rush anything, but try to introduce him to everything. Puppy time is very important now so maybe organize play dates with his litter mates if you know them. (I'm assuming you bought him.) Be patient, he'll get the hang of it.