Is it leash aggression?

[fureverywhere]

I could really use some good advice here. Yesterday I took Ophie to the people playground with my daughter. They both were fine as my daughter played and Sophie took a walk around the trail with me. Then me and Ophie settled on a bench and I read and Ophie silently observed the kids playing, the squirrels romping, the birdies chirping. Kids and their parents were walking over to pet Ophie and she sat calmly with her doggie smile, even licked a few people.
Then a couple came with a Maltese and sat down across the playground...
ARRRRAUFFROUFFROUFFROUFFF
AROUFFFROUFFFFROUFFFROUFF
"Oph, not a chance, here I'll rub your chest, let find out where Katie is..."
ARRROUFFFFGRRRRRROUFFFFROUUUUR
ROUFFFGRRRRROUUUUUFFFFFFROUUFF
By now my ears are ringing and Ophie is lunging full force in the general direction of the Maltese.
GRRRROOUUUFFFROUUUFFFROUUUFFFF
Why can't those people go home? It's time for us to leave, oh great now Katie is talking to the people and is petting the cute Maltese and Ophie has herself whipped into a frenzy.
GROWWWWWWROOOUUUFFFFGROOOWWWWWOOOOFFF
finally I get Katie to leave and haul Ophie still straining...

I know one way of training is to present her with other dogs on leashes and desensitize her, or give her a treat when she doesn't go nuts seeing another dog. Except she knows our friend's dog and the neighbors with unfamiliar dogs would probably be afraid to help.
At the dog park if she's off leash she's wonderful with little dogs
and there's no barking. She lets them follow her like a big sister and plays gently by the size of the other dog. On the big dog side she'll play equal to the big guys but then wanders to the little dog gate when she's tired. Then she sits on my lap or sits and observes.
She goes bananas if she see's any dog anywhere and she is on leash. What can I do? The summer is upon us and I don't want to leave her home on outings where there might be another dog in the distance...Thank you for letting me unload....suggestions please

[michele5611]

Pit Bulls are a dog sensitive breed. What you experienced with Ophie today is not uncommon. You can certainly work on de-sensitizing her while on leash while around other dogs. But ask yourself this what happens if you let her off leash and she has a similar reaction to another dog? I can not stress this enough please please do not let her off leash at the dog parks.

The risk is really not worth the reward in my opinion.

[catstina]

I agree that dog parks are not a great idea with Pit Bulls (or any dog, really). You never know who is going to walk through that gate! And if a fight happens between your dog and another dog, it doesn't matter who started it! The headline will read, "Pit Bull Attacks Family Pet at the Dog Park!!" The Pit Bull always loses in these situations and sometimes even loses his/her life.

It sounds like it's just leash aggression, but I would still steer clear of dog parks.

[fureverywhere]

Yes we have been shying away from the dog park and more walking reservation trails. But even just around the neighborhood...it's frustrating. You see someone and their minding its own business bassett and your dog sounds like Cujo. Especially when our cat Ninja-at about 6 pounds-can back Ophie into a corner. Maybe it's suppressed frustration on Ophie's part? Now I feel guilty...

[michele5611]

I know it is frustrating to have a dog sensitive dog....I own one. Is Ophie food driven?

[fureverywhere]

Food has been suggested but if she's wound up about anything you could hang a steak in front of her and she'd push past it.

[maryellen]

it sounds like leash frustration rather then aggression.. frustration cause she is on leash and cant go to the other dogs.. some dogs get really frustrated on leash and act completely different when off leash. if she was truly aggresive you wouldnt be able to have her offleash playing with other dogs

[RealPitBull]

I can weigh in on this more later, but for now please check out this article from Our Pack: www.ourpack.org/aggressreactivity.html

[fureverywhere]

Thank you Mary, I just read that article and the "Look at me" command might be a start here. She wants to please me so maybe "Look at me" until we're out of sight of the other dog then a good chest rub...

[RealPitBull]

Another great way of handling leash reactivity is the Look At That game. I know I have a thread around here somewhere with a recipe for teaching it, if you feel like searching. Otherwise I'll try to bump it later if I remember.