Bad dog! long...

[Patricia]

This week we started going to behaviour class again, Edward did really well when we were there on Monday, perfect stay and recall. It was too good to be true...this morning he woke me up by howling continuously for 30 mins, then he was the naughtiest he has ever been at the woods where all the dogs play. He shot off round the corner and vanished, no reaction to me whistling and calling. I had to ask a few people if they'd seen him before I began to hear lots of barking. Ran about 300 metres before I could see him terrorising a small black lab, which was growling and snapping at him. If a dog is smaller than him he takes no notice of the signals, he just carries on trying to play with them. I did manage to catch him and put him back on the lead, but he wasn't interested in paying any attention to me - no reaction to commands or treats! Just yanking as hard as possible every time he saw another dog, he's usually really relaxed on the lead, and always comes when I call him. I hope this doesn't last...

 

[twright1231]

I hear you. Mine lose all sense and training around others sometimes. It's quite frustrating.

 

[victoria1140]

I so understand your frustration. The only way mine listens to me is if I have half a chicken or ham waving in my hand and then so attentive.

 

[Patricia]

I'm beginning to wonder if there's female dog in heat nearby because he has been howling and crying since we came back from the hideous walk... The only other time he has been really naughty like this is when we met an in heat bitch off leash a few months ago - he was horrible for days afterwards. I'm hoping it is this actually because he's been a dream to train since he was a pup.
How do your dogs behave if there's a bitch in heat in the neighbourhood?

 

[NewfieMama]

I'm beginning to wonder if there's female dog in heat nearby because he has been howling and crying since we came back from the hideous walk... The only other time he has been really naughty like this is when we met an in heat bitch off leash a few months ago - he was horrible for days afterwards. I'm hoping it is this actually because he's been a dream to train since he was a pup.
How do your dogs behave if there's a bitch in heat in the neighbourhood?

I bet that's it. And I've personally been considering having Cooper neutered (he was shown, and so intact) for this reason. It's too frustrating, and scary, considering the danger the dog can put himself in due to his instinct. Coop's always on leash outside my yard but...it would be hard to hold him if nature called, KWIM?

Is Edward a show dog? Or young? Are you/when will you consider neutering him?

Otherwise, I'm with Ronnie...if not a half chicken (lol) then maybe some totally high value treat in a crinkly bag.

 

[NessaM]

Definitely sounds like a femme fatale is the culprit!

 

[Patricia]

Is Edward a show dog? Or young? Are you/when will you consider neutering him?

Edward is only 17 months at the moment, until now he has been incredibly well behaved, and we have no dominance or aggression issues with him. I don't think that we will show him, although it's a possibility when we return to the UK - his dad was Crufts runner up a couple of years ago so it would be fun to have a go maybe. We would only consider neutering him if he started wandering or to have real behaviour problems I think.

Tricia