leash aggressiveness when crossing the street! PLEASE HELP!

[Karen]

Hopefully you will be able to avoid them. In the future, the worst thing you can do is turn it into a tug of war. That's rewarding to him, playtime! Again,, stop, have him focus on you. Any commands he knows "sit" "down" Paw" - keep his focussed on you, and calm. The MINUTE he starts to act up, stop and repeat. I am glad things are working so far, just wanted to caution you!

I am sure passersby thought I was insane when walking my former bosses' Sheltie, but I'd have to say "Heel" every 30 seconds or so when we were on our way back to the office or back home, as otherwise he's pull and choke himself, he was soooooooooo focussed on the biscuit he knew he'd get once he got inside. As long as I kept breaking that concentration, we could walk.

[Indigo Bully Connection]

Hopefully you will be able to avoid them. In the future, the worst thing you can do is turn it into a tug of war. That's rewarding to him, playtime! Again,, stop, have him focus on you. Any commands he knows "sit" "down" Paw" - keep his focussed on you, and calm. The MINUTE he starts to act up, stop and repeat. I am glad things are working so far, just wanted to caution you!

I am sure passersby thought I was insane when walking my former bosses' Sheltie, but I'd have to say "Heel" every 30 seconds or so when we were on our way back to the office or back home, as otherwise he's pull and choke himself, he was soooooooooo focussed on the biscuit he knew he'd get once he got inside. As long as I kept breaking that concentration, we could walk.

Great point Karen... I forgot... the first thing I teach... I have a focus command actually... I use "watch" and I teach the dog to look me in the face and ignore everything around me.

To do this it is a purely positive reinforcement training. I use about a half a hot dog... Find a quiet place to start this...

1) hold both arms out so you look like a T, a little peice of food in each hand. (obviously show your pup that you have treats in your hands)

2) I say "watch" and take one hand and point to my nose. as soon as the dog looks at my face i treat with the other hand

The trick of this is to switch up hands. If the dog starts to get shifty eyes and looks at your left hand while his face is looking at you don't treat, repeat the command.

Never give a correction...even a "no". Just give the command again and show him with your hand to your nose, what you want. This way when you want him to focus he always happily look at your face.

Check into incorporating NILF in your lifestyle with your dog. It isn't a cure all, but it sure does help in cunjunction with more OB.