Hello all!
Okay so some of this is a re-post from the intro board, but I've edited it so that it has the relevant information. I would love any insight or help I can get!!
Sarge was pretty much so a backyard dog with the PO, so he hasn't had any experience around other dogs. I'm not ready to give up on him socializing with other dogs, but at the moment, we are extremely careful. My best friend has a pack with a pom, pug, Anatolian, and a Aussie. She is wonderful, and is helping me with what we have called "Sarge therapy". It took us 30 minutes today to approach her Aussie pup, who has more nerve than brains apparently. She was trying to stare Sarge down, and she's only 10 weeks old! Anyway, we were only able to allow a brief sniff before we both felt the need to separate them. I know they feed off of our energy and I am trying some calming approaches.
I'm hoping to get some insight and training ideas to help me help Sarge through his fixation on other dogs. It is like he is a completely different dog around other dogs. I had hoped to get him into some dock dogs or TD, as well as get his CGC...but that will not be possible with his dog/dog aggression. If it comes to it, I will accept that he isn't able to be around other dogs...but I'm not ready for that yet. He came in when my two young daughters and I were tickling their dad...and laid down in the middle of us.
Sarge's approach to another dog... Sarge see's dog, fixates (Even with correction), pulls, creeps, lunges....OR He starts grump/whining/barking noises and his jaw is snapping, like teeth chattering.
I'm also wondering if it's walking him past the dogs in our neighborhood. There are several very aggressive dogs who try to attack through the fence. I try the head up, relaxed, walk past, with corrections for looking. Some of the dogs just break my heart...Some females who have been bred until their little boobies are dragging the ground (one who even has a nipple that is twice the size of all the others, dragging behind her when she walks).
My neighborhood is halfway great older people, but is slowly being taken over by enterprising shady people. My neighbor across the way waited until I came out with Sarge to potty in the front yard, then brings his female pit bull into the street (another of the females who you can tell has been over bred). Thankfully, Sarge did his business quickly, just looking at her. He was going to bring her on into our yard, but I quickly brought Sarge inside. Another fear I have is letting Sarge out to "go" in the backyard by himself, because I fear him being stolen by some idiot fighter. I take him on leash every time. We walk him at least once a day, usually twice. My walk with his is just over 2 miles. my husband takes him 3 miles, some of it jogging..So at this point, I know its not exercise (because he could barely walk a mile at first, without falling down asleep the minute we got home!). I also plan on fixing up my bicycle to run him more (Asthma and running=not good...but for some reason, riding a bike is easier).
sorry so long!!! Thank you!