Redirection is one way to teach your dog to be calm around other dogs. When using this technique, you'll expose your dog to other dogs from a distance and redirect them if they start to get over excited. Teach your dog to redirect using a word or sound that means they should look at you for directions.
If your dog does react, calmly say “nope,” block them for a moment with your body, then turn and walk away from the other dog. This creates distance between your dog and the other dog and should help to calm your pup. Try to stay as relaxed as possible when you see a dog or if your dog lunges.
Fratt says that in general, a canine's big reaction usually means one of two things: get away or come play. By barking, growling or lunging, your dog is trying to tell an oncoming dog he's seen what happens when a strange dog approaches him and he will attack if need be.
Introduce on neutral territory.
If the dogs are not showing any negative behaviors, reward them with treats just for seeing each other. For example, when the dog you're walking looks at the other dog, you can say “Good boy!” in a happy, friendly voice and give him a treat. Repeat often.
No matter what your dog's age or background, positive reinforcement of calm, non-aggressive behavior around other dogs is the key to helping your pup overcome any fear or dislike of other canines.
Dogs of any age can start training to improve their reactivity. You do need to keep in mind that the longer a behavior has been ingrained, the longer it will take to retrain the dog. Whether or not the dog will be “cured” in the sense of being completely fine in the presence of his triggers cannot be predicted.
An excellent way to start socializing your dog is to take them on daily walks. Eventually, your dog may begin to recognize the people and other dogs that live in your neighborhood. They may eventually become less aggressive the more that they familiarize themselves with others.
This kind of work can take anywhere from two to 12 months, as that's how long it takes for a dog to learn a new behavior.
The time it takes to calm a reactive dog depends on many factors so there is not a definitive answer. Fearful and over reactive behavior will not go away on its own. The dog will not grow out of it. Left untreated, both the frequency and the intensity of the problems will increase.
The Dog Calming Code program helps establish the very foundation of dog training: the relationship hierarchy that dogs are programmed to seek. Dogs are pack animals. In the pack is where dogs find balance and purpose. Take it from them and they'll feel out of whack!
Punishment should be avoided. The dog-dog relationship will not be improved if you scold, punish or hold down a dog as punishment; in fact you may make it worse by punishing the dog for signaling and communicating their aggressive intentions.
A reactive dog is usually a fearful dog. Causes can be genetic, but they are more likely due to a lack of socialization, prior bad experiences or a lack of training. Aggressive dogs show similar signs but are determined to cause harm and destruction.
Puppies also usually become much calmer and mature between 1 and 2 years old. While many puppy habits eventually subside, reactivity unfortunately is not one of those.
Avoid stressful situations when you sense your dog is anxious or showing signs of aggression. This can mean walking the dog across the street when you see another dog coming, putting an obstacle between the dog's viewpoint so they can't see the trigger, or going home when the reactive dog shows signs of anxiety.
While it is never too late to socialize your dog, the sooner you start, the better. Socializing your dog is very important at any stage in their life. It's especially crucial as they get older.
Early dog-on-dog socialization is critical because it allows dogs to hone their communication skills. Without exposure to the language of play, it's easy for a dog to misconstrue a frisky nip as an invitation to fight.
Generally, puppies start to calm down when they reach emotional maturity — around 1 year old. However, some dog breeds take longer to reach adulthood and emotional maturity. In those cases, puppies may not mellow out until they hit 18 months to 3 years old.
1) Border Collie
Border Collies were originally bred as working dogs and certainly have the energy level to prove it! While they make good family pets, make sure to get them exercise.