Dog Aggression?

[ragnarok20]

So I adopted this dog a little over a year ago when he was 2.5 yeas old. I knew that when I adopted him that he was poorly socialized around other dogs because his previous owners had a dog that was aggressive towards other dogs. My issue is this: whenever we are on our walks he goes completely apeshit around other dogs depending upon proximity

Comments

[emusician]

My go-to resources have been Grisha Stewart's BAT and Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed. I highly recommend you read both of those books. You can purchase them on Amazon

[ragnarok20]

The video seems to deal with fear reactivity. From what I've read I don't think that classic operant conditioning will necessarily work since a) I don't think its a fear response based on the pictures I've seen of dogs in that state and b) his desire to interact with the dog is higher than his desire to get treats which is funny considering how food driven he is. Considering that, I don't think that prong collar I'd detrimental especially since they aren't designed to induce pain and are not capable of the kind of pain that a slip/choke collar would provide

[emusician]

Well, the video shows fear reactivity, but these methods work well for straight up aggression, frustration/impulse control problems and over excitement, as well as all the different forms of fear (including actual fear for survival and not knowing how to handle a situation

[bunn]

This is why it would be a good idea to talk to a good positive trainer/behaviourist in person. They can give you tips on this stuff based on what your dog is actually doing, rather than what you are already convinced you are doing right, but appears not to be working for you.

Your description of your dogs behaviour sounds much more like excitement and frustration than aggression to me. If it is that, a class might be a good way of working on behaviour around other dogs that are behaving in a controlled way. But I could be quite wrong as I can't see your dog. Someone who can actually see you and your dog is much better placed to advise on that.

You could try carrying a tug toy, if he insists on playing tug with a chain lead. At least that way he's playing with something harmless.

[crysania4]

Ok first things first

[ragnarok20]

here's a picture of him

[ragnarok20]

Martingale's have the same problem as regular collars and choke collars: in any kind of struggle they can become flush with the neck, causing your dog to choke itself out and potentially damaging the trachea thus presenting the same issue with which you fault the pinch collars.  To me, the possibility that those collars could create a negative association with other dogs is much higher as the point of the pinch collar is that a dog cannot choke themselves out.  Obviously there are breed specific issues, however, as if one has a dog without much fur, a pinch collar would not likely be appropriate as it could cause serious bruising.  (Most negative reviews on Amazon for instance stemmed from people with short haired dogs attempting to use a pinch collar.). Despite being the more vicious appearing of the options compared to its more innocuous looking counterparts I have found it to be by far the more humane.

As to your other suggestions regarding training I have tried variations on them in with little to no success.

[bunn]

If your dog is choking himself on a martingale, you have it fitted wrong. The point of a martingale is that it can only tighten so far, then it becomes a flat collar. They are useful for breeds with small heads and muscular necks. That isn't your dog though, so personally I would not choose one for that dog.

I do think you should stop with the prong. Your dog does have a short coat and prongs work by prodding him uncomfortably. A well fitted harness is least likely to cause neck problems.