anyone have any advice/tips on how to train my husky to ignore other dogs when were out in public? shes indifferent to everything but other dogs.

I'm assuming she gets very excitable when she sees other dogs? The only way to really work them through that is just to desensitize them to other dogs. You can do that by only allowing her close if she's calm. Once she starts getting wound up you need to either stop approaching or back up until she's at a maintainable level. If she's calm and responding to cues such as sit reward her for being in the presence of other dogs.

The problem with dogs who are so easily excitable is that they are usually pulling towards other dogs and we either just let them meet (positively reinforcing it) or drag them on by which accomplishes next to nothing. But backing up or holding ground at just the point before they go "over threshold" is making it so you still can communicate with their brains what will get them rewarded and what won't.

awesome, thanks. i've been using a prong collar at it works for the most part, but like you said, just walking her past the other dog wont do it and thats what i've been doing, either that or i just let them meet because pretty much every corner we turn theres another dog.

arooroomom wrote:

The only way to really work them through that is just to desensitize them to other dogs.

Ditto. With my sibe, it was letting him meet loads and loads of dogs at the dog park and on walks that desensitized him to other dogs. Now he generally doesn't even care when we're out walking and we see another dog.

agreed get him as much exposure to others as you can!

Sorry to bring this topic back up but won't letting her meet the dog just reinforce her bad behavior? I am having this problem as well. She wants to meet EVERY single dog we come across.

Yea im against dogs meeting on walks, personal preferance. I taught Kale the leave it while i made him walk right next to me and brought his favorite home made treats. After he mastered the leave it, i let him on loose lead and started with the on by command. Yes he can glance and sniff the air after they pass, but he walks right by them without any fuss. I believe the walks are a structured bonding time between dog and person, dog parks are where they can meet and mingle. But thats just my personal opinon.

Kody goes INSANE when he sees other dogs. Some dogs it's worse than others. He's met MANY dogs at the dog park, the group dog walks, etc and he still goes psycho

I feel embarrassed when she does that. I feel like they think I can't control my dog or something. Now I know how those parents feel when a kid starts crying and throwing himself on the ground in public places.

Have you all tried when you go by the other dogs use the command "on by?" It is what I use for mushing and use it on walks. I have deer and other animals too. It's like leave it. I agree with brooke. I like to not have dog meetings on walks only because the dog will think going to see this other dog is okay everytime. I think of it this way, what if the other dog is across the street. If you don't have a strong hold of the leash, your dog could take off across the street. I just think of it that way. I actually learned a lot more from watching dogs in the city this summer! I think I started with leave it and changed it to on by.