does this qualify as fear-aggression?

I wouldn't call it fear aggression. I have a fear-aggressive dog, and that does not sound a bit like how Casey reacts to things when scared.

You have a JRT, correct (I don't remember exactly)? I would classify it as super-super-excited. I had a foster that would do that when we got to the dog park, and continued until we were in and he could play with the other dogs. As far as correcting it? Have you tried treats as a luer back to you? Sit, treat, walk. Sit treat walk - everytime he starts to pull and get excited. Keep his attention on you, and not the other dog.

I'm no pro, but it sounds like stress/fear/anxiety to me.  To alleviate the anxiety of situations like that you might try to put your dog into a sit or a down a couple of houses away and just chill for a few minutes.  Then walk on by the house giving the "look at me" command.  When you are a couple of houses away, put your dog into a sit or a down again to chill again for a few minutes.  Remember that you need to be anxiety free during all of this.

You might have a pocketful of treats that you use just for this purpose.  In other words, as you are approaching and walking past the house, give the "look at me" command and keep feeding the treats so you keep your dog focused on you until you get beyond the exciting area.

I've observed the more we walk by houses of excitement, the more they get used to the dogs (or horses or whatever it is); and although they still show interest, they do eventually walk on by without fear.

I'm sure others will have good advice for you...good luck!

Was your dog properly socialized as a puppy? Because if they're not socialized, their behavior can come across as aggression when it's just excited/uncomfortable/anxiety. (My B'asia is that way) It could be that the dogs at those particular houses are ALSO not socialized and giving off signals that we humans might not see, but that will be picked up by the dogs.

Check out this thread and see if you can find some help there. I especially like Ixas_Girl's reply.

Barney is a basenji mix.  We got him at 6 months after he was hit by a car, I don't know what his socialization was before we got him (he'll be 2 this summer).  Once we started taking him for walks he has never had a problem meeting other dogs, and we've been taking him to dog park at least once a week for almost a year.  

He's never been near the dogs behind the gates with the exception of one who surprised us by slamming itself against the iron gates, a foot from the sidewalk.  I never saw that one coming.  I don't walk that street any more because it's too close for my comfort.

erica1989

Have you tried treats as a luer back to you? Sit, treat, walk. Sit treat walk - everytime he starts to pull and get excited. Keep his attention on you, and not the other dog

CoBuHe

try to put your dog into a sit or a down a couple of houses away and just chill for a few minutes.  Then walk on by the house giving the "look at me" command.

I've tried working up to the houses with the sit/heel repetition, treats included.  Last week I brought a pocketful of diced beef liver to try for his attention.  We seem to lose "look at me" several houses away.   Then, even if I take a piece of meat and touch it to his nose, I can't get his attention.   His adrenaline is going, we leave, and it takes him a while to come back down to earth.  

FourIsCompany

It could be that the dogs at those particular houses are ALSO not socialized and giving off signals that we humans might not see, but that will be picked up by the dogs.

I read the thread you pointed out, but I don't think it's quite the same thing.  On the street we can walk up to other people walking their dogs and he is ok, doesn't even look that interested.

I'll take the "aggression" out of this then, and stick with the "fear".    If distraction is the answer, maybe I need to work from 10 houses away and get a foot closer every day.  

hmm, wether it is agression or just fear or fear agression i'm not qualified to judge, but it seems to me that it's a pretty natural reaction to a barking (possibly lounging) dog that on top of that is out of site, but very close. and probably by not adressing it or accidentially reacting to it wrong to it, it got out of hand a bit.

i think you are on the right track with your exercises. it's normal that he will not succeed on keeping his attention on you the first time. you need to try over and over again, always going baby steps and trying not to cross into that "zone", but always apporach it as much as possible. these things take time. but i think you are doing just fine...

cat0

I'll take the "aggression" out of this then, and stick with the "fear".    If distraction is the answer, maybe I need to work from 10 houses away and get a foot closer every day

And, of course you know this behavior won't change over night or over a few weeks for that matter.  It will take time and consistency for him to walk past the house without lunging.  Lots of focus training and lots of praise when he starts walking by less excited.  He'll likely always be "aware" of the excitement at that house, but he will eventually walk on by much better.

Good luck!

Keep walking. Chin up, leash TIGHT, firm hold on the leash and keep walking. Don't talk in soothing tones or try and talk him out of it. Soothing tones like "oh come on buddy or pay them no mind" can be misinterpreted for praise for his actions.....proof is fear/aggression is the way to go.

By stopping and putting into a sit you are 1. causing him more anxiety and more time to focus on the object, 2. causing the other dogs to get more worked up, 3. allowing him to let these dogs interupt his walk and reinforcing his thought that these dogs are soemthing to stop and take notice of. If you want him to ingore him you need to set a example. In times of mental anxiety words do not make it to his brain, actions and intent with your body is key. Don't forget to keep the leash taught so he has less room to freak out or stop to smell the gate line......keep moving in a firm assertive manner. The less time he has to reacct the better. Show him its no big deal.

I also bet he feels you tense up when you begin to approach a particular house he gets upset over thus reinfocing his reason to act up. When he starts to pull towards the gate give him a quick tug back and dont stop walking. When you pass the gate give him a bit more slack as if to say to him "a good boy gets more slack" repeat at the next house. As he gets better and he is able to focus on you a bit more pick up the pace and call him in a fun way, use your voice as a reward for his good behavior instead of praise for his negative actions.

When Rory starts to reacct to a dog over a fence I give a quick tug accomapnied by a firm uh-uh and pick up my pace. I dont give her time to reacct and I dont try to talk her out of it. When we pass I say good-girl and resume walking.

If he is a male try to discourage him from marking the territory around the barking dogs area. If he is doing this you know he is just being a brat. Its one thing to have to go potty but you might notice he is very adamant about peeing in certian spots stop him. Discourage him from getting into a pissing contest so to speak, LOL....yup thats where the phrase came from!

Wow I just realized I disagreed wiith Erica....thats pretty rare, LOL.

I agree that if you were trying to desentize him from something fear based the treat trick would work but the OP said he isnt like this with dogs in other situations, he isnt afraid of other dogs. This is a reactivity issue versus a fear based issue.

AuroraLove

Keep walking. Chin up, leash TIGHT, firm hold on the leash and keep walking.

JMO,  but I wouldn't hold the leash TIGHT, as that tension will travel right down the leash to the dog giving him more reason to act out.  I agree she should keep walking by, practicing focus with a look at me command.  The more she makes it a "no big deal" event the better.

I also agree that she shouldn't put the dog into a sit right in front of the house.  That would be virtually impossible to keep the dog in place.  Before and after the house would be the best place to sit or down for a chill out time, if necessary was my thinking.  The experience that I've had with this is they sit or down near the area and they start to realize it is no big deal.  JMO.

Haha - that is really, really rare! But... in all fairness... I haven't looked at this post since I first replied! From her first post, it sounds like a super excited dog that wants to see what's over there. Reading further into this, he sounds more like he is being a reactive dog - which still is not fear-aggression, more like barrier aggression.

I agree with AuroraLove - keep walking. Cross over to the other side of the street if you need to. Don't give him a chance to react to the dog. Keep him close to you - enfore that heel! Keep yourself calm, and keep the dogs attention on you.

Ya I did sound contradictory "hold leash tight"....."he probably feels your tension". I mean reign him in close so he has less room to wig out.....and I mean wig out like a bucking bronco cause thats what Rory used to do,LOL. She looked like a floppin dead fish, LOL

Erica got my wheels turning when she mentioned "excitement" and made me want to mention this is a pretty typical behavior for dogs. Its like driving with your kids past the park when you dont have time to stop....they get really excited, LOL but dosnt always mean they have socialization issues.

We have a neighbor lady who comes out screaming at her dogs because they bark when another dog walks by. I try to smile at her and say "its ok, I know they are just doing their job" because they dont seem aggressive but she dosnt get the hint and instead of distracting them she just makes a scene and adds to the excitement. I'm not categorizing you with this stupid lady but wanted to use her as a example of typical dog behavior and redirecting it. Sometimes I wish she would join our forum, LOL!

AuroraLove

I'm categorizing you with this stupid lady

Are you referring to my posts as stupid?

Oh Dear Lord....for all the times for me not to proof read, LOL. No NO No, I meant NOT to categorize you, LOL. I'm sorry Oh man that was horrible I'm sorry