reacting when new people enter a room

jenns

 I get what you guys are saying.  It's just that he doesn't seem to be that interested in food treats when people appear.  He would much rather lunge and bark and forgo the treat.  I know the answer to this would be to try something tastier but everything gives him diarrhea with the exception of cheese and boiled chicken so that's what I use.

I know what you mean about the treats.  Coke has a sensitive stomach and I can't use anything but actual dog food for treats (I use chopped up NB food roll).  He's not a barker, but last week was hist first agility class and he was so hyped up by the people and dogs, any time he was not actually performing an obstacle, he was wanting to run around and play with everyone.  Not the same problem, but what I did this week was take him in early so he was the first one there, let him scope things out, then start treating him and working on eye contact.  He caught in really quickly so when people started coming, I had him off to the side and worked on his manners, letting the people and dogs in without barging up to them to sniff and try to get dogs to play.  He did so well this time, a total 180 from last week, he never even TRIED to pull towards another dog or person.  I'm not sure exactly what did the trick, but I think getting there early and starting off on a good note with his self-control really helped him see that he could have tons of fun without having to get in everyone's face.

I have this little book that someone suggested here awhile back called Fiesty Fido.  It has this protocol for working on reactivity and teaching the dog to calmly walk by another person or dog.  It takes awhile to get to where you want to be but it does work.  It wasn't expensive either.

jenns

 I get what you guys are saying.  It's just that he doesn't seem to be that interested in food treats when people appear.  He would much rather lunge and bark and forgo the treat.  I know the answer to this would be to try something tastier but everything gives him diarrhea with the exception of cheese and boiled chicken so that's what I use.

I think you need moe distance.  And you need to catch him earlier if at all possible.  Is he toy motivated at all?  What kind of self control exercises do you do at home?  Is he on "Learn to Earn"? (grin! that's NILIF to you )

Chuffy

I think you need moe distance. 

I agree, unfortunately I don't always have control of the distance.  I live in a townhouse complex.  We'll be strolling along on the sidewalk and suddenly someone will just appear out of their doorway or their car.  That is what is making this so hard.

We are doing NILIF.  He doesn't get food, or treats, or water, or doors opened unless he sits first.  What other self control exercises are there that I can do?  I'm definiltey open to hearing more about that.

Also, yesterday, we had visitors over for the 4th.  Zack went crazy frantically barking and jumping at them (my husband didn't warn me that they were here so I could put the dogs in their crates), but in less than two minutes he was sitting in their laps and begging them for treats and attention!  Does this mean he is not truly fearful, but just discerning (as the breed description states)?

 Willowchow  - I almost bought that Feisty Fido book. I even had it in my cart on Amazon but then I took it out.  Oh well.

I'd make water free actually.  Also incorporate  it into games - one thing I did with one of my dogs was an instant down and we'd do it often in the middle of the game.  Game doesnt continue till he downs.  Faster he downs, faster game carries on!  He has to have a pretty good "down" for that first though, obviously.

If he's "got it" that he has to "sit" for stuff, up the ante.  Ask for a sit, but release him to eat or open the door or whatever, when he glances at you.

It it JUST a sit - or is it a CALM sit?  Does he look like a wound up spring ready to go BOING or does the sit look pretty solid?
 

This aggressive dog my mother had for a while would sometimes come around to people quite fast but others he'd just mistrust intensely. Mostly it was about their attitude towards him. If they ignored him, or acted very calm and let him come to them, he'd get over it all quite quickly, but if they paid attention to him, no matter what their intentions he'd bark and bark and bark and if they got into his space, he certainly would bite them.

As for the townhouse situation. I have no experience with anything like this, but I'd try sitting out there with him so he experienced the whole people popping out of nowhere regularly thing. Yesterday my partner and I took our pup to the shops for the first time on a busy Saturday morning. He was initially very excited and trying to greet every person that walked past. We grabbed some breakfast and sat down outside one of the stores and he soon realised not everyone comes over to say hello and tugging on the end of the leash won't change this. Within minutes he was lying down taking it easy until someone approached him. He's pretty laid back, though. 

Chuffy

It it JUST a sit - or is it a CALM sit?  Does he look like a wound up spring ready to go BOING or does the sit look pretty solid?

I'd say it's a solid sit (paws and butt solidly on the floor) but he is definately antcipitating release.

but I'd try sitting out there with him so he experienced the whole people popping out of nowhere regularly thing.

 He has experienced people popping out of nowhere, several times a day, every day, for three months. These people are just going about there business and not trying to interact with us.  Many times I have given him treats when they appear.  You would think by now he would realize that nothing bad is going to happen when they appear.  He makes this growling sound every time they appear and adopts the whole "worried" body language.  We made a little bit of progress in the very beginning, but it seems to have plateaued.  He is just so hyper-aware of his surroundings and I can't get him to focus on me instead.  I"ve tried chicken, hot dogs, stinky cheese...I don't know what else to try.  Even when we are at a good distance from people, he is listening to the birds, or to the sound of a car door slamming down the street, or the sprinklers on a lawn at the end of the block. I'm starting to think it's a lost cause and he is just a territorial watch-dog type and that's the way he is.

I doubt it has anything to do with prey drive - my Maggie has super high prey drive and doesn't react to people at a distance at all.  I will say though that's likely the sudden appearance and fast movement triggering his reaction as Maggie likes kids standing still but reacts when they run and used to alert on sudden appearances.  I increase distance from fast moving kids and put her through her obedience paces and I used to treat her and increase distance with things/people suddenly appeared and that seems to help; both reactions are variations of a startle/fear response.