Getting Your Dog to Ignore Other Dogs
Does he/she just want to play, play, play with other dogs. Does all your command work go straight out the window when another dog comes on the scene?
So we need to get him/her to ignore other dogs and respond to you. This isn't actually too difficult; it just takes time and patience.
This is how I would do it
1) You need to work out the distance at which he/she 1st reacts. Take him/her to an open, dog popular area. When there put him on a long lead, 15' will do to start with (these can be bought from
Crucially Canine). Hold one end of the lead and let the rest drag on the floor.
This is so it still looks and feels as though he/she is off lead but if he/she bolts you still have the ability to restrain them.
2) Start about 100 yards away and then walk towards other dogs, as you get closer, every 5 yards or so ask your dog to sit/lay down/give paw, something that shows he/she is focused on you. As you get
really close, within 15 yards, do the commands every yard. When he ignores you and pulls tight on the leads note the distance and move away from the dogs.
What we're working out is the distance at which he will ignore you and start to focus on the other dog. Once you have worked out the distance that he starts to focus on other dogs you can then start
the work on him to ignore them.
3) Let desensitisation begin. Go back to the dog park armed with treats and toys. With your dog on the long lead start to work him at a distance 50% further than his reaction
distance (if his reaction distance was 10 yards, start to work him at 15 yards). Play excitedly with him, running back and forth, doing commands and praising him lots and food treating him and giving
him his toys. Do this for about 3 minutes, have his total focus on you and it all be fun with the other dog/s in the back ground. Once you have done this take him away and continues to praise and
treat enthusiastically.
4) Repeat step 3 but a bit closer, e.g. now 12.5 yards. Then at 10, the 8, then 6, then, 4 yards.
When you're doing it at this shorter distance 4 yards and closer) make your long lead shorter but still loose.
Once you're closer than 4 yards then start getting closer in half yard steps.
If at any point you lose his attention and you can't get it back with just a simple hard 'no' command then go back to the previous distance and start again, then move closer by a smaller
increment.
Once you have this cracked and he is walking by other dogs on a loose lead start the process again but with more dogs in the background.
What you're teaching your dog is that you are the centre of his world. He should look to you for everything; other dogs don't matter, no matter their size or their
actions.
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