MrsBeeks
Boxer Booster
So, Dutch is now 14 months old, and is just the best dog....so laid back, chill, and gets along happily with every dog he meets OFF leash. He is a bit more of a challenge on leash, but still very manageable, he walks like a dream, right by my side, and seldom to never pulls. The challenge comes in because he does get reactive with other dogs, but it is very, kind of, sporadic.....he'll go for a while where he can calmly walk by most dogs, even if they do bark or growl at him. Then, he will have a week or two where the first time a dog barks at or near him, he goes wacko, and then must bark, jump and lunge at all other dogs, big, small, nasty or friendly. We are currently in one of those periods of "all other dogs on leash or in yards must be freaked out at".
I constantly am working on "leave it" and "lets go", and during the particularly trying times, I involve very high value treats.....it helps, we are improving, but we are not perfect and I don't expect to be....not at his age, not yet.
Anyways, he confuses me because, we are currently, as I said, in a particularly trying time of leash reaction, but yet today, while we were at the bus stop waiting for the kids bus to bring them home from school, a woman and her little white dog snook up on us and he was fine!! The woman I think, just wanted her little dog to have some "social time" because she just stood there for the longest time letting her dog sniff and check Dutch out....I should add that it was full on growling at him the whole time.....and he just sat there and did nothing. :/ Don't get me wrong, I was very happy, and praised the crap out of him, but, I am just super confused....why does he freak out even at friendly dogs one minute, but then do a complete switch up on me the next? What a silly dude....I am so confused. :/
I constantly am working on "leave it" and "lets go", and during the particularly trying times, I involve very high value treats.....it helps, we are improving, but we are not perfect and I don't expect to be....not at his age, not yet.
Anyways, he confuses me because, we are currently, as I said, in a particularly trying time of leash reaction, but yet today, while we were at the bus stop waiting for the kids bus to bring them home from school, a woman and her little white dog snook up on us and he was fine!! The woman I think, just wanted her little dog to have some "social time" because she just stood there for the longest time letting her dog sniff and check Dutch out....I should add that it was full on growling at him the whole time.....and he just sat there and did nothing. :/ Don't get me wrong, I was very happy, and praised the crap out of him, but, I am just super confused....why does he freak out even at friendly dogs one minute, but then do a complete switch up on me the next? What a silly dude....I am so confused. :/
......actually, Dutch just laid right down on the side walk......so much for protecting me. :P Thank gorsh the two dogs were relatively friendly, and once they got their sniffs in, Dutch got up and all was well until the owner arrived to collect his runaways. Never a dull moment on our evening walks around here. 
I was very proud of Dutch, and maybe if I just keep on, keepin' on and working with him, he will eventually deal with all dogs we pass in the same manner, or atleast with relative calm.