Is my dog aggressive or anti-social?

17 years ago

We have a 2 yo beagle we adopted from a resuce center when he was a few months old. He's a sweet typically loud mouth Beagle. The barking is fine, but in the last year he's developed a habit that is troubling. Whenever he's on the leash for a walk and he sees another dog approaching (even if the dog is 30 ft away), he immediately stops, then drops on his belly with his tail and ears up. He will not budge until the other dog reaches him at which point he barks and lunges at the dog. Not growling or biting, just jumping like in play. Most dogs accept it and rough house with him, but many are scared and will snap or growl at him. The bigger the dog, the less likely he is to jump at it. He'll leap to his feet and sniff, whine, and wag like crazy instead. After he goes crazy for a little while and it's time to continue the walk he'll howl, bark , and squeal until the other dog is out of sight. He doesn't do it when not leashed. We have a common space where a few house back one another and he plays with Labs, English Sheepdogs, and a Westie a few days a week without this behavoir.

The problem is, he makes such a maniac of himself that it's making walking him a chore rather than something to enjoy. So, his walks are getting shorter and shorter. I have to time walks when it's not likely many dogs will be out. If I see a dog in the distance, I will often turn around just to avoid the drama. Other pet owners are afraid of him and won't let their dogs near.

So how can I deal with this behavoir? What exactly is he experiencing? He will completely zone out during these episodes, so he's not hearing me at all. He's not even distracted by food.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Comments (11)

mazer415
17 years ago
A two year old beagle is still a teenager. Okay looks like this is a bit of a test since the behavior is not always the same on and off a leash. If you dog is fine around other dogs off leash then it is time for you to stop accepting the behavior demostrated on the leash. Beagles are not only smart, but they are hunting dogs, very social and NEED to be walked a good 45minutes a day at least once a day. The behavior you discribe will manifest itself in other ways if your dog does not get all that energy out.
One. Make your dog come to you when leashing it up for walkies. Make this a fun experience, talk in the highest pitched voice you have, make your dog sit and stay for putting the leash on. Two. You go out any door or gate FIRST. Your dog must stay behind you while you are starting your exiting or entering a doorway or gate. I would start with a sit and stay NOBODY with furry bodies and a tail gets to move until they are calm Make certain you wak with a choke chain, and it is high on your dogs neck, like at the dog show. A quick tug and let go is all it takes to remind them their behavior is not acceptable (beagles can be stubborn, so be patient) Try not to get too frustrated. Make certai after the first 5 minutes of walkies is walkies and not the scratch and sniff every bush walkies, but walkies like you are in a marching band type walkies. THE VERY SECOND YOUR DOG ALERTS TO ANOTHER DOG AND BEGINS TO DISPLAY THE UNWANTED BEHAVIOR, give the choke chain a swift tug and release. Continue it and give a command to leave it using your Im deadly serious voice, try and make it as deep as possible. No yelling, it will only spur your dog on. If your dog is so focused on the other dog that it can not hear you, you waited too long to correct the behavior. As soon as the crouch happens, give the tug and command. Make your dog keep walking since it is actually crouching during its bad behavior. No crouching allowed. You may have to tug that choke chain (quick tug and quick release) 50 times in a minute, if that is what it takes, then keep it up. Once your dogs ears go down because you are breaking its concentration when you are giving the command, or it looks at you - like hey knock it off, you are making progress. Keep it up, you might have to do the same thing everytime you go out for a couple of weeks. The more you do it, the better you will get at reading your dog, and the less tempted it will be to go back to the behavior. Let us know what happens. Be firm. If you find yourself getting too frustrated, go home and try it again later. Remeber beagles are persistent little buggers, and you have to teach your dog who is boss. Feed your dog after you have been fed, and make your dog do stupid dog tricks, all of this affirms your place as top dog.
bean_counter_z4
17 years ago
Definitely not aggressive or antisocial behavior. If he were mine, IÂd enroll him in a local obedience class. A good way to get him used to other dogs, teach him to focus on you instead of other distractions, and get help from the experienced instructor if you run into problems. It will also give you the confidence and the tools to correct him when he needs it. He sounds like a fun little guy. Your word picture of him crouching down ready to pounce in play made me smile.
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joepyeweed
17 years ago
Your description sounds like you dog is showing a "play-bow" which is very social behaviour.

Take your dog to obedience class, where they will teach you how to get your dog to keep walking when passing other dogs or other people, rather than stopping to play.
Gina_W
17 years ago
My dog did that a lot as a puppy and still does it from time to time (but not to all dogs - who knows how they choose what dogs they like? Weird.) He grew out of it but if he does it now I yank him up and say No. Not all dogs welcome this. Other dogs in the 'hood do this too.

My dog also has the habit of not wanting anyone walking behind us. He will stop, wait and keep looking back until the person/dogs pass. Sometimes he growls softly if the offending party (LOL) looks suspicious.

I broke him out of that by making him sit/stay as soon as he started to do his routine until the party behind us passed.

He doesn't do it anymore. But every so often he will exhibit a new similar "thing" that I have to train him out of. Dang dachsie. He really keeps me on my toes.

Good luck with your new doggy, he sounds like a cutie.
debbiep_gw
17 years ago
He's playing.I say this becuase I have two bassetts and one(the younger one)does this every night.She(Sally) crouches down, and waits on the other one(Lucy)to get within a good distance and then she strikes.The roughhousing is on then.She only does it to lucy.She hasn't been around other dogs much but whenever she has been she doesn't join in with the playing so lucy only gets the lunge treatment.Debbie
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acdesignsky
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the help and words of wisdom. I know he's not at all dangerous, buthe freaks out some dogs and their owners. Also, our daughters are getting nearly to the age where they can walk him, but I worry about him "losing it" along the way.
We've never used a choke chain, but I can tell he needs more discipline than I've dished out. He seems to know his place with DH and I, but he's pretty sure he and the kids are on the same level. We recently started not allowing him to sleep on the couch and chairs ehich improved his behavoir dramtically. Honestly, when he's on the leash, I simply do not exist. That has to change. He loves our walks and I don't want to deprive him so I'll get some literature about choke chains and get started. BTW, can't they call it by something nicer.
chelone
17 years ago
Yeah, there IS a better name... they're called "training collars"! and they're invaluable! Put it on correctly: with the dog in front of you the "noose" formed by threading the links through the rings should for a "P". And you use them with a "jerk/release", never a steady tension!

I have the economy-size "jerk dog". He grows the "total Mohawk" and barks like a fool when we meet another dog. After the "big, macho" posture it's the play bow... but at 100 lbs. most people are freaked right out. (imagine that!?) He's a shelter dog and we've done obedience classes (they're GREAT, GO!) but we have no dogs in our neighborhood and opportunities to "socialize" are non-exisitant.

When we happen upon another dog I put mine in sit or down/stay. When the other ownr/dog is within earshot I wave and tell them to ignore the "tantrum" and tell them I have control of my dog. If Rex explodes I correct him and return him to the postion he was in before the tantrum. He's getting better, but it's still not easy. I've bet the farm on "consistency"...

(when am I gonna see a pay off?)

Hang in there!
eandhl
17 years ago
angc, Though the directions above are good if you have never used a training collar, when you decide please have them show you the correct way to put it on the correct way to give quick corrections/release. They are a wonderful training tool only when used properly. A training class would be worth the effort and cost for learning the proper way to train a dog.
bean_counter_z4
17 years ago
I agree they are a training tool. They are definately not something children should use on an untrained dog.
oakleif
17 years ago
I have a hound that plays with my DD'S dog just like that. Its no problem since they're in a pen. Also i've never ever met a mean beagle.Like the others said,take him to a dog training group,you may like it too.
oakleif
measure_twice
17 years ago
nose down, butt up - Play!

no problem.

I HIGHLY agree with obedience class for EVERY owner.

Mazer and I respectfully disagree about training methods. I disagree with various correction collars. That said, ANY obedience class will teach you how to better manage your dog, even a class that uses punishment.

Don't just read a training book. Especially don't take your training from the TV! Take a class!

Is my dog aggressive or anti-social?

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mazer415

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Is my dog aggressive or anti-social?

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