aggressive dandi dinmont terrier

Question
I got Ted when he was 1..his previous owner sold him to me..I later found out she did that because he fought with her other dog.. I walk him close to me..when I saw a big dog coming our way, I would make sure we kept walking at a consistent pace and walk past the dog..Ted prefers to walk behind me..I live across the street from a park and walked him twice a day..we were attacked by a mastiff last May..he had 41 puncture wounds and I had 11..he was asleep behind me at the onset of the attack..now, he is very aggressive when we walk..if he sees a large dog, he immediately lunges at it and is growling and barking..he slipped out of his collar while lunging at a big dog in a park..thank God, my son in law was with us..he got down and held Ted until he got the collar back on him..I have not walked him since this happened on Mother's day..is there any hope of him regaining his ability to walk civilly or should I just let him stay within my fenced in yard and not walk him...as you can tell, I am afraid of his continued aggression causing another attack to us...

Answer
It's not unusual for little terriers to have big attitudes about other dogs. Frequently it's born of fear. They try to tell the other dogs off to keep them away. But poor Ted (and poor you) on the attack. That's enough to frighten anyone. Rehabilitating Ted's behavior is going to be a long haul. I will recommend a couple of books for you, and also that you seek out a good positive trainer for local, in-person help. (Run, don't walk, from any trainer who suggests punishing the behavior, and make sure you know what a trainer is going to do before you hand them the leash) The first book is "Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons and the second book is "Control Unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt. Both contain really good strategies for this sort of situation. And one of the things to know first is to "start small". Don't go out with the intent of taking a walk. Go out with the intent of exposing your dog to no more than he can handle. Your own response is also going to be majorly important. Chances are, having had some really scary experiences, you are tense and reactive yourself. When you see an other dog approach, you may tighten up on the leash and hold your breath. This sends a clear message to your dog that trouble is coming. Instead have a plan for exactly what you are going to do (where the reading and the in-person help will be able to support you) and go about carrying out your plan calmly and cheerfully. Also, be sure you have secure equipment on him. Possibly a properly fitted collar AND a properly fitted harness with two leashes or a double clip leash. And the leash you are primarly using should be attached to the harness. The one attached to the collar is a back-up and should be kept even looser (though Ted needs to be able to walk on a loose leash anyway) It's really hard to think when your air is being cut off, so collar pressure can make a reactive dog even more reactive. Good luck! Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com