aggression ( rescue dog )

Question
I read your bio and ratings criteria. We recently adopted a Chug ( pug/chihuahua ) male, neutered 1 and a half year old dog. My 18 year old cat loves him and they got along right away. The ASPCA said he is dog friendly and got along with other dogs there. However, when we go for a walk and he sees other dogs he goes nuts lunges, growling, barking, wiggling out of his harness & collar to go after the other dog. I am thinking small dog syndrome. We use a harness because the SPCA said never to use a collar as it would cause damage. But he is so distracted when we walk by everything that I have no control. As long as there are no dogs in sight he walks in heel position without pulling. Please help.

Answer
Hi Melissa,

I don't mind your shortening my bio and rating criteria at all. In fact, I like your wording and may use it for the future rather than the 'cut-and-paste' bit.

'Temperament testing,' behavior evaluations, especially at a shelter, may not be an accurate indication of what a dog will do out in the "real world." I'm familiar with ASPCA evaluations in my neck of the woods, and I'm not sure how they might differ where you're located, or who's allowed to do the testing. I don't know how long you've had Mr. Chug, but you may want to call the ASPCA and have him re-evaluated, and ask to observe the evaluation. Most ASPCAs with which I'm familiar offer classes and/or have a trainer(s) on staff for private lessons. Some also have 'Feisty Fido' classes which employ desensitization and counter-conditioning methods for dogs who behave like your Chug.  I would look into these. Even if he doesn't display the behaviors you've described upon additional evaluation, which I think they'd be happy to do, I am sure you will be believed when you describe how he's behaving. Even if he doesn't display the behavior at the shelter or during classes, teaching him a repertoire of cues such as 'look at me; turn; back up; target/touch; and, others, will make him more apt and able to respond to you in the real-life situations which are causing you difficulty and concern.

It is definitely a huge concern that he's coming out of his harness, especially if you don't know what he'll do if he actually gets loose, both to the other dog and to himself. So, it's crucial that you have him fitted in a better harness, or have the one he's currently in checked at the ASPCA for fit. In addition, there are other types of equipment you can use, such as a Gentle Leader, but there is a specific way to introduce your dog to the GL so he'll accept it, and also to ensure that it's fitted properly so it won't come off. Trainers describe the Gentle Leader (GL) as "power steering" for your dog. However, there is a correct way to use the GL so it doesn't cause cervical damage to your dog, which it has the potential to do if not used correctly. For this, again, I'd direct you back to the ASPCA staff and trainers. I know the ASPCA to be a very reputable organization and I can't imagine that they wouldn't help you with such a serious issue when you've adopted a dog from the organization.

For now, I might suggest that you walk him in both a well-fitting collar AND a harness with two leashes because you can't let him get out of his harness. So, until he's trained, he needs to be managed and kept safe, as well as other dogs kept safe.

As to "small dog syndrome," I'm not sure what you mean by that, as what I know as 'small dog syndrome' might be something very different than to what you're thinking; or, why you would think it's applicable to Mr. Chug's current issues. There may be tons of reasons as to why he displays the behavior(s) toward other dogs, and most likely it has to do with his early experiences and socialization with other dogs. It doesn't really matter in the long run - you've got the behavior you've got, and you need to cope with it. The best ways that I know are training which has him, ultimately, responding to the cues I mentioned under distracting circumstances, which you'll have to work up to, and managing him with better equipment and/or better fitting equipment.

Working with a knowledgeable trainer will also help identify Mr. Chug's threshold - that is, the distance at which he's triggered to react the way you've described toward other dogs. Thresholds may vary in different environments and also vary given stressors at any given time in a dog's life (thus, why the behavior may not have been seen at the ASPCA - some dogs 'shut down' under shelter stress and don't behave as they normally would in the shelter environment as they would in the 'real world').

I can't outline an actual training plan here for you. Doing so would take a curriculum over the time of at least a couple of months and become a training booklet. I hope you appreciate what I'm able to suggest in this context at Allexperts. I appreciate your question and your taking the time to read my bio and rate my response. Sorry you're not closer to my neck of the woods. I would have loved to help out in-person, and if the ASPCA would have allowed it, I would have donated a portion of my time and cost at the shelter to help you out. As it is, though, I would call your ASPCA as soon as possible. The more Mr. Chug practices this annoying and potentially dangerous behavior, the better he'll become at it and the more neurologically ingrained it will become for him. Best to nip it in the bud and deal with it right away.

Best regards,
Madeline Friedman, M.A.
HobokenDogTrainer.com