3yr old boxer dog

Question
I have had jack for three weeks now,he is a rescue dog,good around the house obeys comands, we go to work and he does
not destroy things,he is fine with adults and children. He
has been in foster care with other dogs and in kennels and
he was fine. however the problem begins when i take him walking, he walks good with me but if a dog comes into sight
I cannot control him he does not want to go near the dog, he jumps up in the air and twists and turns to try to get away he seems to be in a panic. Can you help please

Answer
Hi Maria,

There are a couple of things you can try, to help your dog get over his fear of other dogs. It will take time, and plenty of patience on your part.

Counter-conditioning is the term used to help a dog get over a fearful experience. It interrupts unwanted behavior by training the dog to respond to a command or activity that is incompatible with continuing performance of the fearful behavior.
       
If your dog can be distracted by food rewards or games, this is often sufficient. For dogs that do not readily respond to food or play, it is helpful to train the dog to relax on command by responding to verbal and visual cues from the owner. Under non-stressful conditions, you should teach the dog to sit and watch you in order to receive praise or a food treat. First, say "watch me" and move a finger toward your face. If the dog responds by paying attention in a relaxed and focused manner, reward him with a small food treat or praise lavishly. Perform this relaxation exercise daily for 5 days.

Each day increase the amount of time that your dog must pay attention in a relaxed pose before he receives a reward. By the end of the fifth day, the dog should be able to remain focused for 25-30 seconds no matter what the distraction. At this stage, when if you sense that your dog is about to engage in the unwanted behavior, you can use this counter-conditioning technique to interrupt the behavior before it is initiated. It is important to practice this exercise on a periodic basis to ensure its effectiveness when it is needed.

At this point, take your dog to a park, and allow your dog to observe other dogs coming and going, but keep about 50 feet away from them.  Remember to reward the dog for remaining calm. Once he is confident at this distance, the distance should be progressively decreased over the ensuing weeks until the dog can be right next to other dogs that were previously the focus of his fear.

Another thing that might help, is to use a head halter instead of a neck collar, or shoulder harness. Head halters are worn on the face, much like a horse's harness is worn. It is not a muzzle. Brands to look for are Halti, K9 Bridle and Gentle Leader. Read more about using a head harness here:

http://www.premier.com/App_Content/media/gentleleader/GLFittingInstructions.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFaFfad7uCs

If your dog isn't improving with this training, a dog trainer would offer the best results, in the shortest time. Your veterinarian or boarding kennel can probably give you a referral for a dog trainer in your area.
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Best of luck,
Patti