female dog agression

Question
Hi just wondering if you have any suggestions, was looking on the internet and came across the site. We have a 5 month old female bernese mountain dog who is very well behaved in the house however has started to become impossible to walk. About 2 weeks ago the problem started, as soon as I get out the house with her she trys to attack me and lunges herself at my arms, legs, back, anywhere she can, I can not control her and have tried everything to distract her. She however does not behave like this with my partner, he tells her "No" as I do and she leaves him alone. My partner works offshore and is due to go away again soon and we are worried I will not be able to walk her. She has not pierced my skin however has done some damage to my arms and has certainley ripped a couple of coats. She is perfect in the house and when I take her to training classes etc. I do not understand why we are having this problem walking her and would be grateful for any suggestions. She is very good with other people, dogs and kids. She has not been spayed but this is something we are planning to have done soon. Thanks, Claire.

Answer
The simple answer is that she doesn't respect you.  Therefore, you need to turn the tables.  First, be sure you are using her obedience work at home to establish a NILIF lifestyle - that means "nothing in life is free".  The first week that your SO is away, feed the dog by hand.  The second week, drop food kibble by kibble into her bowl.  The third week, make her work for her dinner - sit, lie down, spin, shake, whatever she knows.

Get a Gentle Leader head collar set, including the instructional video, and acclimate her to wearing it.  Then, when you take her for walks in the GL, you will have a means of closing her mouth, and controlling her head, gently.  Think about my horse - who weighs close to 1000 pounds - and how I could never walk him in a collar, LOL, but in a halter he is fine!  Also, during your walks, do some obedience work while you are out - sometimes, what I do is to make my dog sit when a jogger goes by, lie down if we see a squirrel, shake if I spot a robin, etc.  So, the dog is working the whole time.  If you can, tire her BEFORE the walk, with a game of fetch.  All these things can help, but the NILIF is most important - Google on that and you will get more suggestions.