socialising a rescue dog - suggestions please

[jeffers]

Hi

We have adopted a 3 1/2 year old boxer cross from a rescue centre. She is a total softie, loving her tummy rubbed and is already trained in most of the basic commands (sit, wait etc).

However, when we go out on a walk, she is very intent on going up to other dogs. We were told by the rescue centre that this is with friendly intent and they had been distracting her with treats or allowing her to meet dogs deemed friendly by their owners. we have continued with this.

However, she does growl and her hair stands up on end when she approaches the other dog and one woman yesterday was very scared of her and her 'friendly' dog leapt at us barking and a little scuffle broke out.
She also growls at strangers who approach her but is fine once she has had a sniff of them. She is better if she can make the approach and also if we ask her to move on before the other dog's owners move their dog away. If she doesn't get the chance to sniff she will jump up and bark and pull and she is very strong! (she wears a harness).

We have been out with a friend's dog and she got on very well with him.

Could some of her bounciness around other dogs be down to her being on the lead as we keep her on it to stop her from bouncing up to people and dogs who may be frightened of her? Do you think she would be better if she could approach when she wanted or would she be worse off the lead?

Any advice for helping us to get her calmer around other dogs?

Thanks.

[Nettle]

If she's growling and hackling up, she isn't being friendly. Some dogs' homes can be economical with the truth

Many dogs find boxers disturbing because of the lack of facial expression and body language. Before you know it, there is an exchange of 'vibes' and dogs that are normally nice animals can kick off into a full and frank exchange of views.

Nobody wants that so until she is more secure, supervise all dog interaction, keep her on-lead when nearing strange dogs but don't let her push up to them: keep her at your side or behind you. If the other dog is calm and she isn't hackled and barking or growling, let them meet but the instant anything changes, get her back and block the other dog.

Gradually she will acquire canine friends, but some dogs will always be wary of boxers, and wary in a dog is a spit away from confrontation.

[katowaggytail]

I also have a rescue boy and yes the kennels were a little "economical" with certain things. Over time I have learnt who to avoid and who is ok. Staffs and Jacks no probs - collies, larger furries no way. Cats - I was told he was ok with... forget it, rabbits (indoor variety) great! Time will tell, but I do avoid people but if they insist I just explain why.....

[Missymay]

Could it be a leash reactivity? This can come from fear or dislike or it could just be a barrier frustration (I want to play, but can't get to them).

Either way, I would work on systematically desensitizing to other dogs.

Sometimes, this means you have to start by changing the most fundimental associations in the primative part of the brain and come at it through classical conditioning before you can get to the operant part.

All of that is just my fancy way of saying whenever another dog was approaching, I would be shoveling her favorite training treats into her mouth as quickly as she could eat them

Once she starts to associate another dogs approach with food and starts looking to you for the food, you can start reinforcing calm behavior and focus.

I would, additionally, start working a focus cue in an environment with few distractions and proofing it in preperation for this.

[jeffers]

thanks people. will let you know how we progress...

[jeffers]

Hi
Update.
We have been going to doggy socialising/training classes for quite a while now and the improvement has been substantial.
She is still a bit wary of other dogs at times but on the whole likes nothing more than playing chase before collapsing in a big heap.
we are hoping to take the bronze good citizenship award soon