He is smart, and a really fast learner. We go to multiple classes and train a lot.
He has a bullet proof recall, good loose leash skills and he is a heeling PRO!
However, whenever there is a female in heat in the neighborhood, at the classes,
in front of us during walks, or even if we are walking somewhere where a female
as been walking the same day, I completely lose him!
He starts roaming, pulling, freezes and sniffs at certain places. He forgets
everything, and no treat in the world can win him over.
I am trying every day to desensitize him to the smells, using great distance and
engage/disengage training.
I have learned good BAT lead skills, which has worked wonders on his dog
reactivity. But that doesn't seem to help on the smells at all.
Should I neuter him? I don't really want to. I hope I can get some other advice
on effective ways to deal with this. He is not aggressive or fearful or anything.
His behavior is really good, and I love who he is with his drive and energy.
But but the classes are money out the window, and this really delays our
training. Right now there's a female in our neighborhood in heat, 50 meters
down the street, and he's really stressed out about it, panting and even
drooling some.
Kim
