Cairn Terrier started barking at other dogs on walks. help please.

[Nowtheres4]

my year old Cairn has been a lovely well behaved dog but in the last month or so she has started barking at other dogs when we are out walking. She walks really well on or off the lead but if we come across another dog she gives chase and starts barking. this is a regular occurrence now but she doesn;t bark at every dog, and there doesn;t seem to be any pattern to it.

any suggestions on what i can do? i put her back on the lead when i see other people/dogs approaching and always hold her back and say no in a firm low voice as soon as she starts, but it seems to make no difference.

Sorry, can't help but am marking my place to see what wise dog people say as mine has started doing this the last week or so.

I'm an amateur at all this really, but I wouldn't put her on the lead and tell her off when this happens, as that just teaches her that bad things happen when she sees other dogs. I'd keep her on a long line initially and recall her her to give her a tasty treat, so she learns that other dogs are nothing to be afraid of and also to return to you when she sees other dogs: a very valuable skill in itself.

Has she been socialised much?

Also, as terriers were bred to chase prey, she will get a huge satisfaction out of chasing other dogs off, and the more times she is able to do this, the more she will want to, so you have to stop her chasing.

I happened to be watching a programme today about dog training, it was really interesting.

One of the dogs on there kept barking at cyclists and buggies when out on walks. The owners were advised to turn and walk in the opposite direction for 5 steps if their dog barked. They then turn around and walk towards the obstacle again. If their dog barked again, turn around, 5 steps in opposite direction and then walk back in the same direction again. This continued until the dog no longer barked and was then rewarded for not barking with a treat.

It taught the dog that it had nothing to be afraid of and when the lady returned after 2 weeks, the dog no longer barked at buggies or cyclists when out on walks.

Teach a watch me command and socialise socialise socialise

ah thanks. sorry i didn;t come back sooner.
we go on long walks everyday but admittedly i do tend to walk where i know there is less chance of meeting other dogs. This is mainly as i have three dogs to walk and found it easier to control them if no chance of coming across others.
we moved a few months ago and i have been alternating walks in the deserted places with walks in the park across the road, where its dog walker city.
i'll give a few of your tips a try.

My first boyfriend had a cairn terrier and I still have her barking preserved for posterity: he was taping a tape of songs for me and she started yapping at the end

ah bless! its a shame as she is so lovely and even though she barks she is very gentle, but it gives people the wrong impression of her.

It's her genes