dog feeling threatened, any help appreciated

[concernedaboutthis]

Wonder if any one can give me some pointers????
Have a three month old yorkshire terrier. She is very sweet with people and loves a good romp with other dogs she has had a chance to suss out when they are both off of the lead, for example at friends houses.
However when we take her out and about and she is on her lead, and she encounters another dog off of it's lead, she turns in to a mad growly, barking, demented looking animal! It is very embarassing and unpleasant for other dogs and their owners.
I make sure that she is close to me so that she doesn't have the chance to snap at other animals. No amount of treats/toy distractions seem to make any difference.
She is too small - roughly stands about 25cm from floor to head, (and not well trained enough yet) to be allowed free reign in public places, with unknown dogs.
If I am carrying her (she still gets sleepy being so young) and she sees other dogs running around she is fine.
Is there anything I can do, or is it just a matter of time and persistence???
Many thanks in advance....

right I am a complete novice at this but been having a very similar problem with cherry, she is 14 months old and a border terrier so nowehere near as young or small as your pup, she is however smaller than most of the dogs we see and still a pup in my eyes.

with cherry it is differerent as it is following a bite and she has got into a couple of fights. but we had a trainer come out to spend some time with her and see her behaviour she said she is very relaxed apart from around other dogs. we having been doing some work with a clicker (do you use a clicker at all) so basically if cherry notices another dog then looks at me she gets a treat and so on as long as she is behaving correctly, the minute she stops behaving nicely we simply remover her from the situation.

do you take her to any puppy classes or anything? can you get the dogs she is friendly with to go for a wlak with you?

the biggest problem with my dog is I tense up when I see another dog and she can tell, this confirms to her that there is something to be nervous about.

I am sure someone who actually knows what they are talking about will be along soon, I bet she is so cute.

I think that dogs on the lead can often react like this to dogs that are off lead. I'm not sure why and someone who knows more will be along with better advice, but I'm sure that is part of the problem. Our JRTx can be a bit like this on the lead, but off, she is absolutely fine. Heelwork training is helping enormously. Your dog is still very young - have you looked at puppy classes yet? We found ours very useful and informative.

Ditavonteesed adice is what I would do.

I have a look dog command. The reaction your dog is showing is fear and as far as she is concerned if she sees off the dog first then the threat has gone.

So you need to change her perception of the threat. Start from a long way away from a dog so your dog does not react.
When she looks at a dog click and she will turn to you and threat. (ifused to the clicker)

then as she gets used to this you can say look dog she will look at you and not be worried and not concerned by the other dog.

I have had fantastic response to this with many "so called" aggressive dogs. It really changes their attitude and also gives them something else to do rather than growl and lunge.

It is not an overnight answer but if you are consistent it will work a dream

thank you all so much. we had a lovely walk at a green near us this morning (where I'd considered that most dogs would be on leads) and she was a little nervous, but very happy to say hello to other dogs on leads.

We are due to start puppy classes but just waiting for next lot of sessions to begin.

I will try the clicker training, it sounds like it is certainly worth a go.

I am trying to be very conscious of my body language as I realised that I was getting tense in anticipation too, and made a concerted effort today.

She is very lovely and looks much like a teddy bear, which makes it all the more shocking for other owners when she reverts into nightmare dog.

Although not the answer, I am trying to comfort myself with the thought
that at least other dogs off of the lead are in a position to run away.

Heel walking would be my ultimate aim, and at the moment she isn't doing badly, just that bit too early to practice in busy, public places I think.

Thanks again for all of your help.

it sounds like she is trying to protect you. you need to assert to her that you are in charge and should be protecting her, not vicevera