8 month old dog barking at other dogs

[carrottopper]

My 8 month old puppy has suddenly started showing aggression. He's a maltipoo and was quite timid but suddenly started barking and now lunging At other dogs whilst on the lead. Today I let him off and he ran and chased another dog whilst growling at him. He's always been the one chased previously. I'm really worried that he will snap at another dog. What should I do?

Also what do I do if he does attack another dog? Do we pay for vet bills? We have insurance

Has he ever been to any training classes?

Pretty common. I would not take him to a training class at this stage ( all the other dogs will be too much for him and he will learn nothing as he will be too over aroused/terrified) but do contact a trainer for 121 help. They will show you how to change your dogs emotions when he sees dogs. It take time

In the meantime increase any distance between him and dogs.If you see another dog turn away and give him space. He is being hypervigilant at the moment looking for dogs and so his stress levels will be high hence the barking etc.

Do not let him off lead for a bit until you have some training in place. You could muzzle train him but he needs to be confident around dogs and that will not happen if you let him carry on interacting with them when he is scared.

If he is on lead he will not be able to attack and bite other dogs so that needs to be the case for the time being. Yes you would have to pay for another dogs vets bills. It depends on your insurance if they will pay but you really need to make sure this does not happen. For your dogs sake and other dogs

Please keep him on a lead for now.

I have a large fear reactive dog. Smaller dogs barking at her would tip her over the edge. She is always on a lead but if your dog ran at her and tried to attack her I don't think it would end well for him.

Until you have the issue resolved (and by resolved you really need to see a behaviourist) please keep him safe and on a lead.

Keep the lead on, go back to basics and get some properly qualified help

Keep on lead and stand between your dog and other dogs. Get proper training. Plenty online stuff out there. You keep calm. Your dog takes cues from you. You need to demonstrate to your dog that the other dog isn’t a threat, standing in front of your dog will show that you are in control of the situation so your dog needn’t worry.

We did training classes but he was 4-7 months. It didn't cover this at all. Do I pull him back when he goes near other dogs?

Distraction is a better way to go.
Get him to focus on you instead with a treat or toy

Distract BEFORE he starts, and then reward him lots (high value treats and lots of praise) when he ignores the other dog.

The best way to train is positive reinforcing. You just dragging him away when he starts just means you’re not solving a single thing.

Work on the ‘look at me’ training. Ie when you’re at home and he’s calm use stinky treats and get him to look at you (say look! And hold the treat near your face) As soon as he does praise and treat. Then when out walking practice look at me when there are no distractions.

You should be able to get to a point that you spot another dog - get yours to sit and ‘look’ while it passes and then you praise lots.

But also 100% get a 1-1 trainer because it does sound like you need a bit of support here.

And keep him on the lead at all times, and probably start muzzle training. There should never be a point it escalates to him attacking. You need to be on it.

Distraction is ok to manage things BUT it will not change your dogs behaviour. You nned to get a trainer in who will show you have to use a tecnhique that allows your dog to look at ther dogs and then look back to you. This will change your dogs emotional response to dogs and you will not having to be distracting your dog for ever.