Dog barking and lunging on lead

[Atethehalloweenchocs]

I have a 15 month old large breed dog. She has always been quite chilled and friendly with other dogs. Last week when the dog walker came to get her (I pay for a walk a week so she can have the experience of walking with someone else and being around other dogs) a westie had a go at her. The walkers immediately picked up the smaller dog, and my dog went off quite happily with them. Wednesday when we went into class she barked and lunged at a dachshund who has barked at her before. Then a new dog we had not met before. I redirected her and she was fine for the rest of class. Then she did it when I walked her to 2 random bigger dogs walking past. For the rest of the walk I made her stop and be calm when other dogs passed us. Today she is back to barking and lunging again. Could it be something else going on? Advice?

What does the dog trainer taking the training classes advise?

Nothing yet, @cobden28 - she thought she may just be having an off day because we have been going since she was 12 weeks old and never seen anything like this before.

It sounds like the westie scared her, and so she's reacting in anticipation if that makes sense.

Yes, that is what I think too, but as she is big and powerful, I really need it not to happen, because it scares people and I am afraid she will get attacked.

My sbt is similar
One day we had two border terriers really have a go at him, barking and straining on the leads to get to him and since then everything has gone to sh*t to be honest.
Any dog that looks his way he now barks at first, 9 tim3s out of 10 they are always smaller dogs.
It drives me mental, he's always told no and I sit him down to calm him. Larger dogs who don't even glance at him, he completely ignores.

It is like as pp says, the dogs scared him, he now associates every small dog with the dogs and gets his bark in first.

You need to figure out her "safe distance" (the distance she can comfortably walk past another dog without reacting) and start doing some positive reinforcement when she sees other dogs.

If she sees another dog and doesn't react, mark the behaviour (with a yes or a clicker) and reward. Eventually you'll be able to move closer and closer to other dogs without a reaction.

Thanks @cinnamonfrenchtoast , I will try that.

I have a gsd like this who started being reactive when in puppy class after a smaller breed barked and lunged at her. I thought it was a one off and thought nothing of it but it's really grained on her. She started to bark at every passing dog. We are training her out of it but it's really hard. I keep her away from dogs at a close distence and met her watch dogs from afar and reward her then move on. I don't push her to greet dogs because this will only make the situation worse. Once she is over the threshold of listening to you the only way to stop it is to move her away. Take things at her pace. It will take time and patience. I get really anxious sometimes when walking her just incase but this only feeds her fear because she then thinks mums anxious so I should be so try to be relaxed about it.

Is she spayed? Has she had a season?

She has had a season but is too young to be spayed - the guidance for her breed is between 2 and 3 years old. I made some dog treats today and have been practising walking her around the house on her lead and then treating her when I tighten it and she looks at me. I am going to keep doing that for a few days, then try moving it outside at a great distance. She is fine off the lead, not at all bothered by other dogs then. But she is obviously frightened when she is on it, and like you, @Miracle29 , I am trying not to be too anxious myself as I dont want to make things worse.

My advice would be throw a lot of money at a behaviourist and shut this down asap whilst she’s still young, as this is exactly what happened to my dog and he has been dog reactive for the last 5years, completely ruining dog ownership for me.