Eddie and I went to meet the behaviourist today

[pugaddiction]

So Eddie has been acting up real bad on our walks lately. He is screaming and lunging at other dogs and it is getting quite difficult to walk them both.
So I phoned the behaviourist and made an appointment for today.
We got to her place and met with her, he remembered her and loved her(she has tasty treats). Met the large husband and was very scared, but he had yummy treats too so he would go close enough for that. Then he got to see from afar her very large rotti, 90 lbs of suckiness. He would watch him but never got overly excited like he usually did. So we slowly got closer and closer and then it happened. He walked up quite appropriatly and sniffed him and then walked away. What is up with that. He never does that, he usually screams and lunges.
So she took us to a penned area and we let them loose together. Didn't even interact much, Eddie just wandered around. So she brought in another dog, retriever with more energy. Eddie did the same thing, walked up to her and sniffed her and walked away. Brought in another one, aussie, same thing but had more interest in her. If she would have stopped and stood still he would have tried to mount her. But he gave up and left her alone.
So we decided to put him back on the leash and go for a walk around her place while she brought out another dog. We walked right up to another rotti and he sniffed and sat down. I am so confused. She said he was great that she could see how it may escilate but was quite proud of how he reacted. We are wondering if maybe it has something to do with Zoey being with him and he is trying to protect her.
I have decided to enroll him in an obedience class and see how he does, couldn't hurt.
I was dissapointed that he didn't do it, but on the other hand I was very proud of him and felt much better about things. He is going to do just fine after a few setions I think. Horay for Eddie.

[Lu Ci and Ri Ki]

Isn't that the way is usually goes. Just like when you get to the waiting room at the Dr.'s office and suddenly feel better or take the car to the mechanic and it won't make that funny noise you've heard all week. Perhaps you are on to something, though, about Eddie trying to protect Zoey. Some obedience classes should be good and fun, too.

[snort]

Hmm, it figures! When you actually WANT them to misbehave...good as gold!
You could try getting someone to videotape you on walks when he is being a maniac and show to the behaviorist for any ideas.
Obedience is always a good idea.
Good Luck!

[Snifter]

Do you go for a regular route on your walks?

If a dog is in an unfamiliar place I have found it will tend to behave better; it is not so sure of itself and tries to weigh up the situation more, I think. If you can get the trainer to accompany you on a regular walk she may get a better opportunity of seeing first hand what the problem is.

It will also, imo, make a big difference to him if Zoey is there or not. My dogs behave dreadfully when I walk them together on a regular walk in the park. So I generally don't. However, if I load them into the car and take them someplace unfamiliar they behave much better.

[Wonka & Nilla]

That's great that he did so well at the trainer's, but it doesn't really help if he just goes back to the old behavior while out on regular walks. I like Holly's suggestion to videotape and Bella's suggestion to have the trainer accompany you on a walk. Both good ideas!!!
And I bet an obedience class will also help... just to have him in a room with other dogs around (on leash and under control) will be good for him.

[pugaddiction]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have thought about the regular walks also. We do pretty much the same route everyday and I have wondered if it is because he is more relaxed and himself. When at her place he reacted much differently and not calmer but more cautious.
So we took both dogs for a walk in a different place today. It is a place where you walk around a small man made lake and they play disc golf. Which I have never heard of but kinda interesting, just have to watch out for flying frisbees. Anyway, we let the dogs off leash as everyone else was doing it. There wasn't alot of dogs there so we felt quite confident. We came to a man with a large shephard type dog. So I yelled to him to see if his dog was friendly. He said yes so I let Eddie go and greet her. He did awesome. This poor dog named Sarah had been beaten up by a rotti recently so she was very submissive. She really liked Eddie and they started running all over the place. He loved it, and not one scream. I was amazed at how fast he could run, kept up to this athletic dog 5 times bigger than him. Poor Zoey gave up and would wait for them to pass her and run a bit then wait some more. We did have a problem with getting him back, he just wanted to chase Sarah all over but he finally listened and came. Carried on with our walk but put the leash on this time and came to a woman with 3 westies. I kept a loose leash and he nicely walked up to them smelled under their bellies and then carried on. So there is hope in our future. Just gotta see how he does with a walk around our neighbor hood.

[Pat's Crew]

interesting and I do believe they do protect each other though too
Bella is very protective over my son on a walk...
Gus could care less about anyone or anything on a walk
wander if your pug is protecting YOU..

sounds like he is doing better though and that is a good thing

[diesels.mom]

that's good that Eddie did well meeting the large dog today. he's definitely improved :) let us know how he does on a walk around your neighborhood.

I guess the ultimate test will be to take him to a dog park eventually! maybe a pug meetup?

[pugaddiction]

I would love to take them to a pug meetup. There is one not far from our house once a month. So I think a few more times out and see how he does and we might just go. He seems to be fine when not on a leash. I will probably bring his belly band though, he is going to try and mount everyone, boy and girl I know this for sure. Lol. He is so funny.

[Suri]

Bo goes a little nutty on his walk like Eddie, barks and lunges, especially at other dogs, then he will go to nip whever pug wise is next to him. For a while I took a can of coins to shake when he startsn and he did stop but I ahve to hold 2 pugs and sometimes a

bag so it gets difficult. my friened walks her bully and Scruffy. Our hands are full!