My dog barks. How to handle public judgment while training her?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Lucci's behavior is common. He is still young and you can still work on this. I would take him to a trainer to have him learn the "leave it" and "look" commands. I would purchase a gentle leader face harness and use that on walks. Do not take him off the leash around other dogs or children until he listens to you perfectly. Little breed dogs are loud and they bark. Some are more pushy with their dominance and you will need to figure out how much Lucci will exhibit these behaviors as he grows up and reaches social/behavioral maturity (up to 3 years of age). I recommend you get aggressive with training and using professionals. Good luck! https://www.petsmart.com/dog/collars-harnesses-and-leashes/training-collars-leashes-and-harnesses/petsafe-gentle-leader-training-dog-collar-8851.html

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are medications that can be used to reduce anxiety at times. These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and your pups in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree with you, the discipline has not been handled correctly. There are other, better ways to discipline a dog but at this time it is going to be difficult to correct without a professional trainer. Does she have fear aggression? I don't know because I have not witnessed the behavior myself so I can't say for sure. You need a professional dog trainer to come to your house and see the dog's behavior and how the dog interacts with everyone in the house. Only then can they make recommendations on how to correct the problem. Sometimes you need to work concurrently with a veterinarian as behavior modification medications may be needed in the beginning of the re-training. I'm sorry I do not know where you are located so I can't really recommend a trainer. I suggest you call your vet for a recommendation. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Almost any behavior can be resolved with training and behavior modification. I would highly recommend you consider contacting a local dog trainer who can work with you in person as that is needed. This should work but it will take time and persistence and of course a professional working with you both. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The answer is complicated and stems from the root of the problem. If Cassidy genuinely wants to play and meet these dogs, I don’t know that I would necessarily do anything. If this stems from fear of other dogs, leash anxiety specifically, or protectiveness of you, these are treated differently. Lowering the fear threshhold (if appropriate) via anti-anxiety medication can help tremendously. I’ve had severely dog-aggressive dogs who, with medication, don’t seem to care at all when they pass another dog on a walk. Results of course vary depending on root cause, medication, and individual dog. Counter-conditioning is also crucial. This is the act of training Cassidy to associate other dogs with something good (usually treats). This can take weeks and all of dedication and patience but is usually more effective and long-lasting than medication. Sometimes it is not effective however, until the medication is started. I’d have a conversation with a vet first to help narrow down the cause and start on medication if appropriate. Then move to a reputable trainer or behaviorist. Best wishes to you and Cassidy!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! This is tough! He sure is cute! I recommend using the gentle leader head collar for better control and asking for sedatives like trazadone from your Vet. Do not take him to these places until you train him to look at you (with treats) in social situations. This will take some time. You may want to pay for private training lessons so you can focus on this one behavior. There is no instant fix but being proactive, like you are, is a good step! He is young still. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/petsafe-gentle-leader-dog-headcollar Good luck!