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[RJHale]

I took the dogs out again today, just around to the corner shops so we could get some lunch, this time i had them in their walking harnesses. Now it is a Saturday so there were quite a few people out with their dogs. Now usually this would be fine. But Phoenix is so damn protective of Zara that he gets very dominant with other dogs. But he doesn't act aggressive.

Today some idiot decided to let their little Maltese out of their car off lead and it ran straight for my two. Phoenix intercepted it and made it squeak but didn't hurt it. The man picked up his dog apologizing and then let Phoenix and Zara sniff at the other dog while it was trying to wriggle and get away from them.

Then we were walking home from the shops and there was another dog that was tied up waiting for it's owner to come out of a shop and Phoenix and Zara were straining over to it. Zara of course wanting to play with it and say hello. I kept them walking and we were almost past it when Phoenix turned around and pulled the other dogs tail, nothing more then that, it was a little funny but he kept walking on as usual after that, the dogs Owner came out to check on her dog but it was fine and it didn't start to bark or carry on till we were well down the path. I think Phoenix is the neighborhood bully.

They need to be socialized more but i have not found anywhere local where i can do that or i have to take them out one on one. Phoenix is fine when Zara isn't around but if she is he acts up around other dogs so i have to hold him back.

Where i used to live there was a great walking track where we would meet a fair few dogs, but there is nothing like that here. I am just wondering how do i socialize them when there isn't really anywhere to socialize them.

Another matter i have is Zara's habit of snatching food. I tried to teach her to take it gently but it hasn't seemed to have sunk in and sometimes my hand can get a bit sore from her teeth when she tries to gulp down the treats.

[sutsibe]

For me, the snatching problem is the easier to resolve, so I'll go there first. String cheese might be the best thing to try working with, for Zara, because it's usually pretty high-value, and you can either allow her to gnaw bits off, or you can easily take small bites off for her.

Probably, I would allow her to gnaw off little bits - Start by telling her "gentle", see if she'll be gentle. Hold most of it in a fist, so just a little is sticking out. She has to be gentle, or you take it away, and she can't have any for a little bit. Tell her firmly "NO, Gentle!" and try again after a moment. I teach my puppies that way - though it will probably be a little more difficult for an adult dog that likes to snatch, I've gone back and reinforced it this way with a dog that got a little greedy.

Do you have a friend who might be able to help you with Phoenix? If you can get someone to help, at least for a couple of times, so that you can concentrate on him while someone else handles Zara, you can set him up to meet some other dogs (likely as you see them, since you said you don't meet a lot of dogs there - unless you can find someone with another dog (so there would be 2 people working with you) who would be willing to help out. How to proceed is a little more difficult, without being able to see what Phoenix is doing. If you can get help, ideally you would have the dogs in a situation where Phoenix would be protective. Watch him carefully, and try to catch him at the moment he thinks of being protectively aggressive. Tap his side, just hard enough to distract him, and when he turns to you and you have his attention, give him a high value reward - hot dog, cheese, dried liver treat, toy - whatever he really wants. When you can get his attention like this and he's a little more relaxed, get control of his head (so he can't grab the other dog), and have the person with the other dog allow their dog to approach Phoenix, first, and sniff his butt, so he realizes he isn't being attacked (yeah, I know he's concerned about Zara!). When he's calm, reward him, move the other dog back a ways, then try again, but allow the other dog to sniff Zara, however you think best. Probably better not allow her to play at first - might provoke more jealousy in Phoenix? Once again, ideally, once he's calm about the approach of the strange dog, if you can, try walking together to build a "pack" feeling. Are there any obedience classes around you? That would be an ideal way to find willing help! Also, are they spayed/neutered? If not, that might also be something that would help the situation...

Good luck!

[SarahNukka&Shadow]

Ok the treat snatching you could do as Gigi says or there are a couple of other things you could try... one is feeding treats off a teaspoon, its metal and nast bad to the dog so they learn to lick the treat off without snatching.. the other takes a little more time, its holding the treat in your palm and opening your hand.. if she goes to snatch you close you hand so she cant get the treat and say NO Gentley, you repeast this untill she takes it slowly and calmly.

The socialiation... start a dog walking group.. put up signs in your local vets and pets shops and take out a cheap add in your local paper saying you would like to meet up with lots of other dogs to socialise your two and see who wants to come along! See if theres a park or open grass land to meet up and and fix a date ( a weekend is usally best) and a time like around noonish and see who shows up! Also ring anyone you know with a dog and invite them to come along aswell!

Hope you get it sorted hon!

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

agree with the others

but ill tell u what i do for skyla tryin 2 snatch treats, i will put the treat infront of her and say 'nice' if she goes to snatch i dont let her have the treat i will say nice again n again untill she takes it gently - until she takes it gently she wont get it - ill try and do a vid later so u can see what i mean

not sure about the socialisation - blaze could do with it 2 but i have the same problem as u nowhere to take them - i wonder if it would be possible for you to ask people in the street if you can come n say hi - explain y and im sure they wont mind

[Bec]

They are past the age where it's purely about socialising them. They need to learn what behaviour is and isn't acceptable.

Phoenix and Zara were straining over to it. Zara of course wanting to play with it

This alone tells me that they have too high a value for other dogs - and little regard for you around distractions. This is not about socialisation, but teaching them how to behave around distractions like other dogs. My dogs don't get to go anywhere if they are pulling/straining on the leash.

What training have you done with them? How old are they?

[Removed #2]

I'm with Gigi on the treats. Andy came to us with impeccable manners. I've never had a dog take a treat so softly as he does. He puts it on his tongue, and if it is something of high value to him that he wants to go and hide, he holds it in his mouth. He has even done this with mouthfuls of food. I don't know why or how he learned it, like I said he came to us this way. Jackson on the other hand came food starved and very motivated towards food. Now they have both learned the "wait" parlor trick where they do sit, down, shake, and then i put a treat on the floor and make them wait. Both look away after a few seconds, and it's amazing, because they won't take it and wait till I give it to them! With Jackson, we do the fist thing. Hold the treat in a tight fist and he will dig for it with his nose or tongue. This is kind of gross, but works... spread peanut butter on your palm and close your hand. I guarantee the tongue will do all the work to get in there...well, maybe not guarantee. Make him work for the treat in a manner that does not work with snapping or teeth.

As far as socializing, same ideas as the other, probably obedience class is best, or maybe doggie day care. Andy is interested but behaves, and Jackson goes nuts, like the other day where he pulled so hard and I pulled so hard he landed flat on his back. Wish I could help more there. Don't give up. Everyone else has really good ideas too!