Dog Health Questions: Dog training/socialization help tips wanted?

My dog is 2 years old, a Lab/Pointer mix. I got him about a year ago from a shelter. I take him for walks every day in the parks around my house. He used to be really good when we would come across other dogs. All of a sudden, just over the past few weeks, when we come across another dog walking, and if they start to sniff one another, he is completely different. He sniffs calmly for a minute, then all of a sudden he barks/growls, and jumps at the other dog. He has gotten to the point where if we are walking and he sees another dog approaching in the distance, his head goes down, his body gets stiff, and he gives them the "stare down" as we approach. Needless to say, I don't allow him to approach other dogs anymore, but I want to know what the best way to go about fixing this behavior is. I don't want him to continue to go after other dogs like that, and I'm not sure how to fix the problem. And any ideas on what could have made this behavior change? He didn't have a bad experience with another dog or anything like that.

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As his behaviour has changed, and I presume nothing happened that you know of to cause it (was he attacked?), you need to get him checked by a vet first because it could be that something is medically wrong.

If you get the all-clear (hopefully you will do) your best bet would be to get the guidance of a professional trainer/behaviourist.

It is likely that all he will need is some positive reinforcement when around other dogs so he builds his confidence. That's all my dog needed after she came nervous and defensive after being attacked. She went through a phase of growling at every dog she met, so we kept our distance and I gave her some cheese every time she saw another dog - this taught her that seeing a dog meant good things happen and now she is back to her old, dog-loving self.

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• Can you say Dog Whisperer? CesarMilan is exceptional with dogs and his training techniques are exceptional...my friend had a dog aggressive dog and she got one of CCesar'sbooks and read and practiced the ttechniqueshe uses...and now her dog even goes to the dog park and no more ddogieincidents. Socialization is very important to puppy's both human and animal especially in the first 6 months at 12 weeks this is when a puppy is away from litter mates and bonds with both humans and other dogs.


• My bff has the same breed, same age, dog. He was adopted from the SPCA and amazingly does the same thing, but he doesn't growl. Just when you go on walks bring along treats. The whole time try to keep his attention on you. When he does reward him. If he keeps his attention on you and not on other dogs reward and praise.


• next time when you see him act this way, correct him. distract him from what he is doing. tell him to down position.
  
  is he trying to dominate the other dogs he meets? is it a playful growl? the other information you provided sounds as if he's becoming territorial.


• Is he not neutered? That is usually the problem. Unfixed males can get very aggressive towards other males.
  
  If he is neutered, he simply wasn't socialized. Social skills are learned at a very young age. I don't think that you can fix this kind of behavior. It's basically molded into him.


• Since your dog was not with you from its puppy age, you can not really be so sure if he had no rough experience with another dog. But if it's just barking that he's doing, here's a link that might just help you with that. hope this helps!
  
  http://dogtime.com/barking.html


• yeah, i've the same problem as you do,
  but since i get dog personal trainer,
  i don't have any problem again with that, :
  www.training-dog.co.cc


• Unfortunately, it's difficult to diagnose behavior issues with mixed breed dogs. I recommend you read a copy of Cesar Millan's book.