I really can't control my dog!

[mojomoo]

My 2.5 year old female Berner is sooo dog reactive and I've tried every collar and I really can't control her. I went back to using the head halter and it's like she's defying me and it and pulls even more. it's impossible to get her to listen to heel in the best of times and she absolutely will not if we see another dog. I'm at my wits end with this dog. today a guy was coming out of the school with his dog out of the blue and all 3 of the dogs were pulling towards eachother ( I also had my other older female Berner) I wasn't in control at all and the other dog and my youngest dog did not have a good greeting, alot of growling. I knew this would happen sooner or later when she's not appropriate in her greeting and the other dog takes offense and it could start a fight. No fight thankfully, just alot of growling. the other dog didn't give off the best of signals either but I have to have mine behave! the guy apologizes to me for his dogs behaviour when my own dog is being an idiot! I'm frustrated to tears. thank god my other dog doesn't act like this! These are big dogs and I must have control.
I'm thinking of the e collar now, I've used it before with recall but what do you think of using it with the "leave it"command? She knows what leave it means but won't listen if it's another dog so maybe if I use the e collar for leave it she will take me more seriously?? Please I need help here, but I can't make errors with the e collar and make her truly aggressive to other dogs

[ChrisNJudy]

Hello,

How is your leadership with her? Are you following everything in the pack structure section..level. 5?
I would start with making sure you are strict with that. Then start to manage the problem for now until you are done with the training.
The e-collar is a great tool and will help you get control..however make sure not rush right to the e-collar.
It is very important not to skip phase 1 and 2.. Work on those first..then move to the e-collar. Let us know if you need help with on the training.
You will have to be patient working with her.

I hope that helps for now!

Thanks
Chris

[mojomoo]

I swear subconciously I chose this dog to learn more patience and I've been more patient with her than any other dog I've owned. i think she's gotten worse since I rescued her mother, the older 6.5 year old female. She barks at me now when she doesn't get her own way like having to come in the house when I leave she will bark and not want to come in but she knows I will get the leash and make her come in. She hates the head halter and acts out more on walks when she wears it, but I put it on her anyway, she also barked at me for putting her in a down position at the door when my mother came over because she gets too excited. I stick it out and don't let her get her own way but she's really testing my sanity!!
There's no sleeping with me and never has been, no free feeding (both dogs and the 6 cats,lol, have feeding times and no one is allowed to take over anyone elses food) I ignore her banging and banging on the door to come in until she's quiet and I want to let her in, I don't pet any of them when their demanding it. She's always been terrible to walk and has been dog reactive since I can remember and yet I've socialized her and she has doggie friends.
The older female I have is dominant over her but she can test her limits by being rambunctious and the only way she will stop is if the older one snaps and growls a warning. This is what I find with her, if I'm very strict and mean business she obeys and knows when I mean it. It's funny though, out of all 8 animals the oldest male cat is top boss over all of them except for me.
I know she is very restless and needs something to do and I would like to put her in activities but she has to get over her dog reactivity first.

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

Because of her strength and obvious stubbornness, she is a good candidate for the e-collar. I wouldn't use it for "leave-it". The best would be to use it for "heel". We can coach you through it if you have done the phase 1 and phase 2 heel with little to no distractions. Keep doing basic leadership stuff too. Anything that she gets away with that is bossy in any part of her life can make it harder to understand that she can't be "bossy" on the walks. It sounds a lot like barrier frustration and that can be fixed with more motivation and less physical force combined with allowing her to socialize when she DOES act the right way. If you attempt a phase 3 heel with an ecollar without doing the phase 1 and 2 steps it can be a disaster. How are you doing with these?

It is important that she understands exactly where the position is supposed to be in phase 1 and that you teach her what the warning steps are about and when the corrections come in phase 2 (with low to no distractions). Let us know, you can fix this but sounds like you need help.

Here's the phase 1 video, it's on youtube. But all the other videos are in the video section of this site:

[mojomoo]

I'll start the phases over again with her by herself and leave the other dog at home while training her. It looks like I have to stop, back up, switch directions more and sooner like every 5 feet or she forges ahead. She knows the heel but can't get the hang of walking and heeling on a loose leash. Her mother does very well on leash except she pulls at other dogs too, her tail is down or in the middle and the other ones is always up? so her mom is a bit reactive too but not as extreme and I think she feeds off of the other ones behaviour. I seem to have alot of control in the house but not outside, maybe because they know I have strict rules in the house and sense that I ease off outside? Everyone must get along and listen in this house or this many animals just wouldn't work. I'm giving this my best shot with her as soon as the weather gets better again.

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

OK, be sure to concentrate on the body language warnings found in the phase 2 heel videos. There is going to be no about turn corrections on the formal heel. Let us know if you have any questions about the technicalities of it, since it is the most challenging exercise to master. You will most likely only be able to master phase 2 in a low to zero distraction environment. Indoors is ideal if you have the space.