My dog suddenly barks at other dogs on leash. How can I train her?

Many dogs have this problem - it's called leash reactivity :) It happens because Laika is so excited to see another dog, and frustrated because she can't immediately run over to them - which leads to barking and lots of crazy, uncontrollable behavior. Fortunately, this behavior is usually very treatable with a good training plan. Normally, a training plan for these dogs involves using very tasty treats to reward calm behavior at a distance from another dog - it's critical that you're far enough away that she can be calm and take treats, which means that you may need a lot of distance at first! Once she understands the game and is doing well, you can gradually move closer. It can be hard to do this on your own at first, so I would really recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person. He/she can help by setting up controlled training situations at first with a calm "helper dog" to help both of you get the idea of how to work on the problem, until you're ready to transition to real life scenarios like passing another dog on a walk.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Nemo! This is a fairly common problem in many dogs - they become very upset when they see other dogs or people. This can happen if they are uncomfortable and anxious, or if they are excited and frustrated because they can't approach and greet the other dog. To treat this problem successfully, you will need to start at a distance away from another dog where Nemo is comfortable and able to be calm - this may mean that you need a lot of distance at first! Take very tasty treats with you, such as pieces of chicken or roast beef. Every time Nemo looks at the other dog, praise and reward him with a treat. If he barks or isn't interested in the treats, this means that you're too close - you need to move further away until he can be successful. Once he's doing well far away, you can gradually start to move closer as long as he's comfortable. Eventually, you can work your way up to being very close to the other dog without him getting upset. It can be hard to do this on your own at first, so I would recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer in your area who can help you in person.

This is really tricky. Many training groups offer classes for Reactive Dogs that can help. Make sure they use positive only training, no force or punishments. The basic steps to working on this are minimizing chances for an encounter, teaching him a behavior that is incompatible with going nuts (such as watching you and eating a treat), and then SLOWLY SLOWLY SLOWLY introducing him to other dogs (you really need a good trainer to help with this portion, you have to go so slow it's painful). I would recommend not allowing him to be outside by himself so that you can remove him if he starts to bark - you may even need to keep a leash on him so you can easily get him and calmly go inside. In short, this is a common and real, but very hard to resolve issue, so I'd encourage you to find an amazing trainer or even have a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist.

I highly recommend getting in touch with a dog trainer in your area that can work with you on something called desensitization training. Basically, this helps your dog get used to things that scare/agitate them, such as cars or bikes going past, and gradually gets them desensitized and eventually ignoring it. Working on other techniques with a trainer such as loose-leash walking can also help with the random stopping on walks. A good first step, until you can get in touch with a trainer, is to bring a high value favorite treat with you on your walks. Any time Hermione is doing something you like such as walking nicely, ignoring something, etc, give her a treat and praise. If she gets over excited or barks at something, walk her away until she is calm, and then praise her and give her a treat when she is calm. These can help start on training until you have a plan in place with a professional.

Dog aggression is relatively common and while there are training techniques to reduce dog aggression it can be difficult. If you can identify certain triggers: i.e. if she is only aggressive when she is at home, or when she is on a leash, it can be easier to work on training her to 'ignore' other dogs or desensitization. I would recommend seeing a behaviorist - your veterinarian would likely be able to recommend someone in your area. Until you are able to work on some training I would recommend avoiding contact with other dogs so that there are no injuries.

Penny is adorable! I suggest getting her into an obedience class or consulting with a trainer. She may be feeling protective of you, which is a good thing, but she needs to learn how and when to be protective. Obedience training is a great first step. Ask your veterinarian if they offer or know of obedience classes, call pet stores like PetsMart or Petco and ask who they recommend.

Aggression is a complicated behavior because it can be due to dominance, possessive behavior, fear or anxiety. The treatment for each is different. I recommend to work with a trainer if possible as they will know why it is occurring and will teach you how to react to modify the behavior. You can also read about dog behavior and learn how to recognize the body language. Many training books are published which can give guidance on how to react. You can also try to train Freddie to look and pay attention to you instead of strangers. You need a high value treat. Every time Freddie looks at you when you approach a stranger, he gets a treat. Keep giving him treats until the situation passes. You must do this consistently. Make sure to praise him a lot when he makes a good decision. Most dogs will learn that strangers mean treats. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.