Why do my small dogs pull and try to fight bigger dogs on walks?

Leash aggression is actually pretty common. When an animal feels threatened or scared they need fight or flight. When they are on leash you have now removed the option of flight so you are way more likely to have a fight reaction and this is why you are noticing this on leash vs. off leash. This is something that needs assistance of a professional trainer, working under the dogs threshold to address the issue. You can see varying amounts of improvement depending on the severity of the case but it's going to take a lot of work and commitment on your part. Please seek help from a qualified professional. Not addressing this issue now will only make it worse and harder to deal with later.

I recommend a group obedience training class so he will learn to listen to you with other people and dogs around. In the meantime find a friend with an older confident dog that walks well on the leash and plan your dog walks together. That way your dog will learn from the other dog and not be as anxious. Please reward him when he relaxes and goes forward. I would also start with short walks where there are minimal distractions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tucker.

This sounds like leash aggression. I suggest you consult a professional trainer for help but if you want to try on your own here is a link that may help you. ( https://positively.com/dog-behavior/aggression/leash-aggression/ )

There are a few things that could be at play. One, some dogs can get leash shy or leash aggressive, and while they are fine interacting off-leash, may get too overexcited while on leash. Second, Chief may also be very excited and trying to initiate play by barking. Watching his body language can help you determine which is the case -- wiggly soft bodies and play bows can indicate play, while stiff bodies, tail up, hackles showing, etc can indicate distress. Keeping meetings on leash brief (IE 4-5 seconds max), and then praising Chief and continuing on your walk can help him get used to greeting without it escalating to getting too excited and barking. If he is meeting a new dog that he'll be playing with for longer, several short greetings and walking alongside each other can help him stay focused on the walk without becoming too excited, or moving to an area where the dogs can play off leash can help.

That's great that you are working with a trainer. Keep that up. This may be part of his personality that may not change, but keep trying and exposing him and working with him. Google in your area and veterinary behavioral specialist to work with if it doesn't improve.

Leash aggression is a complex behavior issue that is best handled by a professional who can give you some hands-on guidance. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org) or a good reward-based trainer who has experience working with aggression issues in dogs (www.ccpdt.org) The general approach to treatment for this problem is to reward the dog for calm behavior in the presence of his triggers (people, other dogs, etc.), starting at a distance where the dog is able to be successful, then gradually moving closer as long as things are going well. For some dogs, this means that you may need a lot of distance at first! Having a professional to work with is very helpful, since they can help you set up controlled training sessions with "helper" dogs or people to practice until you and your dog have the hang of things. Punishment of any kind for this behavior (including verbal corrections, leash corrections, shock collar, etc.) is not recommended because it often makes the problem worse over time. Steer clear of any trainer who recommends these techniques, and look for an educated reward-based trainer instead.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Darby is having some problems around other dogs. I would advise that you get her enrolled in a good obedience class or work privately with a recommended dog trainer in your area. Sounds like she needs to be socialized towards other dogs and that would be a great starting point. The other possibility would be to take her to a recommended doggie day care center and let the staff evaluate her for possible inclusion in the day care. She would get introduced to other dogs and hopefully this would help when you encounter dogs while walking her. This doesn't sound like aggression to me. More of a curiosity and that she wants to play with the other dogs. I hope this helps and that Darby becomes better accustomed around other dogs.