New User needs help

Hi,

I am new to this type of thing, never used one before but need a bit of help and advice with a very overbearing male german shepherd. He listens to everything I tell him to do, (sit down etc) when we go out on lead he is fine, when I take my other dog (collie x GSD) who is older and female, he plays up, he pulls, snarls at other dogs and generally is an out and out pain in the rear end. I don't know what else to do, I have bought halties, correction sprays, and even watched Ceaser Milan (I am desperate!!). Any Help is very welcome.

Thank you.

Hi, sorry I can't offer you any advice. I have 6 month old Labrador who is a bit hyper! Thankfully though he only wants to play.
This is a great site and I am sure you will gets lots of advice!
Word of warning "Cesar Millan" appears to be a SWEAR word on here! I have never even heard of him!

Yes, I know what you mean. It`s the `We are a pack now, let us go and pull down wildebeest` syndrome.
The only solution I`ve found (and it does work) is loads and loads of training -singly and together. And if he really starts playing up, go home.
Have you read Jean Donaldson`s The Culture Clash. It is excellent at solutions to these sorts of ptoblems.
In the meantime, train loose-lead work with the pair of them as a separate excercise at least once a day. Change direction if either pull, and reward when they`re calm.
BTW are they neutered? If the bitch is coming in season that might explain a lot.

ps avoid the mexican! He is not helpful.

Thank you both for replying, yes they have both been done, we have only had Duke (GSD) for 4 months, from a rescue centre and he is brilliant in every other way, so will continue with the training, we have probably been a little bit to easy with them, and thanks for the tip about the little mexican!!!

If it's any consolation, my GSD would act up on walks with my other dog initially - so it was lots of solo walks for a while! Once he'd settled down into the family then his behaviour did calm down and now they walk fantastically together. I do think that walking two dogs can excerbate any issues in the single dog - Casper can be dog reactive and was certainly a lot worse when walking the two of them as it would set Kiki off (even though she was fine on her own), which made Casper worse Casper has improved a lot now and even if the two of them kick off, it's usually just a bit of whining rather than the whole barking/lunging/"we want to eat you" impression
So I would say stick to solo walks most of the time for now so the behaviour doesn't become learnt, but do practise short walks with them together as a training exercise, as suggested, and just perhaps let your new boy settle in (4 months may seem a long time to us but it can take a while for a dog to settle in) and work on his behaviour solo too, so he can hopefully remember and apply this training when out with your other dog. You'll get there!