It may be time to let Oliver meet other dogs off leash

I think Oliver's getting better!!!

I was walking him on the gravel road we always walk on. there's a couple of farms we pass, but none have dogs (that I know of!) It's the only place that I can let Oliver off leash safely, as I never see people or dogs, and if there was one. we'd see them a mile away, as the road is rather flat.

Well I guess the one farm has a dog, but it must be an inside dog or have a fenced area, because we've walked past there many times, and never seen or heard anything. so I stopped leashing Oliver past that house. It's about 2.5 miles into our walk, and usually where we turn around.

Well sure enough a big Goldie came running to the edge of the property! Oliver was about 25 feet away from me. I was absolutely SURE he'd go and attack the dog!!! But he stood there and watched it. so I calmly walked over to Ollie and grabbed him. I didn't call him or anything as I was worried my nerves would be translated in my voice.

After I grabbed him, I walked him away from the dog, he didn't even look back!!! He focused on me and the treats I was feeding him, and was totally happy and relaxed!!!

I didn't leash him, as I think the leash is a major part of the problem, and only held his collar until he was focused on me.

The goldie didn't come off his property, and didn't threaten Oliver in any way, other than a couple of barks to tell us to stay off. I think Oliver reads dogs very well, and if he's in a position to get away, he will. But on leash, he thinks the only way is to attack...

Except the one time we were walking him off leash in a place that I never see dogs, but we did that day, Oliver was off leash, and he attacked it... That was a year ago though, and we've been going to a few classes now and then, so maybe that's why he's better.

I almost think it's time to take him somewhere where he'll meet other off leash dogs (with his muzzle on) just to see if he'll react? Is this worth the risk? He meets a pack of dogs off leash without attacking, it's been only one on one that he has had issues. On leash he will react to every dog he sees, even if he knows them, but will relax if walked a short ways with them.

Honestly, I was very proud, but am now wondering if it's time to start re-introducing him? My friend the behaviourist seems to think so (I called her right after the non-incident LOL) but I just dont know. I'm afraid if he reacts and causes anything, that we'll be back to square one...

It's a hard one because although you really want to be able to trust him but you can't do so really without warning the other walkers what you are trying, as if he does go for someones dog even if no damage is done it could cause aggression problems for their dog, also if any pups out and about could really mess with their socialisation experience?

Can you arrange the meeting with some owners who are aware if the situation and agree for the dogs to participate? You could keep him on a long line just in case and drop it?

Poor you, what a dilemma. The suggestion that you meet other dog owners prior to this and discuss what you want to do is a good idea. Have you used a tracking lead before? Even though its long and you dont have so much control, your fears are less likely to be transferred to Oliver and if he made to chase at least he wouldn't be able to leg it. Maybe ask your behaviourist friend to accompany you for support if nothing else. Am really sorry cannot be of any help except to wish you luck

Oliver treats the long line the same as a leash. Or I so would try this. I'm thinking I'll try to get some people together on the walk we usually take, see how he does.

That sounds a great idea, the more dogs he has around the more likely he is to ignore others in the distance as he'll be kept busy.

I tried this with Cherry after one behaviourist we had seen and I felt (and other people commented) on how much better she was.

I let her off-leash (muzzled) with a group of dogs she knew well and watched her like a hawk. Unfortunately she got irate when a couple of the dogs started play-fighting and she was "in-there" only she wasn't playing. I found it very upsetting so kept her leashed again after that.

However, Oliver is not Cherry and may (hopefully!) behave differently!
I had to bear in mind that if Cherry did behave like this she may get bitten by another dog and then we would have been back at square one again.

I worked very hard with good introductions when she was being walked on-lead with the type of dogs I knew she could cope with and in the end it was lovely to see her actively looking happy about seeing certain dogs and meeting them.
She was never a fan of large dogs and it took me months to get her to meet nicely with a friend's 2 Airedales. Unfortunately we didn't see each other often on the heath and it was a year before I saw them again and Cherry had just had a very upsetting experience with a Staffy charging at her. However. she went straight up to the 2 Airedales and stood between them wagging her tail and having a sniff. I nearly cried. I got very good at reading her body language (as you obviously can with Oliver) so knew when it was appropriate for her to meet other dogs or not.

See Oliver's funny. He LOVES dogs, he LOVES playing with dogs... it's just the initial meeting of strange dogs that there is a problem. Same with people. He adores people, but the initial meeting is scary. He mixes his signals too. He acts happy to meet them (people or dogs) then when they get close and look at him, he flips.

He's an odd guy. He was a street dog, rescued at 6 months old, and neutered too young. You would think he would have learned proper socialization living in a pack on the streets.