I'm hoping someone here can help me work through an issue I'm having with our hound, Max. I'm just gonna give the details of his backstory and what he's doing. If anyone can give me any ideas on Why He Acts that Way and How to Help Him Resolve this, I'd really appreciate it.
Max is a 3-4 year old treeing walker coonhound, which basically means he looks like a 60lb beagle and is essentially, in my estimation of breed standards, closest to a harrier or an english foxhound (has the big upper body and stance). He is fairly mild tempered with us, not prone to excited states if unprovoked. He wouldn't be good with small children, as he's apt to challange pack order. I'm having alpha issues with him at the moment, to the tune of leash pulling and such, but he's not bad he's defiant on occasion. Although a good boy overall, he's stubborn and knows what we're commanding, just doesn't always like to comply promptly. We assume this is a hound thing and are working on it.
We got him from the spca shelter the first week of january. He had been there since september according to his paperwork. They said he had been turned in because his owners said he was too big, too strong (well, duh, he's a healthy large breed dog!) and too "goofy off the leash". We find him to be relaxed and generally obedient at home, but who knows why people turn animals in.....He is neutered and up to date, though actually due, on his shots. They told us he hadn't been walked much and was difficult on the leash, which he is. He has a special lead that helps.
He's gentle with the cats, but chases them when they run. He likes to smell them and cries when they jump out of reach.....we know his last home had cats...maybe he wants to be touched by them? He does like attention, I could see him wanting a snuggle.
We live in an apartment, but he's walked multiple (usually 4) times a day and is amply exercised. He is fed Natural Balance and occasional Merck's canned. He is a happy dog.
Here's the problem.....he doesn't like other dogs on leashes. He barks at them, jumps at the end of his leash and acts all hyper when he sees them. Especially if the other dog barks too, which I can understand. But this is the weird part.......he doesn't seem to have a problem with unleashed dogs. If the dog is in a yard, he's fine. Even if that dog is FREAKING at Max, Max is cool. He might want to go over there more, and try to get me to go, but he'll continue walking with no fuss or barking. Walk a little dog by on a leash and Max will go all jumpy and barky, but the same dog in a yard is cool. Even a stray, once.....my bf had him on a walk and a runaway (with tags) came up....looked like a shepherd....and walked right up to Max and Max was fine until the dog was right in front of him, then barked a big and got excited, so bf shooed the stray off....he couldn't try to catch him cuz he had the Max with him, and he was really far from our house, having walked to the grocery store. But he was tagged, my bf said, and it's all neighbourhoods so hopefully someone was out looking and found him (fingers crossed).
Anyway, the shelter said Max was fine when another dog was put in with him (accidentally, cuz they had assumed his disliked dogs not dogs on leashes.)
So, that's it: He doesn't like dogs on leashes and I want him to chill....also, I want him better socialized so I can be cool with him off leash around other dogs....I'm kind of strapped for cash right now, so I'm not sure we can afford training right away. Money is too tight and there are vetchecks due for Max and Lola...the money has to go there first, so they stay up to date on shots etc. Still, any insight or suggestions are much appreciated.....if anyone at all managed to read ALL THIS, anyway
Max is a 3-4 year old treeing walker coonhound, which basically means he looks like a 60lb beagle and is essentially, in my estimation of breed standards, closest to a harrier or an english foxhound (has the big upper body and stance). He is fairly mild tempered with us, not prone to excited states if unprovoked. He wouldn't be good with small children, as he's apt to challange pack order. I'm having alpha issues with him at the moment, to the tune of leash pulling and such, but he's not bad he's defiant on occasion. Although a good boy overall, he's stubborn and knows what we're commanding, just doesn't always like to comply promptly. We assume this is a hound thing and are working on it.
We got him from the spca shelter the first week of january. He had been there since september according to his paperwork. They said he had been turned in because his owners said he was too big, too strong (well, duh, he's a healthy large breed dog!) and too "goofy off the leash". We find him to be relaxed and generally obedient at home, but who knows why people turn animals in.....He is neutered and up to date, though actually due, on his shots. They told us he hadn't been walked much and was difficult on the leash, which he is. He has a special lead that helps.
He's gentle with the cats, but chases them when they run. He likes to smell them and cries when they jump out of reach.....we know his last home had cats...maybe he wants to be touched by them? He does like attention, I could see him wanting a snuggle.
We live in an apartment, but he's walked multiple (usually 4) times a day and is amply exercised. He is fed Natural Balance and occasional Merck's canned. He is a happy dog.
Here's the problem.....he doesn't like other dogs on leashes. He barks at them, jumps at the end of his leash and acts all hyper when he sees them. Especially if the other dog barks too, which I can understand. But this is the weird part.......he doesn't seem to have a problem with unleashed dogs. If the dog is in a yard, he's fine. Even if that dog is FREAKING at Max, Max is cool. He might want to go over there more, and try to get me to go, but he'll continue walking with no fuss or barking. Walk a little dog by on a leash and Max will go all jumpy and barky, but the same dog in a yard is cool. Even a stray, once.....my bf had him on a walk and a runaway (with tags) came up....looked like a shepherd....and walked right up to Max and Max was fine until the dog was right in front of him, then barked a big and got excited, so bf shooed the stray off....he couldn't try to catch him cuz he had the Max with him, and he was really far from our house, having walked to the grocery store. But he was tagged, my bf said, and it's all neighbourhoods so hopefully someone was out looking and found him (fingers crossed).
Anyway, the shelter said Max was fine when another dog was put in with him (accidentally, cuz they had assumed his disliked dogs not dogs on leashes.)
So, that's it: He doesn't like dogs on leashes and I want him to chill....also, I want him better socialized so I can be cool with him off leash around other dogs....I'm kind of strapped for cash right now, so I'm not sure we can afford training right away. Money is too tight and there are vetchecks due for Max and Lola...the money has to go there first, so they stay up to date on shots etc. Still, any insight or suggestions are much appreciated.....if anyone at all managed to read ALL THIS, anyway
