Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So I've fostered reactive dogs before (though normally generally reactive, not to one specific dog). The biggest thing we work on is "look at them, look at me, treat". So in my example, we'd sit at a semi-busy walking corner, far enough away that there would be no way for the dog to touch another pup. Sit, and wait (do some other training tricks while you wait). When another dog comes by, they should look at the other dog, and I say "YES!" the dog looks at me, gets a treat. So he learns that he can notice another dog, but as long as he looks back at me and pays attention to me, he gets a treat.
I'm not 100% sure if this would be effective for you since it's just this one dog, but if you know his route, you could set up kitty corner and try that. Or further away if he's too reactive even that close. Eventually you get closer and closer and he shouldn't have an issue. Definitely use high value treats! I like to use cut up hot dogs in a ziplock and maybe a few pieces of cheese thrown in. Keep it in the fridge and take it out for only this training.
OP, this is really the answer. You need to decondition your dog's response and treats are really the only effective way. The timing of the treats is crucial though and you have to use baby steps. I used this online training to help my dog who had horrible reactivity to several particular dogs in the neighborhood. She would go crazy whenever she saw them. The worst was when she would pass another dog who was also reactive. Over several months I've gotten to the point where she can walk by any dog (on opposite sides of the street) and completely ignore them, even if the other dog is being reactive. It's been a game changer.
https://spiritdogtraining.com/tackling-reactivity-course/