Just got in from a walk, Peggy was like an angel for the first half, perfect recall etc, then we see another dog and she reverts to Terror mode. I have worked so hard on her in the last 7 months and seen improvement in every area except for her ability to socialize normally with other dogs (and the Hoover but that's another story..), it is so frustrating! Will there ever be a day that she mixes in with other dogs without barking in their face like a maniac? I suppose I should be thankful she doesn't actually fight but it feels like we'll never be able to get her to behave around other dogs.
The funny thing is she is pretty OK when we are up close to people walking their dogs, just ignores them, as long as they aren't on a lead - then she tries to nip them, it is only when we are either approaching or moving away that she goes mental! I can be right on the other side of the park and she'll run at them barking, get to a few feet away then run back to me, repeat until dog out of sight
Rescue dogs need so much patience!

Gnasher dog was awful with other dogs, people, anything when we first got him. It took him ages to understand he did not have to go mad but he did get there and was able to do both his KC bronze and silver good citizens awards

There are days when it does all get too much but dogs give so much more back in terms of love and loyalty I am sure they are well worth it

It helps sometimes to have a think about how far you have already come and what progress you have made in the 7 months you have had her

Is she on a lead or longline?

If not then I would have her on one. The more she gets to practise this charging behaviour the longer it will take to retrain it - it's quite a self rewarding thing, or at least it seems to be when my oldest does it. Not only that, but it's very daunting for other dogs - and owners.

With Soli I've spent the last 15 months feeidng her goodies when she spotted another dog at a distance, and working on getting her closer - she can now meet some dogs without reacting more than looking nervous, though most she'll hackle a bit. Some she still barks at, and very rarely, she'll charge like you describe. But it's progress - like Gnasher says, take stock of how far you've come! I can still remember my first couple of walks with Soli; the first one, where she tried to kill a lhasa because his stupid owner wouldn't call him back and he was walking straight towards her quite close, and I think the second, where she went so mental at a weimeraner that was about 20 feet away that she actually landed on her side because she'd bounced herself too much at the end of the lead (she was on a harness with a side ring). So she has come a long way. I also remember the day I met her - her old owner used to just let Soli do her own thing, and she harassed a crossbreed until he really snapped at her and her owners were swearing at Solis's owner. It was rediculous - and she still stop Sol, I had to go get her!

Now she's able to listen to me more, and her reactions are that much better, I'm going to start using a clicker - we need to work on charging it up a bit more though (and use a louder clicker) because although she loves it indoors, outside gets a bit distracting and sometimes she doesn't notice the click. But she's ready for that next step.

Chin up, stick at it!

The trouble with Peggy is she is like Jekyll and Hyde! She is the most well behaved dog in our dog class, and we are taking the bronze award next time the tester comes. But in the park she is so different as soon as she sights another dog. We have got a long line but got frustrated with it as she was just thrashing about on the end trying to get to other dogs. I know I should have been more patient... I do give her treats when other dogs are about but she just eats it then carries on as she was! She can do a nice sit, down, roll over, right in front of the other dog, but will then go back to the barking, and occasional leg nip. She is normally a total coward if anyone has a go back though!

It sounds like you might be working a little too fast around other dogs - you need to go back a step. Literally! Start at a distance where she's not reacting, and give her the treats there. When she's behaving - i.e. not going nuts - reward her, heavily!

When she's coping at a distance, start to move closer. It is a game of patience - and it can be very frustrating, I know!

The important thing is that if she does start to react, move away. Just turn round and walk away, or if you can't (and I know it can't be hard when there's a big dog going bananas on the lead ) then just walk away backwards until she calms down, then reward her for being calm again.

There will be times, as I'm sure you know, when you find yourself in a situation where you can't back away - some eejit lets their dog run up to her, or you're in a place too small to get to a safe distance to let walkers past. Just do the best you can - work on keeping her focus on you, and keeping her calm. You know her best - do whatever works.

With Soli, I find that the best way to keep her calm is a constant stream of low, calm words, and keeping a physical hold on her - if she can't feel that hold, her adrenalin gets the better of her. She's one of those less common dogs who's worse off lead than she is on it.

Luckily she only weighs 5kg so at least I don't have a battle of strength problem too! Thanks for the advise and I will stick at it.

Shouldn't be a problem then! Me, I have to deal with 44kg.

Does she do this to the dogs at dog club as well, or is she okay there? What about dogs she knows? Does she look like she's actually going to attack the other dogs (or has she in the past?) or is she frightened of them? Has she had much experience with other dogs?

Her first home was with a lady with mental health problems who kept about 10 dogs and cats too. She has scars on her face so was likely involved in fights. I believe the animals were left alone in the house for some time when the lady was sectioned, until the nurse contacted the RSPCA. The rescue Peggy came from had a group of three female Patterdales from this house who got on fine with each other but all have the same issues with dogs.

At the dog club she is pretty subdued and does everything I ask her to command wise, but if a dog gets close to her face she often snaps. She rarely makes physical contact though, and if she does it is just fur, she never causes any damage.

Usually in the park as soon she sees another dog the fur on her back stands up straight away and she is very agitated. She is worst if a dog is on a lead and she isn't. A few times when I have been caught by surprise, she has been off lead and tried to attack a dog that is on lead, but not outright trying to harm it, more like a boxer having little jabs then running round it barking.

What is strange is if we are on an enclosed path, say through some woods, and a dog passes us, she does nothing, I have even seen her let a dog sniff her. But once we have passed and the dog is a 100 yards or so in the other direction, she turns back and runs at it barking, then back to me, repeat until dog out of sight!

I am finding it hard to use the reward method, ie give her a goodie when another dog is around, because her behaviour is so bad I don't want to reward it. Also she often ignores the treat (and me) if there is a dog in sight. The dog can be miles away on the other side of the park, a little dot on the horizon, and she will be off barking at it. Today I kept her on lead every time we saw a dog, and it was like having a tasmanian devil on the end of my arm, she was much worse than if I let her do her running and barking thing. Also when I got the treats out the other dogs who were off lead tried to take them off me

The only dog she sees very regularly is my parent's standard poodle bitch Maisie. We go to my mum's house and Peggy walks around and totally ignores the other dog. The poodle is a very sociable and confident dog, and when Peggy first arrived Maisie tried to interact (bum sniffing etc), and got a snap and snarl for her trouble. My parent's other dog is a male Staffie who hates all other dogs, she has very wisely never gone anywhere near him! He goes to sulk in his bedroom when Peggy is round.

What does your trainer at the dog club say, or is that more of an obedience place?

Think it would be worth trying to find a more specialist trainer who is experienced in dog behaviour for one to one sessions? It can be quite hit and miss finding the right trainer or behaviourist, but I've certainly found it very useful to have a professional come out on a walk with me and show me how to handle dog encounters, with my reactive dog.

They may also have advice on how you might need to slightly alter all your interactions with her in and outside of the home.

Could be that the dog club is making her more stressed out; have you been going a while? Do you see any improvement since going to the dog club in her behaviour out on walks, or has this got worse or stayed the same?

The dog club is more obedience, but we have just graduated to the next class (was in the novice level!) so it's a different trainer, hopefully she can give me some tips. We have been going since January, I don't think she likes being round the other dogs but I really want to stick at getting her a bit socialized.

I saw a behaviourist for a while but she seemed to concentrate on other areas, a lot indoors, but Peggy has always been an angel in the house. She said it was a dominance issue, and was working on my control of Peggy, getting her to learn down etc, but the problem is she will 99% of the time do what I ask IF there is no dog around. When there's a dog in sight it drops to about 2% of the time

I emailed my nearest APDT trainer on advice of people on here but got no reply so will have another look for one. If anyone in south London has any recommendations let me know. I am in Mitcham near Tooting and Streatham.

I think you really need a trainer who is prepared to come out on a walk with you, as that is where the everyday problems are.

It's often very difficult to tell if the behaviour is fear-based or what, but a good behaviourist who has a lot of experience should be able to tell what type of behaviour this is. If she IS scared, then it could be that being put in a class next to lots of other dogs will make her worse and isn't the type of socialisation that you need. But obviously, we can't comment or see what is going on, that is just a possiblity.

Maybe start a new thread to see if anyone on here can recommend someone in your area?

I think she is definitely quite a dominant little dog, her body language is pretty confident. She marks like a male dog, sometimes almost standing on her front legs to get the wee higher which is to make other dogs think she is larger than she is.
I will ask at the dog club on Thursday for a recommended trainer to come out on walks with me.

A social climber!

I know, and there was me only looking at female dogs because I thought they are always easier than a male dog
She is currently sitting next to the Dyson staring intently at it, the slightest move and she attacks - the desensitization tactic for her hoover issue is going well so far