Good articles, but not sure they hit the mark. I have no idea who he will bark and lunge at, a snap at the leash and moving away ends the problem. A reward might work, but when do I give him the treat? I don't want to reward the bad behavior so the timing has to be perfect. Funny, if I put a bark collar on him he is calm and gentle. Should I walk him with a bark collar always?
The article did tell me something: As he has never bitten anyone, he may feel restricted and upset that he can't interact with the humans he comes across. When turned loose in a park he only barks and lunges at humans walking "by" the park, not humans or dogs in the park. As with most dogs he'll just walk away if you ignore him, however most people will not do this. Petting him, which doesn't "appear" to be a good option, settles him right down. Pulling back or flinching just aggravates the situation. Very frustrating. |