Cue word to NOT go see a dog

[u/Initial_Weird_3427]

My overly social 1 year old boy has always had the issue of full speed running up to other dogs. He lies flat down at the last second to say hi (and thankfully it has never gone badly), but he just has to sprint to get there.

He’s been on a long leash ever since I noticed the problem from around 7 months of age. But sometimes when I have to take him out for his last pee quite late like midnight or later, I take him out without a leash, and it’s just a quick pee in the small park inside the residence, no one’s there, he recalls well, and all goes well.

Well last night, unfortunately, there was a person and a dog. He spotted them before I did and ran to them. Again nothing bad happened as he lowered himself just before greeting and both dogs were friendly, and when I said an angry “let’s go”, he broke away from the play and followed me.

I feel so hopeless and demoralized. I’ve been so diligent for several months about putting the harness and long leash on him, and dealing with the hassle of the annoying long leash, redirecting him when we see a dog and rewarding him for not going towards the dog. But he must know when he’s off leash and knows that he can just run and not get stopped, because he doesn’t listen to my redirection when he’s off leash.

I think I need to completely re-train from scratch the “don’t go to that dog”, with a new cue word. Right now I say “off” but this word is becoming too broadly used for everything to mean “don’t do that” - and as we know, dogs are bad at generalizing. I use “off” for 1. Get off couch or bed 2. Get off of me when he’s too in my face 3. To stop him from following me (when I’m going in a room he shouldn’t for example) and maybe some more.. so yeah I realize this word has become too broad :/

“Leave it” is already taken for when he has something in his mouth. I wish I had used “drop it” for that but I think it’s too late to change, he does “leave it” sooo well now 😅

Suggestions and tips welcome for this not-so-new training - but rest assured, if you read the whole post, you know I’m more than aware of the problems with off leash dogs, so no need to waste your time on that. I live in a country where 90% of dogs are walked off leash. Some stay with their owners, some don’t, and I’d like my dog to eventually be in the first case.

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[u/DrShlobster → u/[deleted]]

After rereading, I have one more comment.

The reason I have not suggested a new cue word for “don’t go to that dog” is because you don’t train your dog not do the bad behavior. You train the dog to do the correct behavior instead. “No” is universal for “don’t do that” and every other command should be telling them to do something, not to not do something.

This is the same reason why I recommended “stay” for “don’t follow me.” Instead of telling your dog what not to do, tell them what to do instead.

Does that make sense?

[u/Cursethewind → u/[deleted]]

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