[Twinney]

I've begun taking the dogs for walks 2 at a time. Fang and Shunka, and then Kola gets run.
Shunka just got home from her spaying this morning, and won't be walking with either of the other dogs for a few weeks now. Before this all started though, I took her and Fang for a walk and some people had their lab out. This lab doesn't have a solid recall and he came running up to us. Shunka gave him a friendly greeting, and he was attempting to a give us a friendly greeting as well, but Fang wouldn't have it. He was growling, low, but growling. Shunka turned and bit Fang's ear, and he was silent. The lab tucked his tail, and wandered back to his owners.
Today I walked Kola and Fang, and we saw that lab again. I pulled Fang behind me, and Kola got reeled in some from her heel. Fang was snapping mad that the lab was even going to ATTEMPT to come up to us. Honestly, snapping. The lab was nervous, and his owner hauled butt up to us and drug the lab back home, asking if I was okay, and saying sorry. I felt bad.
Now Fang has never, ever had to be held up on his hind legs by his harness because he sees another dog. In his blind rage he was BARELY catching himself from snapping my leg. I gave his ear a small twist, and he pulled away.
When we saw another dog later on in the walk when he started growling I gave his ear a small twist. (For the record, when I do that I make sure it's a warning, and not painful.) He growled and turned looking at me before looking at the other dog.
I've stated before the dogs have never bit me, but he's beginning to make me wonder. I won't put up with one of my dogs biting me.
Is it just because these dogs are off leash and he is on one? Or is it that he's just getting defensive about us or his new territory? (We started a new walk since it is longer, and they need something new to look at.)
I've decided he's going to go on walks by himself until I can control him completely. I'm going to muzzle him when we see this lab, and I'm thinking about a prong collar.
Any idea's on why he is doing this?
And what I can do to fix this??
How can I punish him for pulling this sort of stuff???
The last thing I need is someone reporting us, because he is a really friendly dog to humans...

[TooneyDogs]

The way in which you're trying to fix this is probably making it worse. While your ear twisting isn't painful, you're inadvertantly teaching that when another dog comes close, bad things will happen to happen to him....ear twists/strong leash restraints...all of which create frustration and do nothing to show your dog what he's supposed to do instead. For example...should he sit politely when another dog comes by? That's what you need to teach....not punish.
You have to practice this at considerable distance from another dog. If you get too close, it can be almost impossible to break through the raging emotional levels.

[Love's_Sophie]

Tooney is correct on this one...

Also, instead of allowing him to remain focused on the object of his fixation, you can simply turn and walk away with him...that way he can't sit there and 'stew' over the other dog's presence; when you get far enough away, and he is calmed down, turn him back around and try again. As you walk with him, work on his eye contact with you, so you know he is focused on you, not the other dog...stop and just sit a few times, and ask him to watch you...treat him alot for giving you the correct behavior (walking with you, without being a putz, watching you, stopping-sitting, and watching you). Remain calm...the more excited you get, the more your dog will feed off of your anxiety...

My hubby has a dog aggressive\leash aggressive dog, and as long as he keeps her moving, she remains calmer, and eventually he can lead her right past, and then to the other dog. For her, the excitement level of the other dog makes a huge difference; if the other dog is calm, she stays calm...if the other dog is trying to greet her excitedly she goes NUTS! So we just keep her moving, until she settles and realizes that her being settled is what allows her to be able to "greet" the other dog...er at a distance at least! This same dog is good in day care everyday...so I know it is linked to the lead; her owner's probably never let her greet other dogs while on lead, so she eventually got to this point of so much frustration at being restrained; she also had the 'upperhand' in her previous home...so the more excited she got over something, the more nervous her owners got...feeding her agitation further...Lizzy's a definite work in progress! Haha

[poodleholic]

I'm with Toony and Loves Sophie on this. The worst thing you can do is to punish for this behavior. You will only make it worse. Keep your dog within his comfort zone so he doesn't react (and continue to reinforce the unwanted behavior). Desensitize and countercondition.

[Elana55]

What the others said. Reward your dog for focusing on you and to let him know when other dogs are around good things will happen. Have you tried clicker training? If you can get your dog operant and offer a really good treat (like tiny pieces of cooked shoulder steak) every time your dog makes eye contact with you, that will take his focus off the other dog and on you, where it belongs anyway.

[French Ring]

Originally Posted by Twinney

Is it just because these dogs are off leash and he is on one? Or is it that he's just getting defensive about us or his new territory?

Usually dogs who are on the leash tend to give defensive response because they can't escape if they need to. And... It is a normal thing for owners to get nervous and worried about loose dogs. They are the one who are holding the leash if they are getting too tense then it transmits through the leash. It creates more defensive response in your dog. It is very important to keep the leash LOOSE!

I'm going to muzzle him when we see this lab,

I would go with muzzle, but get one that he can pant and drink water. Not a closed muzzle where he can't pant especially if you are on a long walk. Dogs don't sweat, and they need to pant to cool off. If they don't get to pant enough, they can get very hot and might have a heatstroke.

and I'm thinking about a prong collar.

Basically, I don't think a prong collar will be a wise choice for your dog. I don't consider prong collar a bad thing, but I do have one. If your dog does not know who is giving a correction and he thought that lab is giving him a correction, it can escalate more aggression. The more you jerk the collar, the more he gives a defensive response. He needs to understand that the correction comes from you not the dog. He needs to know that FIRST and don't assume that he knows.

[Twinney]

They are always at an easy heel at my sides, Fang on the right, Shunka on the left, until this lab comes along... My whole plan had been to just keep on walking completely ignoring the lab. He could be dirt on the road until Fang started in on his snapping and growling. The dogs off leash out here normally are friendly, or have a solid recall. In this case the lab is friendly, and I've never really cared. Up until now the 'Ignore' command has always seemed to work with the dogs.
Our muzzles are the ones where they can drink and pant, but I would put it on him when I first saw the lab, and take it off of him when he calmed down so we can enjoy our walk, and I don't have to worry about him hurting himself, his sister/neice, the lab, or me.
I shudder at the thought of putting a prong collar on my dog...I think they look evil, even if they do work, it would be a complete last option.

I've heard clicker training works really well, but I've never tried it. I'll click my tounge or whistle to get the dogs attention, and thats the main problem. I always have his attention until this specific dog comes up to us.

My boss is giving us his old pen for his beagle when his kennels get cleaned out. Would it work to work on Fang with his focus training in there? and later on short walks get his attention and stuff as Sophie suggested?