Hi Cesar!

We have a 115 lb female Great Dane (three-year-old Cleopatre). We just began three months ago to walk her (on-leash) daily for forty minutes. She was doing fine until we met a group of nine (unleashed) dogs barking at us like crazy. At one point, I got scared.  Now, she reacts in a way that I can't go alone with her; she’s too strong.  Each time we meet one of them, precisely the black Lab, she goes nuts. We can’t control her at all, or, if she could run at his house, she will do it.  I have to tell you that it wasn’t so bad before, I was able to control her. She was a real pleasure to walk.

We do want to continue, but we do need your help.  I need to add that she’s over-protective with us. We use the walk as a way for her to meet people and other dogs, and exercise her.

We love your show and try to understand what needs to be changed in our behavior to improve our dog's quality of life. Thanks a lot!

DNG

Dear DNG,

I suggest that you change the environment. Do not to go back into that area where these dogs are living right away. Find another area where you can walk with Cleopatre, and start all over again. Rebuild the good experiences and accomplishments you had in the past. If you can, find other people who have balanced dogs that can walk next to you. Your dog will benefit from experience with friendly dogs, instead of only dogs that charge you.  And you will benefit by sharing strong leadership energy with her, not fearful energy as you did with the aggressive dogs.

Once you have regained trust and successfully accomplished bringing about a balanced state-of-mind during the walk, you can go back to the area where the incident occurred. I suggest bringing a professional with you in the beginning, until you are able to replace your own fearful energy with assertive energy.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan