[jcdogluv]

I have a 4 1/2 months old shihtzu bichon puppy. He's usually pretty calm around people and hardly barks at all, which I'm really glad. I've been taking him out a lot more recently.. and I noticed that he barks at every single dog that he sees. And our neighbor's dogs are out a lot now and he barks at them too... so he won't potty when they are out. And he doesn't listen to me at all when other dogs are around. He got bit by a dog when he was younger so I thought maybe he has fear issues. But I was observing.. he actually goes up to the dogs instead of backing off. So I don't know if he's just trying to get noticed by other dogs. I heard that maybe I need to socialize him more.. but people here told me that they had probs with fleas after they took their dogs to dog parks. And I really don't want to risk having him getting bit by another dog. And I don't have money to take him to obedience classes or anything. Is there an effective way to train him not to bark at other dogs? I would really appreciate help on this because its actually messing up the potty training too since he won't do anything but bark when our neighbor's dogs are out.

[carolbcac]

Call some of the neighbors and see if you can set up a "play date" with one or more of their gentle, sociable dogs. He needs to practice his social skills in a controlled environment. It may not help the barking. Try walking at a brisk pace past any dogs you see when you are out for potty business, then ask him to "go potty" in a quiet area.