My dog has aggression problems.?

Question

My 8 year old border collie has a "bit" of a dominance issue,
now it's no problem to us when he's just in the house with me and the rest of the family, but when i try to walk him, the second he sees an other dog he lunges and tried to attack them. i've tried various training methods but none of them have worked. I only just recently realized that he's had a dominance problem since I got him when he was 2, but he's never attacked an other dog until a few months ago. I think it might also have to do with his age, and the fact that he's going blind. and he is neutered, just so you all know.
so is this a lost cause ? or is there still a chance for my dog to go out for a walk without trying to kill an other dog ?

notice above it says that he IS neutered,
and yes he has been trained with vocal and visual commands since we got him. he is walked twice a day, however it's gotten difficult to take him out lately because of his aggression.

he knows the command "leave it" for when he sees a squirrel and wants to chase it, i say "leave it" and he tries his very best to ignore it.
and he's not completely blind, but the vet said that within the next year or 2 he'l be completely blind.

Answer 1

Why do you think this is a dominance issue?

If your dog is going blind, maybe has the beginnings of arthritis or other problems, he is probably fearful. If he has had a bad experience with another dog, probably male, then he may be out to protect himself by lunging first.

Does he heel? If not, that may make him calmer on walks. Even when he is blind he will be able to hear the jingling tags of other dogs and may continue to react badly. Walking right at your side and having you in between him and a passing dog, not passing head on but leaning out away from the other dog can help as well.

If you see him begin to react to another dog, become stiff, put his head and tail up, etc. you can tell him sharply no and then praise him when he pays attention to you. You can also give him a treat and even make him sit and stay. If you stay calm, he will stay calm.

Very few dogs are really dominant but many dogs are fearful and nervous.

Answer 2

mups mom must have read your question wrong. its does say he IS neutered. That said....when my dog was being a brat, I used this method...I got a jar and put in a handful of pennies and shook it with a firm NO when he misbehaved. Also I keep a spray bottle filled with plain water and give him a squirt of two when he is being a brat. Also with a firm NO. When out walking take one or both of these items. Use them when needed, give his leash a pull so he sits and use the firm NO as needed. Good Luck. Of course NEVER NEVER hit him. He is just being a dog.

Answer 3

saddly there might be nothing you can do. My one dog is very aggressive to other dogs too. It seems like when you start giving them commands when they are trying to attack another dog that they ignore you. Almost like you aren't there. It could of been something that happen to the dog before you got it. I personally have tryed everything with mine and nothing has worked. I think your best bet might be to see a behaviourist if you have one in your area.

Answer 4

why are you not fixing(pun intended) the situation with neutering? and, since you know that he is going blind have you been training him to sounds...you know like "come,sit,etc"
he sounds frustrated to me....exercise him more...tired dogs are happier.