On Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:01:03 -0700 (PDT), Junoexpress
wrote:

Hi,

I've just got (what appears to be) a 9 month old neutered male poodle/
schnauzer mix from a local animal rescue. For the most part, the dog
behaves well except on walks. When he meets others dogs, he starts off
OK (sniffing, etc), but he eventually tries to put his paws on their
back (which I understand is a sign he is trying to dominate the other
dog) and eventually both dogs get wound up. I've been lucky so far, in
that the other dogs I've met haven't been of a very aggressive nature,
but this is something I obviously want to stop.

I'm assuming your dog is on leash at these times? Don't let him get
on other dogs' backs. Praise him when he interacts appropriately with
other dogs he meets, correct him with a mild "uh-uh" and pull him away
when he tries to put his paws on their backs. Putting paws on other
dogs' backs, humping them, etc. is often dominant behavior and
regardless of your dog's motivation, it is not appreciated by other
dogs.

I've gone online, and nothing I've seen seems to be of much use. I do
get a very strong sense that my dog is somewhat fearful of new
situations. He is definitely very wary of anything new in his
environment. If someone is approaching him from behind on one of our
walks, he'll keep turning back to look at them. New objects (bright
fire hydrants or stone lawn animals) can startle him. I try to calm
him down by going over to the object, standing behind it and leaning
over it, to show him I can "dominate" the object and nothing happens
to me. He then will come over, sniff at it, and on subsequent walks
will have no reaction. But other dogs, I don't know how to deal with.

I think you're overdoing it with the objects; your dogs doesn't need
to know you can dominate fire hydrants or lawn animals. He probably
just hasn't seen them and doesn't know what they are, so lead him over
to them and let him sniff and explore them. Ignore fearful behavior,
praise "brave" behavior such as approaching objects that intimidate
him.