My dog is called Ades and he’s not even a year old yet. On walks, I used to be able to let him off the lead; he had excellent recall and didn't bother anyone, but for a while now he’s been barking at everyone he doesn’t know, even through the window. I suspect it’s since we were attacked by a Malinois that bit me, but I’m not certain. I don’t know what to do anymore – even treats don’t work and walks are becoming really stressful for me. Do you have any advice?
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I don’t understand what you’re hoping to achieve by giving treats when your dog is barking at the window!!! In my opinion, he’s probably thinking: "Brilliant, as soon as I bark, a reward follows; I’ll keep going..." (Treats are completely counter-productive when the dog doesn't understand the motivation behind them.)
When you're out for a walk, you need to work on your positioning. It’s always up to the one walking in front to protect the pair against any potential threats. If you want to avoid conflicts: don't let him get ahead of you **on the lead;** if you’re passing something problematic, stop him and stand clearly in front of him. Your legs should act as a screen between him and the obstacle: you won’t have any more unwanted barking.
You also need to work on "sit, wait" (or "stay", whichever feels most natural to you), so that you can let him back off the lead. Plus, teaching the command "behind" is really useful in case of an attack by a truly aggressive dog, even if that’s very rare when they’re off-lead.
The change in behaviour you’re describing could certainly be linked to the attack you experienced. Following a potentially traumatic event, some dogs can develop fear or reactivity towards situations they associate, either directly or indirectly, with what happened to them.
The fact that your dog is also barking at people from the window suggests an emotional reaction (fear, insecurity, over-excitement...), but it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact cause remotely.
For the time being, I’d advise you not to let him off-lead in situations where his recall isn't reliable. Keep enough distance from people so that he can observe them without starting to bark, and then reward calm behaviour.
If he’s already barking, simply increase the distance rather than trying to force him to face the situation.
Avoid any harsh methods (shouting, punishment, choke chains or electric collars), as these can increase fear and worsen the reactivity.
Since this behaviour appeared quite suddenly and walks are becoming stressful, I’d recommend seeing a vet, and then if necessary, a veterinary behaviourist or a dog trainer. Early support often leads to very good results.
It’s possible he’s becoming more wary following the attack by the Malinois, especially as he’s right in the middle of his "teenage" phase. My advice would be to brush up on his recall; work on it again using a long lead so he can’t wander too far. At home, when he barks, you can go over to him to show you’ve acknowledged it and then redirect him to another activity so he moves on. (If there’s a lot of activity outside the window, try using some window film or something similar so he isn’t constantly barking.)
