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Some dogs are reactive and out of control when they see other dogs and it can be difficult to tell if they are barking out of fear and aggression, or if they are eager to play and lack the social savvy to express that desire in an appropriate way.

Often, it's the latter. The dog wants to play but they don't know how. It's really useful to be able to tell the difference because a dog that just wants to play is going to be much easier to train than a dog that is fearful.

The first thing you'll want to do is ignore the barking and look at the dog's body language instead. Look for bent elbows, an exposed tongue, and rhythmic weight shifting back and forth, all good signs that the dog wants to play.

If you determine the dog is eager to play, and is not barking out of fear, then you have to figure out how to set up and manage successful encounters with other dogs.

If you want to learn more about how to determine whether your dog wants to play or fight with other dogs, and what to do about it, watch this webinar today, for free, with a one-month free trial of the Top Dog Academy.