My dog acts really mean outside, but really isn't a mean dog. What to do to change behavior?

He's a 1 year old american eskimo, so that can explain his protectiveness. I don't understand how he acts though. He doesn't bark if a stranger comes into the home and will greet them like he's known them forever. As soon as he's outside though, he'll growl and bark at everyone, especially other dogs. However, when we take him to the dog park, he acts just fine and plays with all the dogs. My problem is that all the neighbors hate/fear him because of how mean he looks when he's barking at them. I can barely hold him back when he's jumping forward on the leash, looking like he's going to rip them to shreds. Once he tore the leash out of my hands and chased after another dog being walked, circling around him and barking nonstop. He wouldn't listen to me at all when he's like this outside even though he will obey all commands when we're at home. What should I do to change this behavior and get him to obey outside too?My dog acts really mean outside, but really isn%26039;t a mean dog. What to do to change behavior?
it sounds like leash aggression. some dogs become aggressive while on a leash because they feel so constricted. they're kind of like a sitting duck. he feels like there's nothing much he can do while on a leash of something happens so he will just keep everyone away. I would suggest hiring a professional trainer to help you work on this. don't use a muzzle, it ill stress him out more

EDIT: iggy gave you great advise but if you feel like you can't control him, don't hesitate getting help. you don't want anyone getting hurtMy dog acts really mean outside, but really isn%26039;t a mean dog. What to do to change behavior?
try putting a muzzle on him when you leave the house until you get to the dog park and when you leave the dog park to get back to the house. retrain and socialize him with your neighbours. that is a bit odd of your dog to do. it's a great breed.My dog acts really mean outside, but really isn%26039;t a mean dog. What to do to change behavior?
You need to short leash this dog, and take for long walks, and start socializing him again,,,do not let him get close to people or other dogs,,,,but keep on very short leash, every time he begins to get aggressive, pull back on the leash, not hard, and very firm No's......he needs to be shown nothing will hurt him....alot of this will work...needs to be out and around more...he will also make a better dog at home and in his yard.My dog acts really mean outside, but really isn%26039;t a mean dog. What to do to change behavior?
Instead of just shouting at your dog in an attempt to stop a behavior you don't want, train for the behavior you do want. You cannot expect a dog to go from a situation with no distractions to one with lots of distractions and be able to perform the same behaviors. You need to understand triggers, thresholds, counter conditioning and desensitization in order to figure out how to work with this dog.



You probably need to do a lot of obedience work with this dog and laying the foundation for getting those behaviors when in a stressful situations with the dog's triggers around. Check out the book, Click To Calm and Feisty Fido. You can find them here



www.fearfuldogs.com/books.html



Try this- bring along some of your dogs most favorite, super high value treats, little bits of cheese or hotdogs, roasted chicken, whatever. When you're out with your dog try to keep far enough away from other dogs so your dog doesn't behave inappropriately (you don't want the dog practicing the bad behavior), but when you both see a dog, start giving your dog the great treats. If you need to move away from the other dog and as soon as your dog can focus on you, start feeding treats. Make seeing other dogs mean that really good treats are going to happen. Give them to your dog even if he's growling or barking, you want to change how he feels about other dogs. A dog that feels good about other dogs because he was classically conditioned to associate other dogs with food, is not likely to be upset and chase them. You could also get a basket muzzle for the dog if he's likely to bite.