I have a 20 month old chocolate labrador who is having some problems.


A couple of months ago he was attacked 3 times in a 5 day period all by
different breeds of dogs (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and a
German Sheperd), now whenever my dog sees *any* breed of dog all he
wants to do is fight them. He is totally fine with dogs that he knew
before this attack took place and he is totally fine with bitches.
Prior to this he was possibly too friendly for his own good. He would
go up to all dogs and people and say "hello" and play or whatever and I
knew that I could totally trust him not to be aggressive or anything
and come back when called (most of the time).

I realise that he has this behaviour due to some anxiety and possible a
offence is best form of defence principal.

I have never been aggressive to him, he has never been hit by me or my
family but he now seems to be an aggresive dog towards other dogs.

I am hoping that patience will bring the rewards of him going "back to
his old self" but if anyone has any ideas i would appreciate hearing
them.

Thanks

Paul

"Paul" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a 20 month old chocolate labrador who is having some problems.


A couple of months ago he was attacked 3 times in a 5 day period all by
different breeds of dogs (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and a
German Sheperd), now whenever my dog sees *any* breed of dog all he
wants to do is fight them. He is totally fine with dogs that he knew
before this attack took place and he is totally fine with bitches.
Prior to this he was possibly too friendly for his own good. He would
go up to all dogs and people and say "hello" and play or whatever and I
knew that I could totally trust him not to be aggressive or anything
and come back when called (most of the time).

[..]

So you let him just walk right on up to strange dogs?
Nothing personal to you but this is one of my biggest gripes with other dog
owners, especially those of 'friendly' dogs.

My dog is friendly - all she wants to do is play, but that's a privilege
that has to be earned with good behaviour and is only allowed with the
consent of the other dog owner - cos there is nothing more irritating than
being accosted by someone else's dog when you are out minding your own
business... and I've put time and energy in to training my dog that she is
not allowed to run off up to other people and their dogs.

Every time someone else's dog runs up to her and rewards her for breaking my
leave command, it takes us a step back in our training.

A good reason for not letting your dog run off up to other peoples' is
exactly for the reason you describe - so that they don't get attacked and
become fear aggressive of other dogs, so creating a 'vicious circle'. Now
your dog is fearful he may well attack a young dog that comes running up to
him - who's owner won't understand cos his dog is friendly... and so his dog
becomes fearful and history repeats itself...

Diana & Cin

--
Cindy the weimaraner's web site:
http://cindy-incidentally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

No I have never "let him run to strange dogs" but what I have done
(possibly wrongly) is when a strange dog, with an owner has come up to
him, just allowed him to play assuming that the owner of the other dog
is allowing his / her dog to run up because they are friendly and as
such happy to play. This is what caused one of the attacks. The
other two were dogs walked by young children with no ability to control
or hold a dog of that size (Rottweiler and German Sheperd).

I feel that my training has gone to the stage it was 12 months ago
because I used to have full trust in his ability to stay and leave and
not go up to other dogs without my permission whereas now I can't even
trust him to let him off the lead anywhere, because he just gets
extremely distracted and its like I am not even there.

Thank you for replying though.

"Paul" wrote in message
ups.com...
[..]

I feel that my training has gone to the stage it was 12 months ago
because I used to have full trust in his ability to stay and leave and
not go up to other dogs without my permission whereas now I can't even
trust him to let him off the lead anywhere, because he just gets
extremely distracted and its like I am not even there.

Thank you for replying though.


'Kevins' (as in Kevin the teenager) - tell me about it

Cin had an excellent recall at 13 months, and it disappeared completely at
15 months (a vet trauma and building work on our house prob. didn't help
either). We've got it back at last, but its a constant 'work-on-it' issue
. She's 22months.

I worked a lot with a long line and flexi lead, only ever letting her off
when I knew she really had nowhere else to go and never in the same place
that she'd bogged off before, so that we have at last broken the habit (by
not allowing it) of bogging off. Everytime he fails a recall, it re-enforces
the idea in his mind, that your commands mean less than his wants... so as
hard and frustrating as it is, don't allow it to happen. He'll soon get the
message.

Seeing that you are a fellow UK'er - I hope you reported the incidents of
the GSD and Rottweiler being walked by children to the dog warden. A good
dog warden will write the owners a letter reminding them of their
responsibilities - usually enough to make a dumb parent aware that kids
really shouldn't be in sole charge of animals that are heavier and stronger
than them...

Make a point of walking him in busy places, but don't let him off lead in
parks where the temptation is great. For his main exercise while he's in
training, take him somewhere quiet and open so that there is less temptation
to fail recall and try and get in to the habit of rewarding him every time
he looks at you - so even with loads of other distractions, he's only got
eyes for you.

Good luck - we've found it painful, but she's been worth it

Diana
--
Cindy the weimaraner's web site:
http://cindy-incidentally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

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"Paul" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a 20 month old chocolate labrador who is having some problems.


A couple of months ago he was attacked 3 times in a 5 day period all by
different breeds of dogs (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and a
German Sheperd), now whenever my dog sees *any* breed of dog all he
wants to do is fight them. He is totally fine with dogs that he knew
before this attack took place and he is totally fine with bitches.
Prior to this he was possibly too friendly for his own good. He would
go up to all dogs and people and say "hello" and play or whatever and I
knew that I could totally trust him not to be aggressive or anything
and come back when called (most of the time).

I realise that he has this behaviour due to some anxiety and possible a
offence is best form of defence principal.

I have never been aggressive to him, he has never been hit by me or my
family but he now seems to be an aggresive dog towards other dogs.

I am hoping that patience will bring the rewards of him going "back to
his old self" but if anyone has any ideas i would appreciate hearing
them.

You don't say but is your dog intact? If he's intact then that will nearly
always present a point of potential agitation for other dogs towards him.
IOW uncontrolled stranged dogs may continue to take issue with him on
occasion which may reinforce his newly developed aggressive behavior.

--
Tara

Thank you for the advice. I have been trying to go different places to
normal. I previously have varied the morning walk but always took him
to the same field / park each afternoon so he can play and interact
with the same dogs.

Regard your query about the dog warden - for one of them I didn't need
to. She was actually already there!!

Thanks again.

Paul

He is yes. I was led to believe (by a friend not a vet) that as he is
almost 2 there would be no difference in having him "done" as it
wouldn't solve any problems as the habits will be ingrained already.

Paul

On 17 May 2005 05:42:53 -0700, "Paul"
wrote:

He is yes. I was led to believe (by a friend not a vet) that as he is
almost 2 there would be no difference in having him "done" as it
wouldn't solve any problems as the habits will be ingrained already.

Since you didn't quote, I assume your answer is "yes, he's intact".

OTHER dogs will often have a problem with him when he's intact. HIS
behavior is only a small part of this. He will probably continue to
be the object of attack if kept intact and socializing with other dogs
off leash in the park and on the street.

Other dogs see neutered males as either bitches or non-interesting,
and non-threatening, so consider that neutering may have a big impact
on his ability to have a social life.

--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

"Paul" wrote in
ups.com:

He is yes. I was led to believe (by a friend not a vet) that as he is
almost 2 there would be no difference in having him "done" as it
wouldn't solve any problems as the habits will be ingrained already.

I don't know about habits ingrained in your dog, but other intact males
will know that yours is also intact, and that may be a cuase for the
aggression. If you get him neutered, it will probably remove some of the
aggression he receives from other dogs.

--
Marcel and Moogli
http://mudbunny.blogspot.com/