Agression towards other dogs

[gypsy]

Hi folks!! My dog Darla was adopted this last January, and she is an excellent dog, very well trained and obedient always, except when it comes to other dogs. She will growl and pull on the leash, and jump and demonstrate unacceptable behavior when we walk passed other dogs. But, the catch is, if we walk passed a dog that is just hanging out in his own front yard, she won't mind. It's just when the other dog is being walked by someone else coming towards us, from the other side of the street, or, if we go to a park and there are other dogs, at dog supply stores, groooming, etc....It's a big problem. I have talked to many trainers about this and followed their tips, (having her on sit stay position while another dog is in sight, giving treats for every instant she stops to growl, try the chocker collar (which nearly stopped her breathing), etc.....) Nothing worked. Simetimes I get her to sit in front of another dog, but only aftermany repetitions of the command "sit" and she still growls, and once she gets up the scandal continues.In every other situation she is the most obedient dog, put another dog in her sight and she loses it. I tried taking her to group classes to socialize her with other dogs but the schools won't take dog agressive dogs without first having them properly socialized with home training so that when the dog gets to the group classes the dog can already "tolerate" other dogs. Anyone has any tip???? Any and all advices welcome! I really want her to calm down so I can take her to parks and walk her without having to suffer and worry everytime we see another dog. Everyone has dogs in my neighborhood.

[Dax]

Do you know anyone with a dog of similar size and build? I would take these into a field somewhere and let them off the leash (NEUTRAL TERRITORY). I think "Aggressive behavior" is actually fear or protectiveness made worse when they can't escape (leash). If they are close to the same size it is unlikely that there will be any serious injuries. (if unsure MUZZLE HER the first couple of times).

OR agree to a muzzle for the puppy socials. Most places should allow you to bring her if she has a muzzle on.

Don't expect your dog to like everyother other animal but she should slowly learn to accept them with indifference.

[gypsy]

Doglover, good idea. I don't know anyone with a similar size dog, either a lot larger or a lot smaller. The ones in my neighborhood I couldn't ask yet because I recently moved here and only know them by saying hello and watching them frown each time my dog growls at their dogs. But I will try to get that done. Yes, and we should get a muzzle too. I was told to try a martingale collar recently, so I'll try that as well, and also heard good things about the gentleleader being sucessful. Thanks for the tips! I agree about the agression being fear or protectiveness made worse when on the leash. She is protective of me, and also I believe she might be afraid of other dogs, just at their sight her breathing gets heavy and she begins to make all kinds of whining sounds.

[Dax]

A dog a lot bigger (as long as they aren't aggresive) would be ok as well. The idea is to get her to realize she (and you) are safe. The halti only works if you are holding the leash and might make her more fearful. Do you think she will bite? or just growl? Noise is OK - teeth aren't.

I think supervised interaction is the best cure.

[gypsy]

I truly don't know if she will bite, I think it depends on the dog. She was lose with my sister's cocker spaniel (half my dog's size) and she just growled and than stopped, the minute I interacted with the other dog she bolted towards him showing teeth, but didn't bite, but thas is the only dog she never minded, and there are two other dogs in my neighborhood (smaller too) that she has indifference for. She tends to be worse with some dogs. Yesterday I was walking her and this dog (her size but a lot heavier), that neither of us ever saw before, jumped over his fence and caming running towards us, he jumped on my dog, growling all along, and went for her tail and her whole behind, once tried to get at her face, but I moved my dog in a quick circle and the other dog was just able to bite her tail. My dog growled at the beginning but then stopped and was just silent. The onwner of the other dog finally came and got her dog, apologised and left. After I got home with my dog I went to touch her behind because there was all this saliva from the other dog in her tail and in all the fur in her behind and my dog (Darla) growled for a split second and almost nipped at me. She never once had this kind of behavior at home, never for any reason tried to nip or growled at me. I think whatever hapenned with this other dog in the street did something to her. We also think that since she is a rescue, that perhaps something hapenned with some dog in her past we don't know about, she might be afraid for her own reasons. Anyway, I will look into who I can ask to get together with her in a field. It might be important to have that happen, so she sees not all dogs are a threat. I hope it works. I want Darla to be able to live without any fear, I want her to be confortable, she is such a sweetheart in any other situation, and even yesterday with that other dog going at her, she could have bit him if she wanted to. I love my Darla as my daughter, my best friend, my eternal friend. I am getting way beyond the point, forgive me for all this bla bla. Thanks for the tip. Take care. ALl the best to you and your special canine friends!

[Dax]

To me it doesn't sound like your dog is aggressive just normal. Be sure to let the leash go so Darla can escape if necessary (or defend herself).

[Dax]

The nipping at you is pretty normal too. She's was probably not certain whether or not she was hurt and didn't want you to touch the area. I would talk calmly but firmly to her and touch her starting at her head and work back.

Ariel my rotti, used to do this alot with her paws (I've never seen a dog with feet as sensitive - ticklish as her) and actually try to bite. I would say her name in a tone that was calm but slightly scolding and touch her over and over. When she submitted without noise, she was praised. She rarely does it now.

Overall, I don't think you should shy away from going to puppy socials or obedience classes. There would be lots of interaction on and off the leash and most owners are aware that their dogs might not like others.

[erdog3]

Gypsy, does anyone else walk her? How is she with them? Sounds very much like a protection thing of you. If you are very close, some dogs will go to great lengths to take care of your well being.
If you can't go to puppy classes, how about trying adult obedience classes.
When you are confronted with another dog in your path, do you try to reassure your dog? This actually does the reverse affect.
A halti will not stop her from being able to growl, a muzzle is the only thing here, but she will still be able to make the noise, even bark!!

[Dax]

I agree that your apprehension about meeting the other dogs during your walk is as much to blame as her reaction. She is sensing your mood and doesn't know how to react.

Also I notice, especially with older dogs, that they forget how to play nice. The make more noise and to us humans it might sound threatening.

Since you've only had the dog for less than 6 months, it will only be a matter of time and patience on your part to teach her. You seem like a good dog owner wo she'll learn.

[gypsy]

Hello guys,
Well, you are right about the protection thing. She used to be walked by a lady from the shelter she came from, and after lots of training, this lady says my dog Darla became much easier to walk. At one point the lady claims she was able to walk Darla with another two dogs at the same time! Darla also growls and pulls when my husband walks her. When I see other dogs, which happens all the time since everyone walks their dogs in my neighborhood, I don't try to walk the opposite way or anything, I just keep on walking as if nothing was hapenning, Darla, who always walks by my side nicely, at the sight of another dog coming our way, begins to pull and drag me, and growl, and jump, she just puts up a scandal. She actually drags me all the way near the other dog while jumping up and growling! I spoke to a behaviorist yesterday about this, who said that Darla seems to be "leash agressive", she wants to have a couple of private sessions with us and then introduce Darla to her own dogs, who are "neutral", and if Darla behaves and demonstrates she can obey the commands and tolerate the other dogs then I can go into the group classes at her school. At this point, the three schools I called won't take us into group classes before Darla can first learn to tolerate the presence of other dogs.
With regard to the muzzles, martingale, gentle leader collars, I am aware they are instruments that can be put to good use, and even work wonders while in use, but, I know that there is an underlying issue here that I want to get to the bottom of and understand so that I don't find myself using those instruments as cover-ups for something else. So, I will do the few private lessons with the behaviorist to try make Darla "neutral", and I believe things will get better after that. On the other hand, I think you guys are correct in saying it might be me, and my husband. The other day a friend of my mother came over, and he asked if he could walk Darla around the block, I let him, when he came back he told me they walked passed a labrador and that Darla had completely ignored the other dog, and I am still astonished by that. So, hey...........for all I know she might just be playing dammed smart and just somehow getting away with doing what she wants to with me huh???!!!.......... In which case I will be the one who will need the most training...
It has been lovely to share with you pals