Hmm. Etiquette issue dog lead aggression.

[Pesty]

Help me out here. I think I'm losing my mind.

Before Logan had his injury and nearly a year of only lead walking 15 minutes a day he was really friendly,

If approaching a dog and they keep theirs off lead I would keep him off and ask if friendly.

If they put theirs on lead I would put Logan on.

Now he's developed a bit of aggression I don't know if it's just because aged over 2 or because of lack of socialisation.

I think I can live without putting a muzzle in him. His recall is perfect and I can out him on a lead every time I see another dog. I'm also walking him in areas not that full if dogs.

3 recent experiences.

1) daughter and other half approaching field entrance is about 3 car widths wide, dog approaching at other end. Mrs asks they put their on lead because Logan can be funny. They say it's ok it will teach theirs a lesson. Other half says please control your dog they ignore her dog comes over.

Daughter does something silly because she's worried and picks Logan up. With him now restrained it's obvious he's going to feel threatened. Other dog jumps up and Logan catches him by the neck. Cue lots of yelping and swearing unhappiness by the owners.

2) I've only ever seen him defend himself but I am conscious he doesn't hurt another dog. Walking down a lane she other dog approaching put Logan on lead he doesn't so I ask him he says "why" I say because logan can be funny.he replies I don't have one he'll be alright. Luckily as it ran up it ran off just as fast.

3) yesterday walking dog, lady with a Gsd off lead. I ask if she can control her dog she says it's ok he won't hurt him and I should assume if her dog is off the lead it's friendly yes love and as you have just seen me put mine on the lead you should assume mine isn't. I tell her he can be funny and I don't trust him at the moment.

Anyway she isnsisted hers would be ok and I should let Logan off I did. Logan was never off guard and straight legged him but the other dog backed away so no attack occurred. If the other dog had growled or not backed down I know Logan would have attacked I know it. I could tell from his stance, he never relaxed.

So
1) is it me
2) so I keep doing what I'm doing or get a muzzle
3) how do I get my boy back to his friendly self?

[Pesty]

castex said:

Pesty it sounds like your dog is picking up on your own anxiety to some degree. Do you know of a really good trainer that you and the woofer could spend some time with?

No, not a dog trainer there are a few dog whisperers in the yellow pages. I'm hoping to see the gsd owner again and see if Logan can have a bit of a walk together.

I have explained this to my other half. She is getting really nervous and I said it was because he was picking up nervousness . I had never seen him go off until recently. She has been telling me about him. But now I've seen him attack without provocation just because another dog approached.


Trust me in this I could not be more laid back without needing a ventilator. But yes I have now seen him attack another dog that approached when Logan was on the lead. ( we could not let him off because of his injury) so even though Im not anxious I don't want him injuring another dog. He used to happily play off lead with any dog.

I can tell by his body language he is now not relaxed when other dogs approach. Yesterday with the gsd was the first time in nearly a year he's been off the lead in the company of another dog.

I was chatting happily with the owner he was stood dead still and straight legged just waiting for the gsd to look at him funny. He's not himself now.

Perhaps a muzzle would us feeling any anxiety.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 29th June 03:31

[Pesty]

xjsdriver said:

I once found a staffie running about the street - so I took him to the local police station and said to them if you can't find the owner - I'd like to rehome him myself. On hearing this , the cop behind the desk put aside one form and picked up another for me to fill in. I then popped over the road and bought a lead to walk him up the road to my car. On the lead he was as good as gold with me, but played up like hell with my mrs.... this was noticed by one of the other dog walkers in the park - who suggested that it was because the dog was comfortable under my control, but felt anxious with my wife. Dogs are naturally more defensive and cautious of other dogs whilst on a lead, as they do not have the freedom of movement that they have unfettered by a lead.

Yes it's definitely worse when on the lead but he will attack any dog off lead now if they show any sort of aggression. Slightest growl and he's off and he stands there in the words of the mother in law saying come on then you want some. It's not a playful stance he has now. It seems to trigger aggression in other dogs. It's really quite upsetting because he used to live running around with other dogs.

He's the most loving cutest soppy dog in the world ( which I think is half the issue with other dog owners thinking he can't do any damage)

But when he goes... He's a lot stronger than people give him credit and he's fearless. I am hoping that a but if socialisation off lead might help but I can't trust him.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 29th June 03:22

[Pesty]

hman said:

I have a rescue GSD, we have trained and trained and trained her, she is still aggressive to certain dogs and goes crackers at anyone approaching the house that she doesnt know. shes certainly a good guard dog!

I have the same problem as you with other dogs off the lead, and owners saying "its fine, their dog will get taught a lesson", and then crying foul when my dog goes for theirs as theirs is advancing on mine. I dont have my dog off the lead - unless we are in an open field and no person or dogs around, and funnily enough she is better behaved when off the lead.

Weirdly, after she jumped up and snapped at someone who she thought was about to attack the wife (he got between the wife and the children and raised his hand - jokingly at another person) I put a muzzle on her. In an ironic twist the sight of a GSD with a muzzle on makes all owners of other dogs put their dogs on a lead. Probably because muzzle = dog may attack so is wearing muzzle.

I have found that with the muzzle on (so the dog is made safe) the owners are not happy to see if ours and their dog will place well together, yet they are happy to chance it when she is un muzzled ( about a 10000000 times more likely to cause damage) Ironic isnt it.

How odd are people. What do they think she can do with a muzzle. Anyway how she take to the muzzle ? I was thinking putting one on and letting him socialise.

Don't know if that's a good idea.

[Pesty]

megamaniac said:

With our old dog she was always aggressive on the lead ,but meet the same dog off lead and she was fine.However Grizz doesn't like dogs that stare at him and especially dislikes collies.
Am i right in thinking you're nearish Doncaster? You could try Sue Fryer at Haxey,we used her with Grizz she was excellent.

www.sitdogtraining.co.uk

thanks

looks good. When hes finished his swimming sessions ill give her a ring.

interesting that grizz doesnt like staring because thats what logan does now. stands rock solid and stares them out. if the other dog looks away hes fine if the other dog does the same its on off or on the lead.

[Pesty]

Thank you.

He's still a fun loving dog having a ball all the time.

I'd like to see him playing with his pals again.

[Pesty]

Part of the problem I'm afraid.


I could control him 100% with a stick or ball. Last thing he'd care about was another dog. He has had his operation and no longer limps but I'm not ready to let him run after a ball again.

That's how he injured himself in the first place, he will never be 100% on that leg again and I just don't know how far to let him push himself. He goes mental for tennis balls he's very fast so ends up doing summersaults.

He's now off the lead and I'm letting him trot about. No forced exercise the occasional sprint after squirrel/fox/birds we encounter on our way. Plenty of swimming.

elephantstone said:

I feel for you Pesty. Were having some trouble with fear in one of our pups. A great dog and loves playing with our other one but as soon as a car or a dog goes near her she loses it. I wish they could talk and tell us whats up and how can we make it better!

If only

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 30th June 14:10

[Pesty]

Mixed bag today

While Logan was in the water these two came up from behind. Both female, he sniffed then and wanted his stick throwing. They were going in after it too no problems.

A little later while Logan was out of the water a large black lab ran up at full speed,i think he startled logan. Not sure who growled first but a scrap started. Picked up logan by his handle ( good buy that) the lab went off in the water then so did Logan.

[Pesty]

I'm afraid there is definitely potential for injury if the other dog doesn't back down. He doesn't play.

[Pesty]

Yes, that would probably be best although I'm not sure the other dog was playful in this case. The owner said sometimes he goes for other dogs.

After I separated them they were fine again just interested in swimming.

I'll take a look at the one recommended above.

[Pesty]

He has no fear. He also thinks he's 5 times bigger than he is. He's a strange old mutt but utterly loveable and goofy the rest of the time.

One good thing he definitely has a soft mouth. He's not one of those dogs that grips on for their life.

I'm not an expert on dogs fighting it may be that he's just a really good actor at acting hard. To me it looks very shocking when he starts snarling. ( remember that scene in mad max 2 it's a bit like that )

Never had this with my other dogs my old GSD was a soppy old thing. I'm hoping some socialisation with a dog he gets on with will help. I'll be contacting that trainer.

One good thing I worked on from a pup and I'm glad I did. He's not at all possessive. He was dropping his stick for those two dogs up there no problem. He also didn't react to the small one that was a little possessive.


1:34 lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3LA5c0b4VeE

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 30th June 22:33

[Pesty]

No he's intact.

Perhaps bex can help here but I've been told by a vet that behaviour doesn't change.

[Pesty]

Do dog get impregnsted while on walks with resonsible owners? I'd always assumed it was certain types of people leaving their dogs to roam free.