Hi, Cooper my 18 month old intact boy has recently started snarling, at random dogs and Im unsure why. He found his voice at around 6months when he started barking at home, when a car door slams outside or he hears some knocking at the door, he usually calms down after a min, and once we introduce him to the visitor he is perfectly fine, some say it is good guard dog but Im not so sure. He is socialised well and loved to play with all dogs as a puppy. He seems insecure at night in the dark when we have our last walk and always barks at anyone approaching. He also randomly barks at strangers during the day, and I cant confirm a specific reason for this, male/female clothing etc. Usually he is very submissive, in confrontation, his tail curling up, ears drooping flat, and cowering, however last moth for the first time I saw him backed up by a much bigger Alsatian that went for him and first time he growled, snarled, bared his teeth and went back at him, the Alsatian ran off. Ive noticed know that occasionally he will snarl when off lead on the field around other dogs, sometimes I think when he's sniffing a patch of piddle, and another dog comes up to him he gives a quick snarl. Worryingly he startled snarling and going for a 16 week old male sheepdog he met for the first time on the field, and since we met again both on leads he started snarling again. Today when arriving at the field a lady and her soon were stood near to the bench, and Cooper went charging up barking at them loudly appearing to want to drive them away, following this we walked around the field with them both and their Pug and no further issue. Im concerned this snarling and going at other males is becoming frequent, and random barking at strangers, he plays well off lead on the field with his usual crew and most other dogs and has been well socialised. Any advice would be gratefully received as I don't want to continue or worsen this behaviour. thank you for reading Coopers Dad
