Charlie is a black cross breed Lab rescue, neutered, we've had since he was 2. He's now about 8 and he's just let himself down yet again. He's a lovely boy, affectionate, obedient, loves people, great with kids and small dogs and with about 95% of most other dogs but I've just frog-marched him back from the park where, after the initial sniff and tail wag, he picked a fight with a large retriever cross we've never met before. When we first had him he did this to a large fluffy gsd puppy and we do tend to avoid any gsds or huskies and prefer not to take him anywhere new, just in case. But he's fine now with that original gsd and normally OK with most other dogs. But we can never be sure! He does tend to do his own thing (including hunting for mice), and rarely plays with other dogs but ignores it even if a smaller dog snaps at him. I even have a dog walker friend and Charlie has never had a problem with any of her charges; often up to 6 at a time! He's even OK when they pinch his beloved ball! I wonder if a large fluffy dog had attacked him when he was a stray. But what can we do? :-[
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Hi and welcome When you say he picked a fight, what happened exactly? Standing up tall, barking, growling, snapping, pushing? Was the other dog making rude faces at your dog first?
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! He suddenly launched himself at the other dog, snarling and looked as if he was trying to bite. We sometimes get problems with him growling at another dog when he wants to play but this was pure aggression. Of course, the other dog retaliated. His owner grabbed him, I called Charlie off, he went back to have another go, so I clipped his lead on and marched him home. That hasn't happened like that for ages.
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Hi and welcome from us, Hattie 6 years and our rescue Charlie 3 years. Have you ruled out that everything is OK with Charlie health wise, no injuries etc. that might make him react like that towards another dog? Just a thought ???
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Hi Hattie, well, he's been doing this to every, say, one in 200 dogs ever since we had him and he's very healthy. But I have just had knee replacement surgery and my other half has an, as yet, undiagnosed neurological condition over the past 2 years which affects his balance and limits him to what he can do. I did wonder if all that could be affecting Charlie, by making him feel ultra protective of us? Or simply being affected by the stress at home? He is very good at home though. Thanks.
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! If it happens vary rarely I wouldn't be too worried After all, I don't like everyone I meet either One thing I would do is start giving him treats when he is behaving nicely towards other dogs (you might not think you need to as he is mostly so good...but it is a case of use it or lose it ). Also, practise doing little recalls away from other dogs, then giving him a treat, then releasing him to play again (make sure you are nice and close to him when you try this) so you build up the skill of being able to interrupt an interaction if you think it might start to get a little tense. If in any doubt about a situation keep him on lead and walk away.
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Hi. I have a dog who isn't keen on every dog she meets, and bigger dogs and ones who won't leave her alone are the ones who can cause her to react occasionally. My advice is to be one step ahead! Knowing that particular breeds/size may trigger a reaction you need to either put her on the lead or train her so she is just interested in you. I can use a squeaky toy with my girl to get her focus on me. Watch your dogs body language and also that of other dogs approaching. We also avoid heavily dog populated areas so as not to put Ruby in the position of having to react. I would also suggest that if you do meet any dogs that could trigger a reaction move past quickly or give them a wide berth. Don't stay still long enough for something to happen. Hope this helps. Chloe
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! I can commiserate as my lovely old black lab used occasionally to get into fights - always with large male unneutered dogs that he didn't know well. I learnt to keep an eye open, and to put him on the lead when any strange dog appeared. It calmed down as he got older. It may well be he is picking up on your health issues - they are a lot more sensitive than we give them credit for.
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Thanks for the advice. I'll try that; reinforcing good behaviour with treats. I call him over to say hello to any new dogs in the park and he always comes up for a sniff before walking off again and I normally say, "good boy". Oddly enough, he's not that fussed about treats while we're out even though he has the typical Labrador greed normally. Anything and everything apart from lettuce and, ideally, 24/7! I do keep a weather eye out for new dogs in the park but this happened just as we'd come through the gate from the woods. Normally I would have tried to avoid any large, strange dog or, if he seems uneasy, call him away saying something like," Come on Charlie, it's getting late!". Rather than draw attention to the fact that he can be a bit of a so-and-so when he wants to. But it was the ferocity of his attack which threw me. And I do get a bit oversensitive with some people here who say, "well, you know you can never trust a rescue dog". Even though it isn't only rescues that have problems! It's worse than having children sometimes, isn't it? You find yourself asking, " Where did I go wrong with him? I've let him down!". Or is that only me?!
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! No, you mustnt blame yourself , my rescue girl was pretty much the same . We`ve only had her for eleven months so she is very much a work in progress, but I did what has been suggested to you , distraction with either treats or her very favourite, a ball I do think that they pick up on our anxieties though , so if you can relax , talk in a high pitched happy voice, this can help too . Its hard when we have no history on a dog, but it sounds like you are doing all that you can to help .
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Thanks, Kate. We've had him for nearly 6 years and this does only happen once in a while. But we're also having a bigger problem lately with him pooing indoors. But there is a lot of stress at home recently which doesn't help.
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! I have two male labs who are very nervous of strangers and other reactive dogs. I use BAT training techniques which is basically counter conditioning but encouraging the dog to use calming behaviour and learn how to control its own stress levels as well as associating the trigger with something else rather than fear. When a dog is approaching and you think your dog might react let your dog see the other then distract him with a very tasty treat as you pass or wait while the other dog passes you. Eventually he will automatically look at you when he sees another dog. Even though this behaviour isn't common it won't hurt to train this and some dogs as they get older get a bit grumpier especially with you g dogs. Helen asked if you'd thought it could be anything health related. While it is likely that this behaviour and his pooing indoors are stress related they could both possibly be a health issue. From what you've said you obviously have a lot going on at home at the moment but if you can it might be worth a vet check up. Take care and I hope everything works out
Re: occasional aggression towards big dogs - but he's usually so good! Everyone else has given some great advice and I agree with everything they've said. A vet check is definitly worth it if you can manage it, at 8 years old he might be starting to suffer from sore joints and this aggression towards another dog could be a defensive mechanism of him telling the other dog to stay away because he's having a 'sore day'. My 18month old lab has hip dysplasia and she is snappy at some dogs that get too close or too boisterous as I suspect she's had them jump on her and cause her pain, so she now reacts to keep them away to prevent the pain. Like your boy she doesn't do it to them all, but maybe she can tell which ones are like that better than we can.
