My 11 year old lab is dog aggressive. It was attacked as a young dog and hates other dogs. What can I do?

Question

I've read all the articles of yours that I can find and I was wondering if you could help me. We have an 11-year-old golden Labrador whom we inherited from some friends who could no longer look after him.

He has been in Labrador rescue where an elderly couple took him on but due to his size, had to give him up again. He was also looked after by a man who used to beat him. As a pup he was attacked by two Stafford shire bull terriers and it took two men to get the dogs off of him. By the time our friends got him he'd already had quite a life (he was less than two years old).

My friends had him until he was 9 and during that time he has always been aggressive towards other dogs but perfect with everyone else (including kids).

He doesn't run up and attack them or anything like that but if another dog approaches him he is on his guard and if they try to sniff his back end then he will flare up. He is mostly fine with bitches (he is entire).

For all those years, his previous owners let him sleep on the bed, settee, etc. etc. - all the things he shouldn't have been doing but when we got him we put a stop to all of that and he is now clear on who is the boss - i.e. not him. He was also always on the lead and they gripped his collar like mad if another dog came by.

Because he can be aggressive we have to keep him on a lead unless we can see the coast is clear. I particularly do this when I'm out with him on my own. I know that grabbing the dog is making him worse but I don't know what else to do. If another dog approaches I put him on a slack collar (as opposed to pulling him away like before). But even then he goes alert as if I'm sending him a signal to be careful. If I don't put a collar on him and he flares up I will be at fault. Have you any suggestions at all please. I have spoken to a number of behaviorists and have been told a number of strategies i.e. distraction technique, which works to a degree not pulling him away. He is a lot better letting him know who is number one - i.e. not him - works fine. I was told before that I shouldn't have waited until this age but for the first year we had him we thought that was just the way he was and the second year has been getting this far.

Help - I want to take my dog for lovely long walks but it really is not a joy at the moment. I believe that he was not socialized because his previous owners thought that after the attack they were frightened it would happen again.

I really want to help him and he is beautiful in every other way - any words you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I have recently moved and at present do not have a source of income so I cannot really afford a behaviorist at the moment. Any tips as a stop gap?

Accepted Answer

Once other dogs have attacked a dog it will always be dog aggressive. I compare this to a person being mugged by a dark alley at night. They will always be on guard or nervous around dark alleys - nothing will ever change this. You can either accept this or try and change it. This poor dog will always have a dog aggression problem that can be controlled with force. That's the only thing that will solve the problem. The dog must learn that YOU will not allow other dogs to attack it. It must learn that you will protect it from other dogs - if you will not accept this responsibility than you are not a good pack leader.

I do NOT allow other dogs near my dog - I do not understand people who do allow this. IT IS STUPID! It makes no sense to me and it makes no sense to your dog! It goes against common sense, it goes against sound pack behavior.

I suggest you step to the line and take responsibility for this animal. It sounds like this dog deserves to have the end of it's life be a safe place.