Malik is just over a yr old, and often, when I walk with him on leash, some dog will come running at him, teeth out, growling, etc. People always say "I don't know what came over him/her, he/she NEVER does that." In the meantime, Malik becomes aggressive himself, lunges and barks. However, if he's off leash, he's usually acting sheepish, like he did something wrong, and doesn't show aggression towards the aggressor.
So I'm not sure what's going on, I suppose some dogs instantly dislike him (that happens to us human too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> and I don't know what to do when he's on leash with me. Should I try to reassure him, correct him, stop him?
Thanks for ideas/posts,
Aude

Well you're not alone! I think I own the sweetest GSD ever born yet the exact same thing happened and continued to happen to my dog until I finally figured out I was wrong for letting their dogs come near him. Sorry, I'm not calling you wrong...that didn't come out right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> . But for me and my dog, it was wrong for sure because I didn't know these people or these dogs passing us on the street.

He is so NOT aggressive (people or dogs) but other dogs seem not to like him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. I feel so bad for him when it happens which is probably stupid but I do.

I asked a dog behaviorist (my dog's weekly trainer) why this happens and her thoughts were that she has seen in the past how some dogs seem to be "marked". She's not standing steadfast by this, it's more like a theory she has. Some dogs just seem to be singled out by other dogs.

My dog is a long haired and many people tell me he looks like a bear and is intimidating and that's why dogs growl at him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Well you're not alone! I think I own the sweetest GSD ever born yet the exact same thing happened and continued to happen to my dog until I finally figured out I was wrong for letting their dogs come near him. ......

What a good answer (IMO) !!!

Over the years my own attitude about walks is that when I see a dog up ahead who we don't know, we cross the street or turn around. Nothing overt or unfriendly, and there's no tension or worry or anything at all negative for my dogs to sense; it's just that I've decided it's not worth it.

I have a 2-yr-old GSD that wasn't socialized when I got her 6 mos ago. In our daily walks, we encounter a lot of dogs and I'm learning how to manage these encounters pretty well. I've grouped other dogs into several catagories depending on what they and the owner look like as they approach. Some start their aggression from a distance, so we give them plenty of space. I still want my dog to calmly pass by these others at a reasonbly close distance without getting excited no matter how the other is acting. At the opposite extreme, others look pretty relaxed and are very casual about getting/allowing a sniff session. For these, we'll stop for a few seconds for a meet and greet.

Most dogs fall somewhere in the middle. So, it's important to focus on the dogs and not get distracted in a conversation with the owner. If I talk to them, I won't look at them but continue to watch the dogs for changing signs. If I see lips curling, hackles going up, body tensing on the other dog, etc., we start moving away before it escalates. I think mine has started the aggressive behavior in about 2% of the cases. Only when it's clear she's the aggressor will she get a correction. If you and your dog are calm and you pay close attention and just continue on before the barking/snarling starts, I believe he/she will learn to meet others with fewer incident and without showing tension and aggression that just gets other dogs more excited.

JMO

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll use them, and I like the idea of keeping encounters brief.