Hello,

I have spent some time reading through a lot of material on this site, lots more to go. I have read lots on the aggressive dog pages and I have a question. I have a 5 yr old spayed female mix, maybe shepherd and greyhound, who is 65 pounds. She is a good gentle dog who loves kids, people and other dogs. However recently she sometimes gets a little aggressive when greeting new dogs on walks.

I know that I need to do more training with her esp with the correction and distraction phasees from what I have read. She whines and cries to see any dog on her walks and most of the time if it is a friendly dog(which I always ask the owner first) she is fine on the intial greeting. But sometimes it doesn't seem the other dog has done anything wrong (in the whole scheme of dominate and submission dog behaviors) and suddenly she will growl or snap at them.

I want to nip this in the bud so to speak. She is a submissive dog to my husband and I and we try and follow the behaviors to keep her that way, not on the furniture, walking behind us through doors, etc. I am not sure if this is a fear thing or she just doesn't read other dogs behavior well or she is just getting crotchety as she gets older.

What I am taking from reading on this site is that I should walk her with a prong collar and really correct her for any show of aggression? Any thing else?

 Quote: kathy lubbers

Hello,

I have spent some time reading through a lot of material on this site, lots more to go. I have read lots on the aggressive dog pages and I have a question. I have a 5 yr old spayed female mix, maybe shepherd and greyhound, who is 65 pounds. She is a good gentle dog who loves kids, people and other dogs. However recently she sometimes gets a little aggressive when greeting new dogs on walks. .... She whines and cries to see any dog on her walks and most of the time if it is a friendly dog (which I always ask the owner first) she is fine on the intial greeting. But sometimes it doesn't seem the other dog has done anything wrong (in the whole scheme of dominate and submission dog behaviors) and suddenly she will growl or snap at them. ....

This is recent behavior? These are strangers (the dogs)? I'm curious, first, about why you allow interaction with your dog and strange dogs on walks.

Have you ever simply marched on by and not stopped to allow the dogs to "meet 'n greet?" What happens if you do that?

P.S. Welcome to the board!

Yeah why bother?
What's so special about other dogs?


Randy

She is a really social dog and loves meeting people and other dogs. It's a small neighborhood and I like to have a chance to talk to and greet the neighbors too. Most of the time she is friendly but like I said she had been aggressive a few times recently and I don't want to see this being the start of her being aggressive more.

Kathy, the more I see this same topic the more I think just keep your dog at a distance where it won't happen. If she's relaxed at 10 yards keep her at that distance while you talk.

Okay Kathy,
You want to stop and meet and talk with neighbors or community. That doesn't mean every body's dog have to be friends with each other as well.

The thing is Kathy, dogs don't really see each other as 'friends'. It's all class warfare for them, they're either lower or higher. They either except that position or fight over it, period. Even what looks like play, is really a contest of whose best. It isn't really 'play' as we know it.
The body language that dogs exhibit are so subtle that most people miss the class action clues to start with, much less the signs that lead to outright aggression.

So the crux comes down to, become a lot less popular because you don't want your dog interacting with other dogs (your dog is made (trained) to ignore other dogs), don't visit with people who can't control their dog like wise, or save the community socialization for the the bridge club or the town meeting and when you're with the dog it's just you and the dog.
Alternatively you can make a study of the language of dogs so you can identify and interupt the aggression cycle before it begins. But of course that wouldn't be real social either, because all your attention has to be on the dogs.....Not the person who is trying to engauge you in conversation.

(Shrug) Those are your options as I see them.
Randy

Hi Kathy and welcome!

I don't have aggression experience but a sudden change of behavior would lead me to rule out any possible physical issues before starting a training program. They do hide their pain well. Has she had a check up lately?

I agree with the advices from this blog. However, I should mention as an additional info how to spot a red line even if a dog does not display aggression openly. A dangerous confrontation has a high probability to occur when:
1) A dog pulls at it's owner. You can see this from far away. This is a bad choice to say hi to. The dog pulls forward makes itself look bigger and in "attack mode". It also tells you that the dog does not respect the owner and there will be little to no control once a fight breaks.

2) A loose dog charges in your "space". Do what a good pack leader would do. Draw the line to this dog and make it clear to him. Don't let this dog near your pack.

3) A dog is Stiff with intense gaze and fixated, ears forward, body tense and still, tail may be wagging but body is not still, one hand may be lifted as if to pounce. Bad idea to say hi.

4) Too excited. Jumping and trashing about. This will provoke a fight with older dogs. An older dog will try to discipline this rowdy behavior by biting.

5) Dog is fearful and defintely uncomfortable in the situation. Get out of there quick. This dog could bite without warning if pushed too far.

The best way to meet other packs is to have the dogs into a calm submissive state first. The pack leaders will talk or say hi without contact. Use this time to assess the situation. Never let your dog make the first move. If you still want to make contact-your choice but be wary cause you're still gambling. Only do this if you're absolutely sure. The best way to say hi between two packs is avoidance.

 Quote: Kathy Lubbers

But sometimes it doesn't seem the other dog has done anything wrong (in the whole scheme of dominate and submission dog behaviors) and suddenly she will growl or snap at them.

 Quote: Kathy Lubbers

She is a really social dog and loves meeting people and other dogs.

--Are you sure? She sounds like she does NOT like meeting other dogs and doesn't like them in her space.

Train her to ignore other dogs instead, and don't allow other people to let their dogs get in your dog's face. She doesn't like it.

Other people have given you good advice.

Randy,

I have to agree with you. There was probably some subtle body language the owner missed. These dogs know exactly how each other feels long before the two meet. All it takes is a flagpole tail to tell Kathy's dog that there's going to be a problem. Humans need to learn to read a dog first before training them IMO.

Howard