It happened to me as well 2 weeks ago 2 times when my 5-month-old GSD puppy and me were walking and another dog-unleashed came running to us from the other side of the street. I wasn’t surprised at my puppy (knowing that he is somewhat dog aggressive) went to meet the other dog head straight barking like crazy his tail up and his hair up. I went for the other dog as well but my puppy was faster than me and I was not able to stop it even with the 4 ft leash on him. As I was going to meet the other dog my puppy had 4ft advantage over me. Luckily the other mix breed dog was not aggressive and backed off. Usually I carry a stick with me on my walks but did not do that day. Lesson learned.

The second time two small dogs a terrier and another one where unleashed in front of their yard. As soon as they saw my puppy they ran straight for him. Same reaction on him this time again. He went straight for them again. This time I had a stick with me. I dragged my puppy and commanded him on a sit position, as I confronted the other dogs. But he would sit few seconds than charge on them again. The third time I corrected him with a leash and a deep no for not staying, than he stayed, as the other dogs were retreating. These 2 dogs did not show aggression as well so they backed off without any incident.

In both instances the owners were there but were not able to control their dogs.

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As soon as they saw my puppy they ran straight for him. Same reaction on him this time again. He went straight for them again. This time I had a stick with me. I dragged my puppy and commanded him on a sit position, as I confronted the other dogs. But he would sit few seconds than charge on them again.

That sounds like a great way to get a dog aggressive adult. He pretty much knows all dogs coming in are 'bad' and the both of you need to instantly go on the aggression to injure them.

I'm much more of the 'I'm in control of the situation' NOT my dog in these instances. I agree with the other posters, and also have had success, with my dogs being in MY control in a sit or at least behind me, while it's MY job to deal with the oncoming dogs.

Specially since most of the time these truly are 'rude' dogs acting inappropriately, rather than seriously vicious dogs that were truly intent on killing either me or my dogs. Since I usually go out with 3 dogs at the same time, and it works for me, I'd say having one dog would make it even easier.

Since the vast majority of dogs are not vicious, and I know that. I would also like my dogs to look at other dogs the same way. Not instantly go on the offensive just cause a loose dog is coming my way. Not my dog's job, especially a puppy. Particularly because this specific over reaction from a pup may actually start a true fight, rather than if I had my dog under control and behind me, the other dogs would have just backed off.

Additionally, dogs don't learn to meet/greet and be 'polite' when meeting new dogs unless they are allowed to do so. Throwing our 'calming signals' as well as recogizing them from another dog.

Some good sites to read up on so your dogs learns you are in control, and how to be polite, and can be around other dogs:

http://www.canineuniversity.com/articles/behavior/behave_10.html

Rude Dogs and Aggression

Jen, my puppy is dog aggressive. And I am doing everything I can to take him out of that behaviour, and he has shown some improvement. I had him on a kindergarten class, and he was the only one that the teacher did not let play with the puppies. He would be cornered with the baby gates while the other puppies were playing. I think the class helped him a lot, so that he was actually eating from the palm of my hand with another puppy while touching their heads and he did not show any aggression. But still he barks when he will see another dog.

I mean what would you have done in my situation if you had a dog aggressive puppy, when you see another unleashed strange dog running straight at you? I would do anything to remove him from this habit, and I would never intentionaly try to enforce it on him. My puppy was the dominant one of the litter so maybe the aggression has to do with that, I don't know.

Other than that he is very friendly with people and never usually barks.

Thanks for the links, I will definitely read them later on today.

My dog used to bark at other dogs he saw in the street, he's not dog aggressive, he'll happily sniff another dogs butt and run around with them, but from a distance he would always bark at dogs. I was at a friends house, and she was watching the Charlie Manson movie "Helter Skelter" - there is a scene where there are some dobermans barking aggressively - my dog jumped up and ran around the room barking trying to find where the dobies were (the great dane was standing in the middle of the room with this "oh my god whats he doing!!!" expression on her face, it was hilarious). Anyway I realized that he went nuts barking when he heard a dog bark, even on TV, n I caught a video of him once barking out the window - whenever I played the video, he'd bark at "himself" on the PC speakers. I actually have a video of him barking at himself barking out the window on the PC screen <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Anyway after playing this movie alot over the next few days he just finally tuned it out, I didn't really pay attention to the timeline, but at some point around this time he also stopped barking at other dogs he saw in the street too. If I get close to another dog (like within 30-40ft, he will want to go run up to them to sniff their butt, but a few corrections from the e-collar took care of this quickly.

This may not work with a dog-aggressive dog, but it worked for my over-excited pup that always wanted to "say hi" to other dogs in the neighborhood.

I've met alotta people who won't let their dog near other dogs because they think that their dog will tear the other dog apart - then one day they tried it and it turned out the dog just wanted to go "inspect" the other dog and was barking because he was restrained by a leash.

"I've met alotta people who won't let their dog near other dogs because they think that their dog will tear the other dog apart - then one day they tried it and it turned out the dog just wanted to go "inspect" the other dog and was barking because he was restrained by a leash."


I believe this is the case with my puppy. It's a risk that not many people are willing to take.

In the class he is in a very close proximity with other puppies. (Always on leash) He would also go and sniff their butts and body, but as soon as making eye contact he would start the barking and charge. I don't believe he would be as aggressive as it sounds if I would let him loose.

He is a very playful puppy, If I had the energy to keep up with him he would play with me all day, without ever showing any aggression towards me or any other family member. So far he has not shown aggression towards other people either.

One day we were walking by the mall and there was a mirror there, he started barking at himself like crazy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Baton Thaqi, I would never CONFIRM he is correct in being aggressive by joining in the fray when a dog comes running near. He's starting the aggression, you joining in, is NOT showing you are in control and he needs to back off and let you take charge.

Your dog may never love all the other dogs of the world, but you can have him learn to 'behave' around them. Continued obedience work, setting him up to succeed, doing your best to continue having ALL his meetings with other dogs be either positive or neutral. I think we frequently under-rate how our reactions are perceived and read by a pup, even something a simple as tightening up on the leash, or the tone of our voice. They can read us and react either in a positive or negative manner based on how they think WE are reacting.

Here's some other sites specifically about puppies and aggression and you do need to find out what KIND of aggression he's showing. Off hand, because of his age, I'd say it's based on fear (even if it doesn't look that way).


Puppy Aggression

Aggression Basics

dog dog agression

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I mean what would you have done in my situation if you had a dog aggressive puppy, when you see another unleashed strange dog running straight at you? I would do anything to remove him from this habit, and I would never intentionaly try to enforce it on him.

Since this will not be the only time an unleashed dog will run up to you, you need to come up with a plan! So next time you react to help the situation and your dog, rather than adding to the excitment and reinforcing the aggression/fear.

You need to get your pup behind you, quickly and calmly. You need to be between the oncoming dog and your pup. Body position will tell BOTH the dogs that YOU are in charge, when you 'send' your pup out front you are putting him in charge! And then calmly and loudly and commandingly (not in a panic) you need to address other dog with a 'go home' or 'sit' or something. If it seems only interested in your pup, I've found just reaching down and grabbing the collar gives me the control over the other dog. And we just walk back to the owner and say please hold onto your pup until we get away.

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My puppy was the dominant one of the litter so maybe the aggression has to do with that, I don't know.

Be careful you aren't allowing his 'dominance' over his littermates be an EXCUSE for his rude and bad behavior now. Hey, I know when I used to boss my sister around, it was a blast for me, not so much for my sister, and I was in BIG TROUBLE when my parents found out. It was unexceptable behavior, my parents wouldn't put up with it, and I knew there were clear negative consequences if I didn't quit when I was told to.

Continue with puppy classes, dog classes, and just being around other dogs in a controlled situation.

My favorite story is when I and a friend of mine were walking our leashed dogs through a public school yard. We were going to practice tracking, I have an APBT, and she has a less than friendly shar-pei. We come around the corner and get charged by two foo foo dogs and a big lab. My friend yells "leash your dogs, come and get them!!" and the lady yells back while laughing "haha, I dont have a leash!!"

No leash for 3 dogs??

She is acting like its the funniest cutest thing in the world to have her little dogs charge ours. She yells "Its alright, they are very friendly!" and I reply with "yeah, well they ARENT!!"

The yells ended with my freind telling her that she is breaking the law by not having her dogs leashed.

And welcome to my world. Trying to walk a leashed APBT and having dogs charge you around every corner. Just a little bit stressful, because you know if anything happened it will be the pit bull's fault. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

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One day we were walking by the mall and there was a mirror there, he started barking at himself like crazy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My dog did that too, when he saw his reflection in sliding glass doors or store windows - he got over it when he realized it was himself he was barking at, he ignores his reflection now <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

These two instances really showed that I was not able to control my puppy. In all other instances my puppy obeys to me. These encounters happened so fast (matter of seconds), so you get caught by suprise, and I was not able to be calm myself, let alone calm my dog. So my puppy must have sensed that.
I will try the plan that you described next time I am in a similar situation, but boy I know it will so tough to have my puppy sit while I deal with the situation. But as far as grabing the strange dog by the collar, no way, unless it is a chihuauha <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, but even they can be vicious. I could never trust a strange dog. Thanks for all your inputs.