advice needed asap.

neveranymoney

P.s, when I say there was no warning, I do mean in the aural sense, he was doing his usual leaping and tugging that he does when he sees other dogs but I think others (including our selves initially) could construe this as 'aww, look at the friendly wee doggy wanting to say hello'. My husband, when he saw the woman and dog approaching moved Scampers from his left side over to his right and he was just doing his usual leaping like a lamb carry on.

Scampers has NEVER exhibited any signs of human aggresssion, no guarding, snapping, nipping, anything. In fact, this morning, the daft thing was eating his brekkie with such gusto that he pushed his bowl under the radiator and I, unthinkingly put my hand down to bring it back out for him and he let me with out a second look. He is definitely a bit more jumpy now than he has been.

elsien

Obviously all dogs are different, and you know yours best. but I just wanted to say that just because a dog is reactive to other dogs it doesn't mean that he's going to be aggressive towards people.

My last foster was a total nightmare around other dogs, to the point where all walks were at times (6.30 am) and routes designed to minimise the remotest chance of seeing another dog. But with people she was absolutely lovely - anyone could do anything to her and she'd sit and let them.

And my previous mutt never gave any bark or growl as a warning either - it can be just the body language which is the giveaway. The faster her tail was going, the more likely she was to be thinking bad thoughts and preparing for a flying leap.

You're all feeling stressed and wary, and he's probably picking up on that -give yourselves a bit of time to process things.

I can understand your concern and obviously you're getting him checked out, but if he's always been a bit iffy with dogs and fine with people, this incident doesn't necessarily change that.

Also when you do use a muzzle, and I think you're going to have to now, it might make his behaviour more jumpy to start with when you're out. I think they understand that they can't defend themselves and it makes them nervous. Needs must though, sometimes.

mellymoo74

How long have you had him?

My female dog is verrrrry dog, person, inanimate object aggressive I have learnt her body language a lot of the time she doesn't growl but her ears go in a certain position and I know to get between her and whatever.
Another thing that works with cowbag is distraction, I carry the squeak from a squeaky toy round and squeak when I can see shes going to start.

catkins

What a shock it must have been for you. Having been in that position myself with my previous dog, I know how awful it is.

Firstly, you must take Scampers to the vet to check that he is not ill - there are medical conditions that can cause a dog to attack other dogs, thyroid problems being one. Secondly, I would agree that you need to get a muzzle for when you are out on walks.

You say he is a rescue, so presumably you don't know his background. He could have been attacked by another dog in the past.

How warm was it when you walked him? It was very hot today and me and OH took our dog out but ended up coming home because we felt it was just too hot for him. A hot and bothered dog may just not have wanted another dog in his face so to speak. Also, you say your dog was on lead but was the other dog? Lots of dog when on lead just don't like other dogs coming up to them and start sniffing.

I saw 3 behaviourists with my previous dog and they said a few things that made me think. Firstly, they asked "do you like absolutely everyone you ever meet?" When I replied "no" they said "then why should your dog?". Also they said some dogs just don't know how to greet another dog properly and whilst most dogs may well be ok with that, not all will be. One said it was similar to if I were sitting on a seat in the park and a strange person came up and sat as close as they could to me and pushed their face into mine. I would feel threatened and that can happen to a dog.

My dog was found to have a thyroid problem and did, in time get over his problem with other dogs, except Labradors. However, because I was paranoid about it, I always muzzled him if I let him offlead - he had brilliant recall but other dog owners would let their dogs run up to him. I didn't like muzzling him to walk him on lead, although I did for a while, because people think you have a vicious dog and will cross the road with their children etc. I just never let him meet other dogs face to face when he was on lead, I sometimes would cross the street or turn round if I saw another dog.

He was never ever funny to any human, adult or child - in fact he loved people

neveranymoney

Nearly 6 weeks, we can't judge if he is being submissive or wary when ears are down but they are up and perky when he hears something unusual or the bigger dog out the back barking its head off and he will stand up in a proud looking pose. When he is out on what we call country walks and in the long leash he literally scampers happily through the grass but gets v excited and crawls like a ninja is the only way I can describe it - belly and everything down and going like a dinger! I have just got up to run up the stairs and he would usually be up after me but he has just opened his eyes and watched me. Another stupid question, if that poor lady phones the police, are we in legal trouble? I just don't know.

elsien

Going back to the body language thing, this was a typical scenario with previous mutt (she was reactive to people.)

Member of public - what a lovely looking dog, can I say hello?
Me - no, she'll jump up and try to bite you.
MoP - but her tails wagging,
Me - yes, I know her tail's wagging, that's how I know she's going to be silly
M0P - she'll be fine with me, dogs like me
And as they approached to stroke her, without a sound she'd launch at them at full tilt. They'd yell and back off, and I'd say "told you so."

The signs that dogs show to say they're not happy can be quite subtle and easily misinterpreted. Don't beat yourselves up about it.

Edit - don't worry about the police, they don't care about dogs having a scrap. And he was on a lead not belting around out of control. If she does report it, it won't go anywhere.

krlyr

Another quick point - make sure you buy a basket style muzzle and not the soft fabric kind. The latter are unsuitable for use during exercise. Do introduce it slowly too as it will feel alien to the dog, go on YouTube and search "Chirag Patel muzzle" for a fab vid (sorry, on phone so can't do a link)

mellymoo74

neveranymoney wrote: »

Nearly 6 weeks, we can't judge if he is being submissive or wary when ears are down but they are up and perky when he hears something unusual or the bigger dog out the back barking its head off and he will stand up in a proud looking pose. When he is out on what we call country walks and in the long leash he literally scampers happily through the grass but gets v excited and crawls like a ninja is the only way I can describe it - belly and everything down and going like a dinger! I have just got up to run up the stairs and he would usually be up after me but he has just opened his eyes and watched me. Another stupid question, if that poor lady phones the police, are we in legal trouble? I just don't know.

Not usually for animal on animal attacks. Have you started any training.? I ask because again its something that helps keep grumpy calm.
You will learn his body language as he is learning yours and it really does make it easier.
Snappy is well behaved outside for me because I have learnt her triggers and can tell when shes going to kick off and distract her, soon she will be as good for OH as he is now learning her body language.

Person_one

neveranymoney wrote: »

Nearly 6 weeks, we can't judge if he is being submissive or wary when ears are down but they are up and perky when he hears something unusual or the bigger dog out the back barking its head off and he will stand up in a proud looking pose. When he is out on what we call country walks and in the long leash he literally scampers happily through the grass but gets v excited and crawls like a ninja is the only way I can describe it - belly and everything down and going like a dinger! I have just got up to run up the stairs and he would usually be up after me but he has just opened his eyes and watched me. Another stupid question, if that poor lady phones the police, are we in legal trouble? I just don't know.

I wouldn't worry about the police, but morally I think you should offer to pay for the vet's bills.

neveranymoney

I cannot thank all of you enough for chilling me out and being so sympathetic. I am hoping the muzzle wont be too much if a horror for him as when we get his harness, if you position yourself right, he is so desperate for his walk he can actually leap straight into it properly, and if not, he eagerly puts his left paw up to get in it! We have been training him to sit, stay, recall other than in house/garden is non existent in him, same re watch me and daughter had trained him to turn around - all done with treat rewards. I can't tell you how devastated I feel as our walks have been so enjoyable. In hindsight, I wonder was it a pressure cooker situation, the man across the street has three schnauzers and he does go ape when he sees them and visa versa. Other people have small dogs up the street who practically put the window in every time we walk past and last week, my husband had him out and some ones off leash small dog came up to scampers and my husband put himself between them but the other dog walked behind them to get to scampers, I think my husband said we couldn't trust scampers as we hadn't had him long and at that scampers did a snap at the other dog and the owner replied "ah, it will teach him", meaning my dog will learn bit to be rude if your dog snaps at him. You would be amazed to know this isn't the first this had happened! Good god, husband has sat down and the monster has got up and come over and leapt up on his knee as calm as you please!