My dog is agressive to other dogs.

eira

Battersea Dogs Home used to have an excellent behaviour advice line. I would be very very wary of 'dog behaviourists'-there doesn't seem to be any official reliable standards. I have used two-the one lot of advice for our rescued street dog was to 'carry on feeding him scraps ' as it 'was what he was used to'! Because he had been grossly malnourished he actually had a digestive issue and could only be fed good quality food. The second had advice that just wasn't practical given 10 stone of dog (it required three hands-one for the lead/one for the treats and one for the tin rattle)

Our first dog was rescued from the streets-he was 28kg when he was picked up and 48kg at his full weight. He really loathed other dogs-unless they were tiny/old or disabled.i .e. no threat. Despite his strength he was basically frightened and had no social skills at all.Other dogs would lunge at him so they weren't keen on him either.

His comfort was being on the lead-if another dog approached I'd put him on the lead and say 'keep you safe'-which made me look a bit of a fool but he was happier with that. He was a GSD/Ridgeback cross which seemed to make him wary anyway.

Two other factors may be-
1)Our last dog died before Christmas and he was huge-a Newfoundland cross. Some dogs would try it on with him but whereas our Ridgeback X would take offence , the Newfie just thought it was rather funny. Most other dogs loved him but there were dogs (and owners) who took his size as a challenge
2) Both were rescue dogs. It is as if with rescue dogs there is a period where they settle in and then when they feel safe their personality emerges.

I hope it works out-vets can size up dogs very reliably, but be very very wary of so called behaviourists.the first one I went to charged £50 which included follow up visits. I've never met anyone who went again-turned out she didn't like big dogs ie anything over Springer size. One other thing that may be useful is to suss out the local dog walking areas. Where we live there are areas where more experienced owners walk bigger messier more confident dogs. This can be a real help with a nervous dog as both they and the dogs tend to keep their cool.

LillyJ

I've been told I can exercise him down at the RSPCA centre! Yay! They rang me today to let me know. I am going to take him there then take him for a walk on his lead to the park so he can see other dogs when he isn't full of energy and see what happens.

pboae

That's great news, good luck, and let us know how he gets on!

dit

LillyJ wrote: »

No we don't muzzle him. We don't feel the need as he isn't off the lead, and it would probably frustrate him more like you said as he doesn't even like the Halti!

I have the same problem - LOVELY rescue dog, perfect with children and all people - he is a collie-cross. He just hates other dogs and is so aggressive - have to have him on a lead which I feel makes him worse as he cannot defend himself. Live in the Highlands - quite remote but other dogs around (tourists). Had him de-masculated (is that a word?) as the vet said it would help; sadly not.....! He is my constant companion since my husband died. ANY help VERY welcome

pboae

dit wrote: »

I have the same problem - LOVELY rescue dog, perfect with children and all people - he is a collie-cross. He just hates other dogs and is so aggressive - have to have him on a lead which I feel makes him worse as he cannot defend himself. Live in the Highlands - quite remote but other dogs around (tourists). Had him de-masculated (is that a word?) as the vet said it would help; sadly not.....! He is my constant companion since my husband died. ANY help VERY welcome

Dit, I suggest you register on the forums at http://www.dogpages.org.uk and ask their for recommendations. There's a number of excellent Scottish trainers and behaviourists who post there, and if none of them are near to you, they can probably recommend someone who can.

TraceyMcl in particular is a mine of useful information and Scottish contacts and has fought, and won, a particular challenging battle to overcome dog aggression in her own dog.