Aggression

Hi all,

I'm new to the site so hopefully doing this correctly!

We rescued a female staff at 13months old she is now 18months she is an absolute star and really well behaved apart from with other dogs, when out walkings as soon as she see's another dog not matter what breed she starts pulling towards them on the lead and starts barking and screaching, also her mane is up. There was however one occassion when chasing her ball that she came accross another dog a Labradour and she played with it! No attempting to attck etc. However due to how she is on the lead i can't bring myself to trust her to be let off the lead with otehr dogs as i don't want her attacking.

Obviously i don't know what has happened in her past but she has scars on her such as cigarette burns and what appears to be a knife slice on her leg so clearly she has not had the best start in life.

As i say she loves people and children it's just this issue with other dogs.

Any suggestions im would be extremely grateful?

Thanks

Lauren

Hi & welcome to the forum.

Without seeing your dog's body language, it's difficult to say exactly what's going on. From what you've said, it sounds as though she's a bit defensive when she's on the lead, which is quite common.

Do you know someone with a well behaved, bomb-proof dog that you can let her play with? That may help your own confidence in letting her off the lead.

However, please always ask before you let your dog approach a strange dog in the park (or wherever!). Then introduce the dogs quietly before letting them off lead to play.

Perhaps joining a dog training group or Canine Good Citizen programme is the answer to get her to gain more confidence and to learn to socialise with other dogs in a controlled environment.

As Caryll has said, it's hard to say without seeing but it sounds like she's just unsure/nervous, possibly not socialised properly.

Maybe you could look into local groups/training classes for some controlled socialisation.

Also might be a good idea to train her to wear a muzzle (basket ones are better) for initial introductions, for your confidence more than anything because if you're apprehensive about introducing her to other dogs then she'll pick up on that and think there is something to be worried about.

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Hiya and welcome from me and Moo. I got Moo at 10mnths and she has been an angel off lead, on lead is becoming a different matter! Thankfully she isn't on it often and her personality changes in an instant.

Maybe try a long lead so she has freedom but you have control

There is a possibility what you think is aggression is actually excitement and she's trying to get over to the other dog to play. marley sometimes does this and some people look at him as if he's mad, but he just gets over excited

Also check how you're feeling on approaching another dog, your own nervousness and if you hold the lead quite tight (not loosely with a relaxed arm), you can also transfer tension down the leash.

While not always advisable and not in this scenario but we've often seen dogs that looked like they were going to fight on lead and when the owners both dropped the leads, the tension went away. I'm not saying that this is advisable but just goes to show how we can influence them too.

But great advice from everyone else!

munschk wrote:Also check how you're feeling on approaching another dog, your own nervousness and if you hold the lead quite tight (not loosely with a relaxed arm), you can also transfer tension down the leash.

While not always advisable and not in this scenario but we've often seen dogs that looked like they were going to fight on lead and when the owners both dropped the leads, the tension went away. I'm not saying that this is advisable but just goes to show how we can influence them too.

But great advice from everyone else!

Tilly is far worse on the lead than off

Hi and welcome from us and Suki. Here is a link on body language you may find usefull

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/dogbodylanguage.html

If you know someone with an older well socialized dog that would be a big help. Start by walking them together with the handlers in the middle and the dogs on opposite sides and gradually bring them together. After the walk you could let them interact on a long lead and see how it goes from there.