We have an 8yr old Border Collie / Lab cross who, as he is getting older, is becoming almost intolerably aggressive towards other dogs when out walking.
We got him at 2 yrs old. He was well socialised as a pup, growing up in a household with other dogs, and I would regularly meet with a group of other dog walkers, where we would allow our dogs (as many as 10 in total) to run around the park, off the lead, without any problems. Apart from one other dog which he would occasionally have a little spat with (it was always the same dog, and I just put it down to a personality clash, as humans also have), there was never so much as a bared tooth.
As the years have gone by, it has gone from one dog that he had a problem with, to almost every strange dog he meets. It is not universal. My sister has a little Westie which he gets on fine with, my friend has a chocolate lab which he similarly plays happily with. We now muzzle him when out and about, but this doesn't deter him from having a go. It has got to the point where we don't actually want to let him off the lead.
Even on the lead, he will stiffen as another dog comes into sight, and if he gets within a few metres, will start barking and growling, with all his teeth showing. Yet sometimes, he will have a sniff, and trot on happily. There is no pattern that I can make out with regard to the size or approach of the other dog. It seems completely random.
He's well trained. When off the lead, he will wander off up ahead, but will come straight back when called. Yet this too goes completely out the window when another dog appears. He completely "zones out". You can holler, and he will completely ignore you.
He is not, and never has been, aggressive toward humans, whether strange or familiar. He barks when the doorbell goes, and the worst the visitor can expect on entering the house, is a welcoming dance around them, and the odd lick. And this is the thing, take other dogs out of the equation, and he is the same affectionate, sociable, friendly dog we've always known. There have been no other noticeable changes in his behaviour.
Any suggestions or thoughts gratefully received.
Oh and BTW, we had him castrated shortly after we got him, so there should be no hormones involved. :-)
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I'd totally recommend visiting a local dog trainer, who'll probably have you attend one of their classes (which are cheaper too) rather than 1 to 1 training for dog aggression.
I only know a wee bit, just what's rubbed off really, from a member of the family who was (still sometimes is) a dog trainer.
Dog to dog aggression can be fixed pretty rapidly, it's 60% letting the dog understand it is not the pack leader and it's 40% helping the owner understand their new role. Can get messy (aggression towards handler) breaking the idea that the dog is not the pack leader, hence the need for a dog trainer.
They do this kind of thing day in day out, and they will fix this behaviour quickly.
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I'd mention it to your Vet and get him checked over top to bottom,
Some dogs do go a bit funny as they get older, like some people :(
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Sounds like he has aquired human traits - just a natural result of getting old!
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>>>it's 60% letting the dog understand it is not the pack leader.
Yep that's very likely it. As the dog has reached middle age its establishment in the family has probably allowed it to over-value its status in the group hence over-assertive guarding behaviour.... including what you mention about the doorbell and visitor dance.
You may need to look at basics like who passes through a door first, who has food first, if the dog is allowed on furniture/beds and making sure it is only petted when calm & quiet with all 4 feet on the floor etc. A decent trainer will help with this as mentioned above.
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>>if the dog is allowed on furniture/beds
I've found that with my dogs that's of prime importance. As the dogs got older they'd take advantage of babysitters etc. Testing the boundaries.
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Thanks for all the replies.
He does have boundaries in the house, and he does stick to them. He is allowed on furniture when invited (and in fairness, he does wait, albeit often in the most unsubtle way imaginable, to be asked). He is not allowed in the bedrooms at all. He used to be, but this was a new rule we imposed a year or two ago, and we don't seem to have too much difficulty enforcing it. He will also go to (and stay) on his bed on command.
Similarly in the garden, we've trained him to do his business on the patio rather than the lawn where it's easier to pick up / wash down, and even if the gate to the lawn is open, he won't venture on to it. In a way, this makes it more confusing. I've never really struggled to get him to do (or stop doing) anything with a bit of effort, but this aggression thing is just getting worse.
I think a local dog trainer / class is an excellent idea. I will make some enquiries. I will admit to a little pride swallowing being needed as well, as I have been around dogs all my life, and never had a behaviour issue like this before. It's hard to admit you don't know it all when you thought at one time you probably did! :-) Silly, I know.
Thanks again all
DP
Last edited by: DP on Wed 13 Oct 10 at 12:57
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Is he getting any action?
I get aggressive if I don't get my leg over 4 times a week.
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>> I get aggressive if I don't get my leg over 4 times a week.
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Don't try to get it over, just up the lampost will do.
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Excuse my contribution, it is no way meant to offend anyone or trvialise your problem in ANY way but is there known to be a dog equivalent of Alzheimers? He is obviously in a good home and complying with your training and wishes with regard to his behaviour, apart from the aggression you mention, which has started fairly recently.
Last edited by: Perky Penguin on Wed 13 Oct 10 at 13:17
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>>As the dogs got older they'd take advantage of babysitters etc. Testing the boundaries. <<
As I said earlier, a dog aquiring human traits! ;)
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Despite what other here have said, it's often very difficult to fix aggresion towards other dogs. It can also take a lot of time and perserverance. If you look at some of the experts, like Cesar Milan, you can see it takes a real effort. Beware many of the so called dog trainer, who are often like so called car a/c specialists, recon engine specialists etc, as they are often nothing of the sort. Sure, they've been on a few dog physcology courses and taken a few village hall training classes, but often are better at taking money than training dogs or curing difficult problems.
I had working cocker dog once that was a really nice dog - never any trouble. One day he decided to have a go at another of my cockers when one of the bitches (in another kennel)was in season. It was a proper fight as well - not the usual growling and snapping. After that, I could never have the pair of them in the same place, which was a real pain transporting them around, feeding, training etc. Not long after, he then took a dislike to another dog, then it was all entire dogs, then all male dogs. I tried all sorts, but something had changed in his head. The final straw was when I went near his food bowl one day and he decided that I would be his next victim. One of the things I always do with the dogs from day one is take their food away from them, just to make sure there's never any problems as this is a great way of seeing how their temperment is. He got very close to biting me and had that mad look in his eyes like he hated me. Unfortunately for him, that was the last meal he ever had.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, at the first sign of any problem, come down on them hard, but be prepared that sometimes something major seems to change in their little heads and it usually becomes worse quickly. It may be that some sort of answer can be found, but it may be that it can't.
I won't put up with any sort of aggression towards other dogs, not so much as a look or a curled lip. And I step in early if another dog is showing aggression towards any of mine, even if the owner takes offence.
Last edited by: Webmaster on Sun 17 Oct 10 at 13:01
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Interesting what you say Dave,
I've owned dogs for nigh on 50 years including R/Ridgeback GSD, Doberman, C/Span and a 'handful' of Mongrels,
I had a dog from Battersea D/H once that was Schizophrenic, he bit my Sister, then he bit me,
I was the last person he ever bit though!
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Dog aggressive with other dogs - any suggestions - Skoda
