Aggressive behaviour?

[bethanyy]

Just wondering if anyone can offer me any advice?

I have two lab b*tches, a chocolate which is 2 years old and a black which is 18months. The problem I have is when I take them for a walk Ebony (black lab) shows aggression to other dogs – she runs towards them barking and growling with her hackles up but wouldn’t dare attack another dog, she is the softest dog I’ve ever met! She will run up to the other dog, and 9/10 will ignore me when I’m asking her to come (try and put her on the lead before she spots the other dog), but once she has sniffed the other dog she is fine and will play with them.

Local dog owners recognise me and my dogs now, so they ignore Ebony’s behaviour because they know she won’t do anything, however when we take them elsewhere people assume she is aggressive and will attack their dogs (which isn’t the case in at all!) and usually nastily tell me I should put her on a lead with a muzzle on, BUT she doesn’t need it!!

Me and my family think she does it to defend Paris (chocolate) because as a puppy she was attacked by a Doberman and was badly injured (had her nose ripped away from her face) so we think Ebony does it to prevent it happening to Paris again, as if she shows aggression to asses the other dog before giving Paris the ‘okay’ to go and play.

Does anybody have any advice to stop this behaviour or distract her? Have tried food but doesn’t really work, so now I just try to grab her and put her on a lead before she b*ggers off to meet the other dogs.

[haggismarmite]

What happens if you walk her alone without the choccy dog? Does she only do it if they're together? That would help answer whether she's defending her or not, she could also be defending you in which case you need to try and re-establish the 'top-dog' position so she doesn't feel she needs to.

As for distracting her attention back to you, have you tried a squeeky toy instead of food, something that just puts her focus in your direction to then make a massive fuss of her to bring her back to you. A plastic bottle also works filled with stones or something that makes a really loud rattle noise done very fast and sharply to instantly make her look and direct her away from it.

You just have to watch that if she meets a dog who confronts her back it might turn nasty.

[JaysMum]

Dec 2, 2010 15:46:58 GMT bethanyy said:

I have two lab b*tches, a chocolate which is 2 years old and a black which is 18months. The problem I have is when I take them for a walk Ebony (black lab) shows aggression to other dogs – she runs towards them barking and growling with her hackles up but wouldn’t dare attack another dog, she is the softest dog I’ve ever met! She will run up to the other dog, and 9/10 will ignore me when I’m asking her to come (try and put her on the lead before she spots the other dog), but once she has sniffed the other dog she is fine and will play with them.

You have just described my dog.

This is not aggression...It is infact, play....

does she also wag her tail whilst growling, (and it is up/down or half mast....depending on where is it, defines what she is doing) and putting hackles up? regardless of what the front end is doing watch what her tail is doing, if it's wagging all is well.

I've only had one guy kick her, because he thought she was going to attack... I pointed out to him that he attacked her before he saw the end result and would report him for animal abuse....since he had his own two dogs and they (seeing it for what it was..play) didnt react...... if they thought she was in attack mode they would have squared up to her...

She could be doing this in conjunction with the other dog, but I really wouldnt expect that to be that.... 2yrs old is still quite young for a Lab, and if it's any consolation Tara (GD x) was around the same age when she started doing this...... She's never bitten or gone to bite..it's always.. See dog... run up, hackles up, bark.... stop, hiya, wanna play?? ;D

try not to make a big deal out of it... if others are responding badly to it, it's because they see the fear in your face, and think that you think this is bad practise of the dog.... It's not....

if you want though you can try and get her attention on you on walks until the other dog has passed... or allow her to speak to the other dog, but under your control.... I wouldnt use a rattle bottle as these can be really hard on dogs ears and sensitivity.. the only reason i would use one is to stop proper aggression, what your dog is displaying isnt aggression

[JaysMum]

This is quite good for learning body language

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_communication

[Milliesmum]

I would be inclined to work on her recall, and since most labs are food motivated, treats might be a good option. I have a bag that clips on to your belt and I always carry 'training treats' with me, every so often I call millie back to me, ask her to sit and give the treat - I do this even when there's no other dogs around. I've done this since a pup and her recall is really good now - she comes to call, and I don't really need the treat now but still give an odd one just to reinforce that there's a good reason to come back! Lots of praise too when she gets it right. Oh and it helps if the treats are something quite strong smelling - cubes of cheese are good, as it helps to keep the concentration!

If you give treats at all at home, say something like 'what's mummy got?' or a phrase that she associates with the food - or you could use a clicker, that will give you a bit more ammunition when she has her silly head on!

Oh, and just to add, training classes might be a good option - to get her socialised and used to meeting lots of different dogs - so when she's out and about it's not such a big deal if another dog comes along.

[dazycutter]

I def agree with socialisation classes.. My friend has a young lab jsut like that and spent the whole time I stayed at hers, terrorising my young setter bit*h who is extremely good natured, sociable and friendy.

going out for walks was a nightmare as the lab would constantly run up and growl at my dog. In the end my setter gave this lab a good seeing to and bit her quite hard.... My friend was fine about it and totally understood, however, my dog now goes for any dog she meets when out on excersie which to be honest has well and truly upset me as she had the temperament of a saint... I now need to go back to basics with her and get her re trained.

Sort your pup out ASAP.. its not jsut your dog it can affect.. A good trainer will show you how to overcome this... good luck ;D

[princessstacie22]

www.lotpdogbehaviour.co.uk/

This woman is based in hampshire if anyone is interested. she is fab. We used her for our old Bulldogge.

[bethanyy]

Thank you everyone. ;D Havent walked her without the chocolate because Paris suffers from awful separation anxiety and literally turns herself inside out if she is left alone, but will try and see what happens!

As for re-call, she is so well trained and comes back straight away unless there is another dog in sight, have tried treats and toys but she's just not interested outside the house so will have to think of another option, the plastic bottle and stones sounds like a good idea!

sands01 yes she does wag her tail whilst growling, her hackles are up but her tail is straight in the air wagging!

[Milliesmum]

If you ring your local council and ask to speak to the dog warden, they should be able to put you in touch with training classes in your area that aren't ridiculously expensive, which some of the commercial type ones can be.

[dazycutter]

I used a guy who trained the guide dogs.... he was fantastic, not the cheapest, but brilliant results...

[JaysMum]

Think we need to read up on dog's body language and work out what's happening....

Rattle bottles/spray collars/training keys etc are never a good idea UNLESS you know what you're doing..... as timing is of the importance..

[dazycutter]

sands01 I do agree.... I have owned and bred dogs for over 20 years.. but when it comes to behaviour.. get the experts in..

Your pup will be fine and become a lvoely sociable person, but get soem good help.. I would be tempted to discuss this with a dog pyschologist...

[bethanyy]

Thank you everyone!