Dominance with (some ) other dogs becoming more frequent...

[rachmonkey]

My submissive waggy tailed puppy is now a submissive waggy tailed 2y old at home and increasingly an unpredictable toerag with a growing number of other dogs when on a walk. This is quite new but becoming an issue... it started with puppies which from what I know isnt uncommon but has become more than that. He Was never the instigator but if a dog showed any dislike he would hold his own. Now even simply playfulness can sometimes (not always) cuse him to completely over react. It ends in a 'ruck' and while he has bite inhibition and hasn't bitten he shows dominance, teeth and given he is working strain, always comes out on top despite being pretty small. He has ok recall and is reasonably well trained imho...  I'm hoping this is an age thing?

We are predicting issues when we can. Getting him on the lead to avoid regular problematic dogs etc... (interestingly the dogs he often clashes with are the same ones lots of local dogs clash with). We practice the 'off command which he is good at.  The worry is it seems to be extending out now and becoming almost a daily 'ruck' which makes walking off the lead (what we mainly do) a stressful experience.

Any words of wisdom please???

[Digger]

Hi there.
 I'm afraid I don't have any words of wisdom but we're also experiencing a similar thing. Ours is 18 month old girl and super well socialised-normally greets very politely and more often than not rolls on her back in front of other dogs but recently has become a bit iffy in certain circumstances. Sometimes if another dog goes near her ball when she thinks she's working she'll chase them off with some horribly nasty noises and teeth out (never any contact). Once she did it when she found an animal pelt in a field, and yesterday she had a right go at a dog that tried to take the treat she'd dropped. It's embarrassing and makes you worry. Yesterday was a culmination of events while we were out which I think just put her in a really bad mood. She even snapped at me for telling her off when we got home!!! She is due her season this week and it better happen or I'm really worried.
Thinking about it, I have come up with a couple of things: 1) Obviously the ball/ treat thing is a resource guarding issue so I think perhaps walkies with no ball might be worth a try and no treats with other dogs.
2) This might ring true with you if you have always had a submissive dog- I wonder if mine has just had enough of being roughed up by other dogs. A thousand times she has greeted other dogs with a friendly non confrontational down position and they have proceeded to be really rough with her. It's not uncommon for other dogs to be jumping on her back and body slamming her-there are so many people that don't seem to be able to rein their dogs in when they get too much. She does hold her own ok to a point as she's very fit and muscley but although that weighs her in at 12 kilos she's a really small dog and does get really hammered sometimes. That how our walk started yesterday and I can't help but wonder if maybe now she's a bit older she's just had enough and has decided to take action against anyone who pees her off!?
These cockers are complex beings aren't they? I'm finding it quite hard work sometimes. Like you say, even what should be an enjoyable walk sometimes turns into more of a management exercise!
Hopefully someone will come along and she'd some light for both of us.

[Mari]

My dog would play happily with every dog we met when she was younger (1-2 years). As she got older she became more picky. I have wondered if it is because I let her play whith everyone, and many dogs were too rough with her. I have started to be more careful with who I let her meet. If they are big and boisterous she will tell them off when they get too close, she can also be snappy around puppies and other bitches unless they are super chill. She never attacks, just sort of steers away, but will bark and growl if they don't take the hint. I can usually see as we approach if it is going to be a good match or not just by looking at her body language and the other dogs behaviour. If it looks like they are going to have clashing personalities I call her to me, and if they look like a good match I let her play. Seems to work well and most dogs we meet are greeted with a polite tailwag. I am no expert, but I think we expect too much when we expect all dogs to get along. So I think picking playmates that are going to be a good influence is important, especially when our dogs are young. Choose dogs that can handle your dog and that are polite to him without being pushovers (as much as you can). Obviously puberty and same sex aggression and stuff like that may play a role, and I have to admit I am clueless on all those things. But in general I think it is good to respect that not all dogs are meant to be best friends. And they will learn good behaviour by being around more mature dogs that won't get triggered and start fights In my experience young male dogs can be a little over the top so maby some time around older dogs with good temperaments will teach him more about how to behave properly than meeting other young dogs that are also testing their own limits?

[Digger]

I think you are on the right track Mari. I have just come back from my morning walk (no ball) even more confused.
We saw two bigger dogs who wanted to play a bit rough so I let them have a bit of a hello then went on .y way-no problems with them. We then saw a small dog she knows well who m she normally has a good old rough and tumble with and she piled into her in not a very nice way. The other dog (usually equally exuberant) actually rolled on her back...and my dog was still going for her in not a very nice way.  What the hell is going on? My dog is famous in these parts for being so friendly and tolerant!
I'm really at a loss now. I can o my assume it's hormones. If she's going to be like this every time a season is due maybe that is a reason to spay.

[lescef]

I have this problem too and fairly sure that it is not dominance but fear that makes them react this way towards other dogs. I had a well socialised dog who has become reactive towards other dogs. I learnt lots of things  as a result of this. When a dog gets excited when playing with another dog it can quite easily tip over from enjoyment into reactiveness as they go over threshold. Going over threshold also applies to the number of interactions they have when out. The first interaction may look as if it's gone well but the dog could be getting more anxious so that the next dog they meet, even if they know them,  might result in them being reactive towards it. I was told that if one meet went well then don't push your luck with another meet  - avoid further dogs or head home!
My other cocker isn't fear reactive but doesn't like rude dogs running up to her. I worry she will become nasty too, so I work on the 'five second rule'. If she meets and sniffs a dog I count up to five then call her away before anything negative happens.
Like people dogs don't have to like every dog they meet.

[lucybennett]

I like the 5 second rule. Good idea. Bailey generally well socialised and meets many dogs daily. But as he gets older and a bit more grumpy with some dogs I do a lot less standing around, chatting to owners and dogs, and more walking on and calling bailey on so bailey has a quick friendly sniff then carries on. We get more exercise that way and if he really wants a play with a dog he still can but I pretty much just keep moving. I also avoid triggers (put ball away when a small dog is coming, staying back when going through gates with several dogs etc). Also agree that once he has had a run in I avoid further meets other than maybe a nice old Labrador! Don’t be disheartened. I know it can be worrying and get you down. I think they can be selectively reactive rather than aggressive so keep going, work through all the triggers and manage round them to have happy walks x


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