Happy snappy

[Digger]

Anyone got any ideas on this?

My incredibly well socialised and seemingly happy Inca (22 months old- just coming out of second season) seems to be building a little list of dogs she now likes to randomly have a go at.
We've had a few mild guarding type issues before involving her ball/unwanted male attention which I can understand, but she now also seems to have a few dogs she knows that she'll just have a go at for no reason and she won't stop even if they roll over. Never hurts anybody but makes a load of nasty old noise.
She's always been around other dogs and if she approaches a strange new one she'll get right down on the floor or roll over as a greeting- it just seems to particular ones she knows.
Ideas anyone?
Thank you.

[IonaD]

I’m intrigued to know of any ideas anyone can share also.

I have the same kind of thing happening with Bella. A certain number of dogs we see regularly she has taken a dislike to. More so when walking past and she’s on the lead, when she’s off she’s fine. I’m a bit bemused by it all!!

[Digger]

Ooh-you too?!
Mine does it off lead as well. It's bizarre because she did it the other day to a known dog who she used to play with all the time. I asked the owner if she would mind hanging around, which shee did. I pulled Inca off her dog  and we stood chatting.
 Within a minute the dogs were playing around really nicely- licking each other, happily bouncing around-Inca was rolling on her back and letting the other one jump all over her- which would indicate that she doesn't hate the other dog. I can't understand it.

Hopefully one of the old hands on here might be able to shed some light for both of us!

[IonaD]

They are funny creatures!!

Because I think I have sussed out who she does/doesn’t like I’ll cross the road if it means avoiding her acting like a crazy dog. I’m not sure if she would actually do harm but she makes it’s known with a loud barking/shrieking sound that she’s not a fan.

I don’t know if I should be telling her off or trying to distract her with treats??

[Digger]

I don't think telling off is the prescribed course of action as I believe that can make it worse.
 I think like you say I might try calling her to me and giving her a treat.

I suspect our case is all a part of a guarding behaviour. She saw a crazy strange dog off my granddaughter the other day...which was really good....so hard isn't it, as we did invite wolves into our homes for protection initially, but you don't wall them to be guardy over EVERYTHING!

[lescef]

Could she be over excited? I know that excitement can tip over into aggression. What's her body language like - her tail for example, is it wagging furiously which shows she is wound up. I only think this as she did still play afterwards ! Definitely don't shout at her, she's doing it for a reason.  Give her some distance  maybe and reward calm behaviour when looking at the other dogs

[Digger]

Thanks for that lescef.

No I don't think it's excitement. Tail is still- like a straightforward attack .

She's not one of those overexciteable zoomy round and round jumpy barky types. She's actually quite calm and quiet - often if I stop to talk to someone she'll just wait. She's more of  thinking type...the planning her next cunning move sort.....

It is weird because it doesn't seem to fit in with the usual explanations of that sort of behaviour. Any other ideas?

[lescef]

I have Maddie who will go for any dog that comes near her,  yet she is like yours, very quiet and will just stand and outwardly appears to be calm the rest of the time. I presume they are just fearful but given the chance to see the dog means no harm are then ok. It also becomes learned behaviour - I must attack first.
Who knows what's going on in their brain! 

[Digger]

...Just a little update in case anyone's interested.

Massive reduction in grumpiness over the last week- Inca much more 'normal..'

I'm now wondering if it was all just due to the season hormones. Having never had  girl dog (or a cocker) it's all a bit new to me. Maybe she just gets really badly moody!

Perhaps next time I'll just get her a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates and keep her in!