Does your dog show agression?

[Cazzie]

In what other situations has Goose shown aggression? Molo has had the odd spate with other dogs, and there are some dogs that he positively dislikes (he never starts anything, but bears a grudge  ) - but I wouldn't use the label aggressive to describe him - I consider it to be normal dog behaviour 

Mine are like this and like you I don't think my dogs are aggressive. There was a 4mo old gsd yesterday who was jumping all over them and biting really heard --- --- now at 4mo he was twice as large as any of mine. Ruby will tell dogs off but if dog is quite aggressive like the terriers we often meet on the Taff Trail she will try to run away.

same here with jarvis - would not call that aggressive - just canine communication.

so when Goose 'flew' at this dog was there biting?  I need to get an idea of what you feel is aggressive because people vary so much on this point....

No biting just top dog stuff, this was a young dog of only 6 months. Goose was sitting as he does when told, the pup came to me and goose flew at him. It was a bit of a difficult situation as the owner of the pup (my friend was interviening) where I would have gone off with them on a walk and left them to just go about stuff. Goose I dont think would have hurt him, I also dont get stressed in these situations as I know dogs do initially have a wee grump and moan, but my fear is that Goose is trying to be dominant (which was a natural thing in the situation he was in) . We are working with him on different tactics and situations. I need to nip it in the bud to a certain extent as Goose will be actively working and if he did this at a shoot to another persons dog he could come off worse. I have had him out today with two big entire spaniels today and he was fine, we are also working along with my gun dog trainer this week with some of his male dogs and he has been not too bad. I feel if he gets to understand that there is no point in all this aggressive stuff he will calm down. Its not like he is not well socialised as he see's tonns of other dogs in a week. 

[Top Barks]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

I think labeling types of aggression can be a bit of a minefield as there are lots of crossover points where a behaviour could say be resource guarding or fear based for example, however it maybe a combination of the both.
I prefer to take James O Heare's view, which rather than categorising aggression looks at the events and circumstances leading up to the event that cause the episode.You can then work to lower arousal over time in the presence of these stimuli.
I find aggression a fascinating subject having two reactive dogs of my own.
What are you doing with your dogs to combat any aggressive tendencies?
What advice have other COL ers been given?

Mark

[debz]

sorry to butt in on this thread but why do you think that my little Thomas has never even growled at anything but he has had several different dogs have ago at him for no reason???

[debbie321]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

I think labeling types of aggression can be a bit of a minefield as there are lots of crossover points where a behaviour could say be resource guarding or fear based for example, however it maybe a combination of the both.
I prefer to take James O Heare's view, which rather than categorising aggression looks at the events and circumstances leading up to the event that cause the episode.You can then work to lower arousal over time in the presence of these stimuli.
I find aggression a fascinating subject having two reactive dogs of my own.
What are you doing with your dogs to combat any aggressive tendencies?
What advice have other COL ers been given?

Mark

I have a dog that has shown aggression and you helped me deal with a couple of them Mark    After the last advice Ben now wears a houseline (not as much as before) 

He was very aggressive towards me but that was a guarding thing - after Marks advice (and looking back - the breeders advice) I changed my attitude and Ben has been a stroll in the park ever since (OK exaggeration here - but he has been more of an open book) 

He will still show aggression and will bite if another dog gets too near his ball (or anything that he considers his) -- my answer is to get the ball back in my pocket if another dog is near.  He has also lost his temper with a dog that just wants to make friends but Ben is a bit intolerent and will give the 'playmate' a good telling off    Unfortunately this has been the lovely Hurley who seems to really like Ben - Ben just doesn't feel the same way 

Ben is an only dog and doesn't seem to be able to do the share or toleration thing - there is no way in this life that he will have a brother or sister so ............ any clues on how to get him to share toys or tolerate other dogs when they get on his nerves?

[CarolineL]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

I think labeling types of aggression can be a bit of a minefield as there are lots of crossover points where a behaviour could say be resource guarding or fear based for example, however it maybe a combination of the both.
I prefer to take James O Heare's view, which rather than categorising aggression looks at the events and circumstances leading up to the event that cause the episode.You can then work to lower arousal over time in the presence of these stimuli.
I find aggression a fascinating subject having two reactive dogs of my own.
What are you doing with your dogs to combat any aggressive tendencies?
What advice have other COL ers been given?

Mark

He will still show aggression and will bite if another dog gets too near his ball (or anything that he considers his) -- my answer is to get the ball back in my pocket if another dog is near.  He has also lost his temper with a dog that just wants to make friends but Ben is a bit intolerent and will give the 'playmate' a good telling off    Unfortunately this has been the lovely Hurley who seems to really like Ben - Ben just doesn't feel the same way 

But Debbie - Hurley just does not get it when Ben doesn't want to play!!! He should take a page from his own book as he has reacted in the same way as Ben to dogs who annoy him in exactly the same way........ Maybe next time he'll learn 

[lyn]

ellie has never shown a moments aggression. she did used to bully paddy a bit but i wouldn't call it aggression.
paddy would snap if you tried to get him from behind the sofa if he'd pinched something but, if i went to one end(head end) and said something like "aww pads come and give us a kiss" he just couldn't resist but to come out tail wagging and slobber all over my face. he once snapped at my son coz he tried to get hold of his collar to get him out my bedroom. but this was because he didn't want to sleep downstairs.

[spanielcrazy]

sorry to butt in on this thread but why do you think that my little Thomas has never even growled at anything but he has had several different dogs have ago at him for no reason???

I have no answer for that, but wish I did  Crackers was the sweetest, kindest dog ever but something about her just seemed to invite bullying by several dogs. She was not at all giving off fear or submission vibes either, she just happily bustled about her own business not bothering anyone so I never understood it. 

[Danni n Betty]

What are you doing with your dogs to combat any aggressive tendencies?
What advice have other COL ers been given?

Mark

I finally got some great advise off a fab behaviorist ,after wasting well over 6 months following the 'dominance' route which a previous behaviorist advised me to do 

Way too much to go into on here, but a great tip is to make stressfull times associated with fun times, as in when we are at the vets, or if the Boyfs mum visits, Betty gets a kong stuffed with garlic sausage 
Another thing was in work, if someone knocked on my door, Betty would jump up and bark, then I'd grab her and put her lead on, as I know how she'd react when they entered the room.
So she was associating me quickly putting on her lead, with a bad thing (strangers) about to happen. Simple solution...just leave her lead on! Its a safe enviroment to do so, so when she jumps up and barks, I can just calmly place my foot on it 
We still have a long way to go, she may never be 100% comfortable with strangers...but at least Im trying to manage it better.

[debz]

I can't understand it either really strange poor little man he loves everyone even his half bro has a go at him and his half sis did too not to mention a cancer mascot dog  at a show massive choc lab nearly scared me to death ! never mind Tom i just feel really sorry for him  

[Cazzie]

Well today I again took Goose with me. We went on a walk with 2 big entire Springers and Goose was not bothered in the slightest, he was a gentleman. I also took him to the kennels and had him mix with lots of other entire/castrated male dogs and he again has been super. It all seems to be the fact that he is being protective towards my other dogs (girls) so now working round that. Thanks guys for all your replies 

[caty]

My two growl and snap when another dog comes too close. Flynn is worse but if he starts then Ludo backs him up and starts barking at the other dog to 'back off'. I took them to adult dog classes recently and gave them treats when another dog approached them and eventually they became calmer around the dogs in the class. However, this has not solved the problem and they're still wary of 'strange' dogs in the park. I am at a total loss now of what to do in the park when this happens. They are too tense to focus on me or the treat I'm holding when in close proximity of an approaching dog.

The trainer in the class (now finished) told me to ignore them when they act up like this but I find this almost impossible to do and it looks to other owners, whose dogs mine are snapping at, like I don't care. I tried this once and the owner of the puppy who got snapped at just glared at me like I was completely irresponsible. Not doing that again! So...back to square one!

[Cob-Web]

My two growl and snap when another dog comes too close. Flynn is worse but if he starts then Ludo backs him up and starts barking at the other dog to 'back off'. I took them to adult dog classes recently and gave them treats when another dog approached them and eventually they became calmer around the dogs in the class. However, this has not solved the problem and they're still wary of 'strange' dogs in the park. I am at a total loss now of what to do in the park when this happens. They are too tense to focus on me or the treat I'm holding when in close proximity of an approaching dog.

The trainer in the class (now finished) told me to ignore them when they act up like this but I find this almost impossible to do and it looks to other owners, whose dogs mine are snapping at, like I don't care. I tried this once and the owner of the puppy who got snapped at just glared at me like I was completely irresponsible. Not doing that again! So...back to square one!

If you are referring to off-lead dogs which approach your on-lead dog, then personally, I think it is the owner of the other dogs that need to change their behaviour; they should have their dogs under control and not running up to other dogs 
Molo is not good if unknown dogs approach him on lead when we are out walking, and I consider it perfectly acceptable behaviour - he is restrained, unable to interact appropriately due to the lead, and some stranger coming right up to him is bound to be threatening to him so he has every right to tell them to go away 

[caty]

My two growl and snap when another dog comes too close. Flynn is worse but if he starts then Ludo backs him up and starts barking at the other dog to 'back off'. I took them to adult dog classes recently and gave them treats when another dog approached them and eventually they became calmer around the dogs in the class. However, this has not solved the problem and they're still wary of 'strange' dogs in the park. I am at a total loss now of what to do in the park when this happens. They are too tense to focus on me or the treat I'm holding when in close proximity of an approaching dog.

The trainer in the class (now finished) told me to ignore them when they act up like this but I find this almost impossible to do and it looks to other owners, whose dogs mine are snapping at, like I don't care. I tried this once and the owner of the puppy who got snapped at just glared at me like I was completely irresponsible. Not doing that again! So...back to square one!

If you are referring to off-lead dogs which approach your on-lead dog, then personally, I think it is the owner of the other dogs that need to change their behaviour; they should have their dogs under control and not running up to other dogs 
Molo is not good if unknown dogs approach him on lead when we are out walking, and I consider it perfectly acceptable behaviour - he is restrained, unable to interact appropriately due to the lead, and some stranger coming right up to him is bound to be threatening to him so he has every right to tell them to go away 

My experience is with other dogs that are simply passing by are now fair game for my two. Now, all it takes is for a dog to calmy approach them to greet them. I don't think that when my two behave in a snarling/snapping manner to a dog like this then it is acceptable - on or off lead. I agree with you if it's in reaction to a boisterous dog that comes bounding over. But, increasingly, with my two they are starting to become the bullies.

[Cob-Web]

My two growl and snap when another dog comes too close. Flynn is worse but if he starts then Ludo backs him up and starts barking at the other dog to 'back off'. I took them to adult dog classes recently and gave them treats when another dog approached them and eventually they became calmer around the dogs in the class. However, this has not solved the problem and they're still wary of 'strange' dogs in the park. I am at a total loss now of what to do in the park when this happens. They are too tense to focus on me or the treat I'm holding when in close proximity of an approaching dog.

The trainer in the class (now finished) told me to ignore them when they act up like this but I find this almost impossible to do and it looks to other owners, whose dogs mine are snapping at, like I don't care. I tried this once and the owner of the puppy who got snapped at just glared at me like I was completely irresponsible. Not doing that again! So...back to square one!

If you are referring to off-lead dogs which approach your on-lead dog, then personally, I think it is the owner of the other dogs that need to change their behaviour; they should have their dogs under control and not running up to other dogs 
Molo is not good if unknown dogs approach him on lead when we are out walking, and I consider it perfectly acceptable behaviour - he is restrained, unable to interact appropriately due to the lead, and some stranger coming right up to him is bound to be threatening to him so he has every right to tell them to go away 

My experience is with other dogs that are simply passing by are now fair game for my two. Now, all it takes is for a dog to calmy approach them to greet them. I don't think that when my two behave in a snarling/snapping manner to a dog like this then it is acceptable - on or off lead. I agree with you if it's in reaction to a boisterous dog that comes bounding over. But, increasingly, with my two they are starting to become the bullies.

I agree with you off-lead - perhaps you could recall them to avoid the confrontation ? 

On-lead, even a well socialised dog will experience stress no matter how calmly another dog approaches it, and it takes a lot of self-control for the leashed dog to remain calm. I liken it to someone coming up and chatting politely to me while I am gagged and have my hands tied behind my back 

[Ben's mum]

Ben shows aggression at a lots of different things - a little like Jan's Billy there does not always seems to be any reason for it?
He is unpredictable and will sometimes mix with dogs fine and other times will snarl and try and bite - usually completely unprovoked.  He has bitten me several times, over different issues, particular around guarding food - and i have no doubt in my mind he would bite someone else if they approach him on the wrong day!

He is not consistant and doesn't seem to see certain people as threats, somedays he is waggy and happy and other days he is a grumpy old wotsit - and you can't always tell which is which until he loses it

Sometimes I think it is fear aggression, other days he just looks dominant and bossy.  He will bite another dog if they push him, but other times he just makes more noise than anything and does lots of snapping his teeth which I guess should send a fair warning to another dog to clear off!!!

Ben's mum