Getting worse around other dogs

[lescef]

Because I am working with Henry on the long lead at the moment, I have become much more aware of the number of off-lead dogs that approach us. Some of them 'play' quite aggressively. He is very submissive, but also doesn't seem bothered by very rough play, even though he doesn't reciprocate. Is that likely to change as he gets older? Are there things I can do now while it doesn't bother him to reinforce his current attitude? I already practice getting him to focus on me when I want him to ignore something or someone going past. And when he's on the lead and straining to say hello to another dog I get him to sit and wait for the other dog to approach. If it doesn't, we walk on and I give him lots of praise for waiting quietly.

I think you are right to try and prevent any deterioration. Maddie was never like this until about two and a half. Henry may be a dog who never gets upset by other dogs as I'm sure some of our problem is partly character, but I also take some of the blame for not realising a problem was developing.
You are right to ask for calm behaviour before greeting a dog. Pulling on the end of the lead makes them into frustrated greeters which then can tip over into aggression. Now I would also ask if that dog is friendly towards other dogs.
I do the three second sniff with Bramble do that she doesn't feel like she has no escape from another dog.
However,  it's the off lead dogs running up to us  that have caused our problems and that is more difficult to fix.
I just try to fend them off. You can teach your dog to stand behind your legs so that you can protect them a bit.

[Murphys Law]

I also find if she has been in a stressful situation, she is much more likely to react to any other dog (no matter how nice they are!) which is worth keeping an eye on.

I read it can take days for a dog to get the fear and stress out of their system after a bad encounter. I know it took murphy a few days to return to normal, if Murphy actually has a normal after his run in with the Husky.

[Pearly]

Thinking about this a bit more, Miss J is generally very chilled, relaxed and has little interest in other dogs.  Could it be as simple as - Jinley is on a walk and would rather not be bothered by other dogs and is just making it clear to them?

I'm finding as I get older I know what I like and more importantly what I don't.......

[lescef]

Thinking about this a bit more, Miss J is generally very chilled, relaxed and has little interest in other dogs.  Could it be as simple as - Jinley is on a walk and would rather not be bothered by other dogs and is just making it clear to them?

I'm finding as I get older I know what I like and more importantly what I don't.......

Now that is Bramble! I just don't want her behaviour to escalate into aggression.

[Patp]

Thinking about this a bit more, Miss J is generally very chilled, relaxed and has little interest in other dogs.  Could it be as simple as - Jinley is on a walk and would rather not be bothered by other dogs and is just making it clear to them?

I'm finding as I get older I know what I like and more importantly what I don't.......

On a walk she still shows little interest in dogs going her doing her own thing.  Its when we are sitting on a bench, or at the pub or in a restaurant that she "owns" the air around us which makes for a very tense time!

Making an appointment at her new vets this week to rule anything else out.

[Penelope]

Our Suki is like this.  (Not a cocker I know, but still adorable!) 
On walks she is fine.  Since she was a baby she knew she could out run most dogs in the park (she is a saluki x greyhound) but chose not to.  If anything scared her she would run to me and hide or ask me to pick her up.  Cute when she was a baby, not so cute when fully grown. 
She is 11 now and can be quite grumpy but still fine on walks.  However, if we go to shows or anywhere that we sit down and have a rest/picnic or something, she won't let any dogs within touching distance of us.  It is not too difficult to handle as we are obviously very aware she will do this and we are on our guard but can look quite scary to any dogs who get too close (she is always on lead in these circumstances so we keep her lead short enough that she can't actually get to any dogs who venture too close)

Hope all is well with your gorgeous girl.

[PennyB]

I have same with Bosley (sprocker boy who's now 2 and a half) and usually with larger dogs as he's fine with smaller dogs - he had a poor start plus lacks confidence. All of this not helped by him then going temporarily blind in one eye when he was 2 then Wilf my cocker dying (Wilf was confident and the boss of the house).

I have recently been working with him on a basic level - if he's onlead he's far worse so I try to not put him onlead if we're on a walk. Am successfully getting him to come over and sit by me for which he gets a treat so he's now learning a little. When I can afford it will take him on a prickly pooches course a local behaviourist runs.

I have also been reading up on the subject as I know he's not a bad dog just scared (I watched 15 minutes of a growl class Ian Dunbar has done which gave a good pointer) + Bosley isn't helped by stupid owners allowing their dogs to jump on his head uninvited. He's never bitten another dog but it does sound like he's going to rip their heads of when he shouts at them and chases them away.

The one thing I discovered is that he is becoming more responsive to me when he's stressed as that was one area I worked on most and listening to an owner at times like this is so important. The thing that makes me smile and really hopeful is he's keen to learn and he looks so pleased with himself when we've averted a problem (that bit makes my heart melt). Its nowhere near there but I can see we're heading mostly in the right direction + when I call him to me when yet another owner lets their dog bound over sometimes the owner will see what am doing so I then shout he's a scaredy boy and often that works well.

[literaryrose]

How is Jinley doing?

My cocker Fosco is 3 and sounds a bit like Jinley and Honey mentioned above. She guards me and isn't interested in other dogs, doesn't want to play, only interested in sniffing. I feel a bit frustrated some days because she doesn't seem like a "normal" dog - not interested in tennis balls or playing with other dogs. She wants to be with me or my husband, and is quite happy sniffing everything. She will bark when she meets other dogs - some days it's a bark to say hello (in her own way), others she doesn't anyone to get too close. But while I know she isn't aggressive, the barking can put people off. I had one person pick up his very small (handbag-size) dog and run away when Fosco barked. I felt awful.