Need Some advice...

[Jay06]

Hi folks,

I need some advice.... Bailey is almost 4 & intact. We've never really had any issues with him except for the fact he suffers with extreme SA. MY OH's mum watches him during the day when we are at work and it's an ongoing problem we're working on....

Anyway, OH's mum has him during the day, She's 64 ( a young 64) but with angina. Bailey pulls on the lead and i often worry he'll pull her over - he's done it to me before! He currently goes to daycare twice a week and seems to get on with the other dogs. He loves my OH's mum and she him. There's a new dog moved into their street with a woman and her son. I met them last week (its a lab/staff x) & it was absolutely petrified, really terrified wouldn't come near us and reared up his hind legs when i walked by to open the gate. He's 2 years old and also intact. The lady rescued him as he was being beaten. The last few days she's walked by with the dog when Bailey's been in MIL's garden and they've had a good bark at each other. Bailey doesn't usually do this so i wasn't bothered. Today however I came home to find MIL in tears... Her & Bailey were coming home from their walk and as they passed the lady's gate the dog started barking at them. Bailey gave as good as he got but she got him home and in the gate. Once in the garden the dog (2 doors along) had leapt the fences and was trying to get to Bailey who wasn't exactly running away! MIL obviously got a huge fright and shouted for the owner who proceeded to drag it back by the tail!! She got Bailey upstairs but was soo upset when I came in. I know it doesn't sound a big thing but she's terrified to take him out now. Last week Bailey was in the garden and it barked at him on the way by and jumped on the gate. FIL went to grab Bails and he nipped his finger. I spoke to them about this and they understood that it was probably not intentional.
 
when I think about it though Bailey used to bark @ the rottweiler who lived across the road from them but not to this extent. I've had a think about it and I think he may either be guarding the house or MIL? I'm probably totally wrong though and maybe they just don't like each other! I'm going to have a chat with the vet about it tomorrow and take him for a check up and also speak to the girl who runs his daycare as she's also a behaviourist. Meantime MIL is afraid to go out even in the garden with Bailey in case the other dog appears.

If anyone has any ideas or advice it would be much appreciated!!   & Sorry for the essay!!  

[HeatherandBenjy]

Firstly I'm really sorry that your MIL had this happen, it must have been really frightening. 

I've just re read your post a few times. I think if I were you, I'd make sure I was feeling really calm and then go and knock on the door of the woman who owns the lab / staff x. TBH now that they've had a bit of a set too, they're likely to be reactive to one another, but Bailey should be able to be in your MIL's garden without fear of being attacked by another dog jumping in there. I know that you said that Bailey was retaliating, but he was on his own territory, I would expect my dogs (who are all neutered) to do the same if a dog came into our garden being aggressive.

This has the potential to become an even bigger problem than it already is, it would be great if you and the owner of the lab / staff x could have a chat, even if it were to agree times when the dogs would be out in the garden or on walks or in the house.

Hope that Bailey is okay and that you can get things sorted. 

[HeatherandBenjy]

And just another thought, please tell you MIL never to try to separate a dog fight, she is likely to end up badly bitten.

Having a bucket of water on standby that you can throw over the dogs is often enough to shock them into stopping long enough to intervene more safely. 

[Jay06]

Thanks Heather  I spoke to the behaviourist and she made me realise it wasn't Bailey's fault! Don't even know why I thought it was, but i was in a panic!  MIL asked the woman if she could walk the dog on opposite side of the road so at least they weren't close to each other. Women said yes but hasn't bothered neither has her son  There is currently a slatted gate up so OH is going to change it for a solid board gate so it can't see in and Bailey can't see out which seems such a shame as he loves watching for OH or me 

Anyway, MIL just told me there was a young girl walking a toy poodle yesterday and the other dog done exactly what it did to Bailey, jumped across one fence and was trying to get through the other to the wee dog. 

I've spoken to OH about this and i will speak to the woman & give her a chance to do something about it. I don't think she'll be particulary receptive but i'm going to recommend the behaviourist anyway. OH has warned me to be on my best behaviour so i will be very nice about it even though i'm pretty annoyed. My MIL is still refusing to let Bailey into the garden himself and FIL wasn't even allowed to take him out on Fri  If things don't change I will speak to her landlord. It's not something I particularly want to do but I won't have my MIL scared to go into her garden.  God that sounds harsh!! 

[MaggieR]

Doesn't sound harsh at all - I think you're being very reasonable about it. We all have a duty to control our dogs and if her dog is leaping fences to get at others then she needs to take some corrective/preventive actions... Good luck with your chat with her