kyanya
Well-Known Member
My parents have a 4 year old english springer spaniel entire male, who they got as a 2 year old from his breeder. His breeder had showed him (Liam) with some success, but he was fighting with another of the breeders dogs (again an entire male) so Liam was re-homed. I'm not sure if it was Liam or the other boy that was picking the fights, and I think they decided Liam should go as the other dog was doing better in the show ring.
Liam settled in well with my parents, he's a happy dog who seems to have adjusted well from living in a pack of dogs to living on his own with my mum and dad. He still gets to spend time with other dogs though out on walks, my parents have friends in the area with dogs that he gets to play with on walks.
However, earlier this summer he was attacked by a large dog, and since then he's been a bit 'funny' with some other dogs. He's been aggressive towards large male dogs, snarling and if he's given a chance he'll attack. We think it's driven by fear, as he's picking on the larger, scarier dogs, but he's now shown aggression towards small dogs too. As far as my parents are aware, it's only male dogs he's going for.
He remains a good dog around people, and still gets on with male dogs he knows. It's just strange male dogs he has a problem with, but there's quite a few of those around! Interestingly, he was good in the show ring when they showed him recently - mum made sure he didn't touch noses with other dogs and he behaved himself impeccably, but out of the ring it was a different story!
I'm not entirely sure how they discipline him when he attacks other dogs (other than pull him away, I'm sure) as I haven't seen it happen. Also, I'm not sure if he knows the word 'no' though, because he is generally good, and my parents weren't the people who laid down the boundaries with him as a pup. They did take him to dog training classes for a while when they first had him, where he learnt to sit, lie down, stay & recall - he was never the most obedient and was easily distracted, but he did learn. And like I say, he was always good with all the dogs at these classes, but this was before he'd been attacked.
Does anyone have any advice? Mum and dad are considering having him castrated and will definitely do this if it will cure his agression towards other dogs, but they don't want to do it if it won't improve his behaviour with other dogs, as their previous dogs have always become much more hungry and put on weight after they've been castrated. They've tried a halti on him so they have more control (he's normally good and doesn't pull on the lead, but I think it's a different story when he's got a target lined up!) but he didn't like and tried to get off. I'm fairly sure if they perservered he'd get used to it, but it's still not curing his aggressive tendancies. They're going to try a muzzle on him too, but I don't think they want that to be their long-term solution. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - they've never had any experience of owing an aggressive dog before, so are at a bit of a loss as to how to put a stop to his bad behaviour.
Liam settled in well with my parents, he's a happy dog who seems to have adjusted well from living in a pack of dogs to living on his own with my mum and dad. He still gets to spend time with other dogs though out on walks, my parents have friends in the area with dogs that he gets to play with on walks.
However, earlier this summer he was attacked by a large dog, and since then he's been a bit 'funny' with some other dogs. He's been aggressive towards large male dogs, snarling and if he's given a chance he'll attack. We think it's driven by fear, as he's picking on the larger, scarier dogs, but he's now shown aggression towards small dogs too. As far as my parents are aware, it's only male dogs he's going for.
He remains a good dog around people, and still gets on with male dogs he knows. It's just strange male dogs he has a problem with, but there's quite a few of those around! Interestingly, he was good in the show ring when they showed him recently - mum made sure he didn't touch noses with other dogs and he behaved himself impeccably, but out of the ring it was a different story!
I'm not entirely sure how they discipline him when he attacks other dogs (other than pull him away, I'm sure) as I haven't seen it happen. Also, I'm not sure if he knows the word 'no' though, because he is generally good, and my parents weren't the people who laid down the boundaries with him as a pup. They did take him to dog training classes for a while when they first had him, where he learnt to sit, lie down, stay & recall - he was never the most obedient and was easily distracted, but he did learn. And like I say, he was always good with all the dogs at these classes, but this was before he'd been attacked.
Does anyone have any advice? Mum and dad are considering having him castrated and will definitely do this if it will cure his agression towards other dogs, but they don't want to do it if it won't improve his behaviour with other dogs, as their previous dogs have always become much more hungry and put on weight after they've been castrated. They've tried a halti on him so they have more control (he's normally good and doesn't pull on the lead, but I think it's a different story when he's got a target lined up!) but he didn't like and tried to get off. I'm fairly sure if they perservered he'd get used to it, but it's still not curing his aggressive tendancies. They're going to try a muzzle on him too, but I don't think they want that to be their long-term solution. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - they've never had any experience of owing an aggressive dog before, so are at a bit of a loss as to how to put a stop to his bad behaviour.
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