Any behaviourists want to comment on this?

[Bossdog]

Boss was never well socialised before we got him and has always been a bit gung ho with strange dogs, he's really over the top and seems to scare a lot of dogs, he's not aggressive, he just doesn't know when to stop. He has been in a couple of scraps so I keep him on a lead. I've started taking him to a new walking location in the hope that I can try and get him used to other dogs (perhaps one day I'll be able to let him off!). This is only our fourth day there and every dog he saw he was hanging off the end of the lead, those that came up to him, he was very dominant over, climbing on them etc.

Then a group of three small dogs (two mini schnauzers and a dachsund) came tearing round the corner and raced up to him barking their heads off. I was compltley gobsmacked when he just stood still as the sniffed him over, he was *almost* submissive to them, loose lead, quite a neutral pose, like he'd known them for years!! They were very happy confident little dogs, but I can't work out why he was so good with them. I've never seen him behave like that with strange dogs, the owner must have thought I was crazy, I just couldn't stop saying OMG!! Any ideas?

 

[foxviewstud]

i expect when he gets dominant with other dogs they either submit or tell him off which leads to the scraps hence why he keeps doing it he knows 9times out of 10 he has the upper hand, but these dogs showed none of that and where very confident in their actions which has taken him by suprise, if more dogs came to him like that im sure he would loose his need to be dominent. when i worked in kennels we always put dogs like him in the paddock with a small gsd bitch who would soon put them in their place if they got above themselves and it did wonders for their social skills.

 

[SunshineTallulah]

Perhaps he didnt feel threatened or need to assert himself on this occasion, perhaps due to their size, the body language they were giving off etc etc?

Who knows!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

You don't say what size of dog Boss is, his age or if you've seen/met all sizes of dogs together before this encounter?
Without having actually seen his bodylanguage when it happpened, and if Cala replies, I'd say it's more likely that she's right than me, but I have a few guesses.



If he's medium size or larger and if he hasn't seen/met many small dogs, their size could have confused him.

Then, as Foxviewstud said, they where all confident ( + barking ) and being three against one, that might have some thing to do with it.
Some dogs wouldn't bother about it, without only try and figure out who the weakest link was and go for that one. But if it confused him enough, he might not have been able to do that.

They where all bitches?! Most male dogs are a little bit more careful with their behaviour around bitches.



That was what first came to my mind.
Instead of going out trying to train him when/if you meet random dogs, I would suggest contacting a local dog club or dog trainer, some do have dogs that is used to train and teach other dogs a better dog-language.

from Sweden.

 

[Bossdog]

Hej Finnish Laphund!

He is a large male GSD, 8 years old and unneutered... he has met all kinds of dogs but the first dog he ever met (at 2 years old) was a collie cross who attacked him. I took in an unneutered 2yo lurcher rescue boy who he got on with (now sadly put to sleep), he has also been around Cavaliers wiht no problems, terriers and large dogs... so he has been able to meet and get on with lots of dogs.... incidentaly, he gets on better with them when the come to our house, it's out on walks that are the problem.

Tack så mycka!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Hej Jules1982!!

Sounds a little strange that he's better when they come to your house, they usually would feel more confident at home. Maybe if the attack happened out on a walk, he feels safe at home, but out on a walk he wants to be the one who scares the other dog before they get any ideas about attacking/scaring him?
Because if it really is that he doesn't know when to stop himself/doesn't have a sense of good dog manners, why does he have good/better dog manners at home?
So it sounds to me, as if he's found a way to deal with the attack, that he thinks will prevent it from happening again.

Don't know if it's any point with suggesting neutering at the age of 8, ONLY for the purpose of seeing if it affects his behaviour. I would think there's a risk he's so used to his behaviour, that he might continue to behave the way he's used to, balls or no balls.



Doubt this is anything that you can fix by following advices from books or internet, I'd say you need a dog trainer that can see Boss and yourself together out on a walk or at a dog club.



What you can do, but it wont help you be able to let him of his lead, is to train him to sit by your side and watch other dogs on a distance, whatever distance HE needs, so he's able to stay calm and do what you ask of him.
When he can do it, you try and train closer and closer, but never go so close that he fails while you're training. But remember that training takes time, and probably more time when/if it's an old habit.



If he isn't calm and stands still, like in the case with the three small dogs, and probably not even then, would I allow other dogs to come up to him when he's on his lead. Read my AKA, if I haven't given them permission to play off lead with another dog, they don't say hello up close!
If that means that I have to shout SHE'S IN HEAT!, I do it. Not an option for you since your's is male but FLEAS!, usually do a lot to improve other dogowners capacity to recall their dog!

If that doesn't work, or I don't feel for shouting, I step infront of my dog. I understand that it can be difficult when your dog is hanging off the end of the lead, but try hauling him in so you can hold him besides or behind you, when the other dog comes close enough, take a step forwards it and say NO!
Say NO! with however firm voice you need, to make the other dog decide that your dog isn't worth the trouble and leaves.

Thank you for the swedish thank you, from Sweden.

 

[CAYLA]

As FLH suggests u yourself have to chip in and take more control of his behaviour, don't allow him, to bounce around acting like a hooligan, it can not make a pleasant walk for you at all.
Could it be that u both where not expecting the little ones to tear arse around the corner, so there was no pre-panick, on your behalf to brace your self for battle, so to speak

, or

for him to become irrate and out of control.

You need better control, I would suggest a check chain and good training lead, and work on his heel work, so u have him in close, as u see in the obedience ring, when dogs aproach or are nearing his space, be firm, do not panick and begin to wrap his lead around your hand, instead, command him, HEEL, and give him a sharp check to remind him of his postion, if a dog approaches, make, be firm and keep his check chain high, allow the dog to go about it's business and simply walk off, dont panick, command him to HEEL, his name and a command, but firm as u mean it.

Alot of dogs react very different when restrained by a lead, they are more defencive, however off lead you would never tell they where the same dog, they are more willing to mix, have a good old sniff, as it's a less confrontational way to meet.

You yoursef must be calm and assertive, he will instantly pick up any panick and pre grapling of the lead, ready for trouble

, this alone wil prepare him for his un-acceptable behaviour.

Work on your firmness, and then allow him some controlled palytime, with some willing participants, if part of his problem is back jumping dominance, castration in earlier life will not doubt have helped the problem, if he displays this, simply step in and reprimand, let him know, that u will not accept his over selous behaviour.
Have u thought about another companion for him, to give him more chance to interact on a more regular basis, with free play e,t,c, if he liked your lurcher, he may enoy another doggi friend.

 

[acegik]

I agree with a lot of the comments from the last report i think its back to basics, start as if he was a puppy walking to heel and try distraction tactics good luck.