Behaviour Problem

Halfpass

Halfpass

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Haven't been on here for a while but could really do with some advice from you wise people.
I'll start with some history.

Ben 6 year old black lab, got from the breeder at 11 months old, he had already been from breeder to one owner back to breeder then another owner, back to breeder then on to me!

He was a very well behaved easy to train young dog with very good breeding and rightly or wrongly decided to keep him entire!

The only problem we had at this stage was getting him back on the lead during walks, he played nicely, his recall was ok but as soon as we attempted to put him on the lead he would run off, he used to run round for a good long time until another dog walk managed to catch him!

This improved with time and he became a lovely dog to have around, he would come out with the horse and all would be well.

Agian rightly or wrongly when he was 3 I decided to breed from him, my friend had a lab bitch and we had more than enough people that wanted his off spring.

So a few months later along came Burtie - one of his offspring- and quite obviously i could not have him.

So now Ben 6 and Burtie 2 1/2 both entire have become a little pack, both lovely, adorable and generally obedient. However over the last year we have had a problem that is developing and I don't know what to do.

They are both generally good with other dogs, until Ben takes a dislike to one, its not a particular breed or sex and sometimes wont happen for months but when it does happen he pins it down and generally growls and snaps at it, I have never seen him actually bite but everything else can look and sound very aggressive and alarming. Burtie is never the instigator however when Ben goes Burtie follows!!

This hasn't happened for months and over the summer we have met many walkers and other dogs with no problems at all.

It happened this morning though, i was out riding and saw a friend with her dog, my dogs went to play but she had other people with their dog with her and as soon as Ben saw this dog (an entire springer) he went at it and had it pinned to the floor Burtie obviously followed!

The owner then followed with a barrage of abuse at me (quite rightly so) about dangerous dogs and me not having control!

I am now stuck with how to tackle this!

I have used vibrating collars in the past with really good effect, is the line to continue on or is there another way!

I feel like I have failed as an owner, Burtie on his own is a dream and very obedient, he will not go near another dog until I say its ok and then he will play nicely, I DON NOT want this behavious to become 'normal' for him and I want to teach Ben that its not on!!

HELP!!!
 
Would you consider neutering either of them?
I would go back to basics with recall (this means training one on one, separate from each other) using whistle, long line, hand feeding.
If you do not have control on the ground, you certainly do not have control from a horse so I would drop bringing the dogs out with you on a hack.
Yes, annoying and time consuming, but it will tackle the problem.
 
You are not able to handle 2 dogs, I two would suggest neutering both dogs, the elder because it will no doubt be easier to manage him ALONG SIDE training, and the younger to stop him getting to the place the elder is now.
A good training class, and as suggested handling them both seperately until you have control. Take them for their usual energy burning run together in an isolated place then work them separate and don't attempt to control them from a horse.
If you still want Bertie to socialise then for the meantime put some control in the elder and teach him to come when called when another dog is approaching, the elder could be being more reactive because he has the younger with him as in general you will see this behaviour heightened where is 2 or more dogs together.

A good training class would be a start.
 
I agree that both would be bettered neutered and will also say that you need to be both quicker in calling the dogs back and a lot firmer with making them realise that you will not tolerate fighting.
 
A good training class will help with getting them to concentrate on you around other dogs - but you need to be honest with the trainer so they can assess whether you are best off in a class or whether you should have some one to one lessons first.

Also agree with separate handling - and I'd whip those balls off too.
 
Im another who is for neutering, unless you have a top class show dog or working who has been health tested there is no need to keep him entire.

I would not take either of them out hacking because you are not in a position to intervene if anything kicks off.

When I got my 2 siblings at 18months I worked on training them separately and then when I walked them together I kept one on the lead at all times, swapping them over at half time. Their recall is pretty good until they come across deer but Ive gone back to basics training separately and carry treats everytime. If you have problems recalling your dog to you instead of putting the lead on just treat when he comes close. Also when my dog starts to come close to me I step back not forward and make lots of silly noises until the dog is running straight up to me. I also play hide and seek this helps to keep the dogs focus on me.
 
Ah yes, running backwards, squeaking, with your pockets full of chicken mince. There ain't nothing quite like it.....
OP, on a more serious note, say, theoretically, if your dog came running up to mine, who would be on a lead in public as he is funny with other dogs so I do the responsible thing, and I called out to warn you, and your dog kept coming and tried to dump my dog on the ground and I could not body block him in time, my dog would have the potential to make quite a mess of your dog - but it would not be my fault, my dog was on a lead and I warned you, because I know my dogs capabilities and his limitations.
Don't mean to be nasty but you need to crack this for your own dog's safety, as much as anything else.
 
CaveCanem said:
Ah yes, running backwards, squeaking, with your pockets full of chicken mince. There ain't nothing quite like it.....
OP, on a more serious note, say, theoretically, if your dog came running up to mine, who would be on a lead in public as he is funny with other dogs so I do the responsible thing, and I called out to warn you, and your dog kept coming and tried to dump my dog on the ground and I could not body block him in time, my dog would have the potential to make quite a mess of your dog - but it would not be my fault, my dog was on a lead and I warned you, because I know my dogs capabilities and his limitations.
Don't mean to be nasty but you need to crack this for your own dog's safety, as much as anything else.
Click to expand...

I dont do running I step back:D
 
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