OK, really sick of this now (dogs attacking mine)

[Cinnamontoast]

For no good reason, Brig was never neutered. This never seemed to be a problem as he is very submissive by nature and has no idea what girls are. He is never unsupervised whilst in the company of other dogs and has never one tried to mount the neighbour's dog (with whom he grew up as he goes to neighbour when we are out).

However, over the past couple of years, he has been frequently attacked whilst out on walks. He is deeply uninterested in other dogs but other dogs insist on coming up to him and almost invariably attack him. The owners always say 'oh my dog is fine, he won't do anything' then Brig is on the floor screaming while another dog attacks him. He never retaliates.

The latest episode was this morning-lab owner says 'my dog won't do anything' despite the growling and aggressive manner in which the lab came up to Brig. He kept insisting that the lab would do nothing until it jumped on Brig (who is on the lead because of his stitches from the biopsy last week). The bloke dragged his dog off and apologised, saying the dog had never done this before. I think dog walking etiquette is dog on lead, put your own dog on lead or heel it-just my opinion. Sadly, some people have no control over their dog, clearly

Now IMO, I should not have to neuter my dog (if that's the issue) because other people can't control their dogs but the common factor appears to be Brig and the owners always say their dog is friendly, won't do anything etc. However, with the pups (who will be neutered asap), I don't want this attacking continuing.

Suggestions/advice welcome. Thanks.

 

[Cedars]

My other half took Chloe for a walk when she was probably about 3 months old, two huge labradors came bounding across a field towards her. The owner waved, and yelled "don't worry, they're sweet as pie!" at OH. Chlo was on the lead. As they reach Chlo, teeth bared and growling, they pounce on her, one of them one her head and one of them on her neck/chest area. Chlo on the floor screaming (still attached to lead).

I'm not ashamed to say that my OH grabbed one by the scruff and threw it away, and the other one came back, so he kicked it away with the side of his foot - so as not to damage it, but to get it away from Chlo. The owner EVENTUALLY turned up, and my OH insisted on having the womans contact details so we could send them the vets bill.

As it was, Chlo was fine just a bit shaken. But every time we see the owner now, all dogs are on leads.

Unfortunately in your case, I would have to have him neutered. Its so unfair on you though =[

 

[Crackajack]

I have a rescued staffy x called Axel.....i suffer from the repuation that other people have brought upon these dogs
he is soft as a brush - but i did not have him from a puppy and i can never fully know his history!

I will NEVER let my dog go unless i have full control over him meaning i have his attention and i am far enough away from other dogs for him not to pay attention...

I have had several incidents myself where other people have not had their dogs on a lead and they have come running over to me and axel and then when their dog has not behaved and growled/nipped etc and i have chased it away (this also results in my dog copying my body language and therefore barking/growling) they blame my poor dog - who incidentally has done nothing!

Its frustrating from all sides...luckily i have now moved to a place that has empty fields to play in!

I will always however try to - when he and other dog is on the lead - allow them to say hi but i ask first!

I DO NOT think you should have to have him 'done' because of other people but i haven't really got any other suggestions other than you are doing!?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would not have him neutered at his age. Won't do a tap at that age IMO.

See, me having the breed I do makes things easier, but no dogs come up to mine unbidden. If I see dogs coming up to mine off lead, I will call to their owners and ask them politely to recall. You absolutely have the right to call to people or ask them to keep their dogs away (over-egg the fact that he has stitches/is in recuperation etc)
If I like the look/body language of a dog and the owner seems sensible and doesn't mind, I allow an introduction and if it looks like it is getting hairy or my dog is uncomfortable, I remove him, smile nicely and be on my way before he says 'BUGGER OFF!' in a most noisy and embarrassing fashion

Another thing to realise is that not everybody socialises their dogs properly (not talking about the OP or anyone else) so when dogs DO see other dogs, they can be unsure and a bit frightened and use play-aggression tactics/fronting up when they do finally meet.
That is an issue for the owners to address.

OP when you say 'attack' do you mean biting, seriously injuring?

Jumping on 'ie trying to get 'higher', mouthing, barking/growling, dumping on the ground are all ways in which dogs communicate with each other/pack body language, however much we don't like it, as well as all the hidden signals dogs send out, that we don't see.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I don't want him neutered to change his behaviour: he is submissive and utterly disinterested in fighting/bitches. Obviously, I'm very biased, but he is a super well behaved soppy mutt. When's he's off the lead, he will go off to voice so he is out of range and can escape.

My issue is that I wonder if he smells threatening to other dogs because he is entire? He is very frequently attacked as in other dogs come up to say hi then growl, jump at his face, try to bite. He doesn't help himself by crying and not retaliating and no doubt I don't help because I'm very fearful that he'll be hurt. I wish he would turn and defend himself. He's done this once or twice but mostly just cries.

 

[Brownmare]

It sounds like he may be picking up on your tension and fear. Can you experiment with someone else walking him to see what happens or try totally ignoring the situation and carrying on as if nothing is happening? Either way, you have my sympathy, it sounds like a frustrating situation to be in.

 

[AmyMay]

Start telling people how aggressive your dog is.

Maybe they'll then start keeping theirs under control.......

 

[CAYLA]

I have to say this is the one thing that makes me happy to have a pack that contains some rather large beasts, my dogs are very friendly but I still keep them at my side and if someone allows their dogs to approach mine then I don't sweat basically, cos mine are never going to come to any harm
it's rare people will let their dogs off they usually grapple with a lead to get them on as quick as they can but the other night we met this scenario.

Pitch black walking back from nature reserve, I had my akita, deerhhound and a boarding labrador and someone with 2 huge shepherds was coming towards us (bloke was blinding me with a torch) so I could not actually tell it was a shepherd till it was on top of our deerhound) to deerhound grabbed it's facial hair and proceeded to rag the shepherd let out a scream and the couple frantically called it back, it went of it's own accord with it's tail between it's legs OH said "young dog,or first time owner"? bloke said "oh sorry he is a rescue, we where not sure what he would do" der! so u just let him off and see bloke added, I think he has learned his lesson" "hopefully so have you" I added.
He prob though, oh, he is big, prob did not expect a huge deerhound that towared over him and my akita was on the other side luckily he did not jump on her, otherwsie he may not have has a cheek left

Some people are idiots, I would in future definately be saying, "please get your dog" it could be that because he is a bit submissive and entire he is getting these responses, but as suggested no reason for you to have him done jsut tell the owner to get the dog on the lead or you will boot them and the dog

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I seriously will be booting dogs in future: no doubt I will earn a very nasty reputation in our local woods but frankly, I'm so sick of this that I will be the aggressive one, never mind anyone else's dog.

 

[Louby]

I feel for you, my lurcher has been attacked a couple of times, once by a bordeaux whatever they are called and twice by alsations. My boy is placid, loves to play and up until getting attacked, thought every dog was friendly. Now I have a problem with alsations, he has got a bit agressive, growling, hackles up and barking, yet any other breed he is fine.
Bordeaux?? owner said oh sorry, hes never done that before, then said it was only the 2nd week she'd had it off its lead, it was an adult dog. She did give us her number though as he had drew blood and then kept texting us to check boris was ok.
Alsation one lives across the road, is young and boistrous and ran over quite aggresive, took boris by suprise, small scuffle and that was it really,
Alsation two is owned by a ex copper. This went for boris whilst he was out running with my hubby, they met on the way back and owner called dog back but it flew at boris and went for him, again drawing blood. Hubby had a few choice words to owner as she had seen her dogs reaction earlier and could have got him before he came running.
Boris is entire too, isnt interested in the ladies and is soft, maybe more dominant dogs see there softer body language as a weekness?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Boris is entire too, isn't interested in the ladies and is soft, maybe more dominant dogs see there softer body language as a weekness?

I think it is due to the dog's body language and mine: I know I need to 'man up' somewhat, but I do feel other owners should adhere to the etiquette of dog on lead, I'll put mine on the lead, therefore-basic manners and common sense.

 

[stargirl88]

It could very well be because he is entire. I have to double check if people have entire dogs or not before I let mine say hello. It just doesn't work.
Although an idea! If you're keeping your dog on leash and don't want others approaching while he's healing you could stick a muzzle on him if he's okay with it people might give you a wide berth!

 

[Louby]

I think it is due to the dog's body language and mine: I know I need to 'man up' somewhat, but I do feel other owners should adhere to the etiquette of dog on lead, I'll put mine on the lead, therefore-basic manners and common sense.

Agree totally, my hubby put him on a lead when approaching agressive alsation for the 2nd time, owner didnt care. Hubby then decided to let boris off again for his own safety, at least he could run away then!

It annoys me that people with agressive dogs dont care, put a muzzle on it then no harm done. I get mad with this when Im riding after having a couple of hairy moments over the years.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

It could very well be because he is entire. I have to double check if people have entire dogs or not before I let mine say hello. It just doesn't work.
Although an idea! If you're keeping your dog on leash and don't want others approaching while he's healing you could stick a muzzle on him if he's okay with it people might give you a wide berth!

Thing is, why should my dog be punished for attacked? He would never dream of attacking other dogs.

We used a muzzle on him once because he tends to lick the car windows all the way to the woods (CD rack in the boot is wrecked!) and he ate the muzzle within 5 minutes!

He's not happy with things over his nose and flings himself on the floor if I use a halti/canny collar.