puppy help!

[sam1am]

Hi guys,
Not sure if you remember but i posted a pic of maggie my collie cross a few weeks ago looking for any clue as to what she is crossed with!
Well now she is just over 11 weeks old we are thinking some sort of greyhound mix!
Not at all what we thought but anyway...
The last few days were her first out and about in public,
We did the beach which she loved, then a quick walk around town yesterday, other than our 4 y.o lab who she loves she's never met another dog.
In town we met a couple of other dogs on leads and she went beserk barking and growling at them she's never like this with the lab(who's also totally laid back with other dogs)
Why is she so aggresive wth other dogs?Is this normal?!
considering shes so small and young i was expecting her to be shy of other dogs!
Does anyone have any tips on trying to make her a bit friendlier with others?

Sorry this got so long!
Couple of pics to show her off!

 

[Cliqmo]

Lots and lots of puppy classes!! If she growls whilst in the class they will probably recommend the use of a water filled syringe which you can squirt her with (you have to try not to let her see you so she doesn't associate you with punishment) I highly recommend puppy classes first and foremost though

 

[CorvusCorax]

First of all, she is only a tiny baby and it was probably a bit overwhelming for her - while she needs to get used to walking nicely on a collar and lead and in public, she doesn't actually 'need' lots of walking.

I would get her enrolled in a puppy class once she has all her innoculations and is old enough
Socialise socialise socialise!

Her natural instinct is to want to meet other dogs and as she is on a lead, it could be that because she can't, like a lot of dogs, she has channelled this frustration into what we see as 'bad' behaviour.

Also, as a baby, she might just be scared witless and it is defensive aggression.

Speaking as someone who had a very big dog with something similar, you need to get this nipped in the bud as soon as you can.

Start focus training with her in your garden and gradually introduce it outside the home - pups are never to young to start this.
Start with a command 'watch' and entice her to look at your face with a treat (something special, not her normal food) or a toy. Hold her gaze for longer and longer, then reward accordingly.
Dogs that are paying attention to their owners are more likely to act neutral and less likely to be distracted.
The idea is - look at Mum, get a treat, look at something else, get ignored.

When you see other dogs, remain calm, do not tense up or get scared, the pup will sense this and either inherit your fear or go into guard/defence mode (as my dog did).

When she is older, find some doggie friends (and some calm, dependable dogs) that you could 'meet' on the street or in the park, first do on lead introductions then a play off lead if safe.

If you go to puppy classes, this should be included.

However, all that said, she is still tiny so don't rush her and expect her to be perfect!

 

[sam1am]

Thaks for that, makes sense!
Unfortunaly no puppy classes close enough for us but will try socialising when she is a little bit older.
She's great so far she will sit and lie down on command but think your right that yesterday was just too much for her, feel bad for bringing her out now but it never crossed my mind she would get aggresive
Thank you so much for the advice, she's a very clever dog hopefully Il be able to fix my mistakes with her!

 

[CorvusCorax]

No worries and like I say, do give the focus training a try, if I was doing everything over again with my boy that is the one thing I would do. A dog is so much easier to train ANYTHING if they are paying attention to you.

She doesn't sound 'aggressive' per se - like I say, she was probably scared and defending herself, then getting more driven to do so once you got nervous (not your fault, I have been there) and/or frustrated she couldn't do what she wanted to do.

A LOT of dogs have dog aggression when on the lead - it is a matter of teaching them that yes, they can go off and play when they are told it is OK, not when they decide.