Stroppy Dog - advice needed please!

[ELM89]

Hi, would really appreciate any advice that people might have on a problem that I have with my dog. She’s a 4 year old Old English Sheepdog (the Dulux dog!), who is very much a ‘people person’ and loves everyone that she meets. She’s been extremely well socialised with a wide range of other dogs since we got her as a pup, along with horses, cats, sheep, etc .

She gets walked off-lead for 2 and a half hours every day, but she has become increasingly aggressive towards other dogs that she doesn’t know when they approach her to play. I don’t believe she has a truly nasty side to her, but she has begun to pounce ON, growl at and sometimes even nip other dogs threateningly which I find unacceptable and also embarrassing. As I say, she will never approach a dog and do this, it’s only when an unknown dog runs at her and she doesn’t have time to sniff them and suss them out. She has a group of ‘friends’ that she knew as a puppy that she plays with quite happily and I never have any problems if they run up to her unannounced. Same goes for other animals and people - never, ever aggressive.

I’m absolutely stuck on what to do about this … I appreciate nobody may be able to help and that I might have to go to a professional who can see her behaviour in action but I thought I’d try here first as you lot are usually very helpful! Any suggestions welcome, thank you.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would maybe take her to a training class, a good one where she would be allowed to run around with dogs in a sterile environment and not slam-dunking those owned by complete strangers so that if she is a bit iffy, you are in a more controlled area with a fresh pair of eyes to show you when and where to step in.

My fella would be something similar, he needs to be introduced to dogs properly or he can be a bit of an arse.

Might she have had a bad experience, so she is 'getting in there first' so to speak?

To be honest I wouldn't completely freak out, she is body-slamming (that's a typical GSD trait, I sympathise ), nipping and growling at dogs that are invading her space.

How is her recall? FI, if you saw a dog you weren't sure about and recalled her, would she come back or stand there and wait for them to approach?

As long as you can get it sorted at this stage and she isn't half-killing them, you should be fine

 

[ELM89]

Thanks for replying. Yes she had a bad experience as a pup where she was attacked quite badly by a terrier for no apparent reason so I think you’re right in that she likes to ‘get in there first’ now. Her recall is very good but once she sees them running at her she tends to lock on and gets selective hearing…!

Will definitely take your advice and look into training classes. We haven’t taken her since she was a puppy so I reckon she would probably benefit from some more now. Thanks for your help.

 

[CorvusCorax]

No worries, it's quite common for dogs to become pro-active rather than reactive once they've been attacked.

In the meantime I would get her to do a bit of focusing on you, maybe give her half rations for brekkie and tea time and feed her by hand from your pockets on your walks, constantly recalling her and rewarding her with food, something like chicken and cheese, get her focusing on you and coming back to you for Awesome Things - if she works out all good things come from you she might be slightly less inclined to zone out and lock onto other dogs because you are Much More Interesting!

(Sorry if I sound like a broken record, seems like I have been Focus Training on the brain recently pity it didn't help when a hare popped up this evening )

 

[CAYLA]

I agree with CC re training classes, but I also don't think she aggressive as such (which is what u think too) lol she is jsut being defensive of OTT dogs that invade her space, which in some instances is not a bad thing, the opposite of the issues some owners frustraitingly have to deal with of their dog being set upon and being the victim, atleast she can stick up for herself but do understand you are aware she is a big girl and maybe one day she will have less tolerance and maybe do a bit of damage.
I always use a "LEAVE IT" in these situations, and a reprimand for the initial check then a reward for the actual ignoring, the dog will learn to watch for your next move to avoid a reprimand, thus ignoring the dog and then introducing a positive treat they would not usually get in any other instance, but it is a little frustrating when said strange dog is literally pestering her whilst you are working with her, I would then yell at the owners to "get the bloody dog"
Training class would be a good thing, atleast it lets her mingle with some strange dogs and not her usual familiar friends.