Terrier going for other dogs

T

Twinkletoes

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Hello

My border x patterdale is going to be 2 this October. He is randomly attacking other dogs out on our walks. There is no pattern to this - and yes he is neutered (was at 5 months), he sometimes cowers at some dogs, plays with others, or just attacks others.
We got him at 10 weeks, he was a rescue case from CADAR, he hadnt been mistreated but an old lady had brought him and then sadly died, leaving him unfound in a flat for several days.

Re the attacking : Dogs/bitches/spayed/neutered/entire/old/young/no breed pattern, it is completely random. We get him back, and he knows he's been naughty and gets told off.

He is amazing with my horses, children, babies, all people, and in general is very obedient. He isnt keen on working and has a very very loving nature............... apart from the random attacking.
50% of the time he is great with other dogs, submissive if anything.
Nothing has ever retaliated and gone for him, so he always thinks he is boss. He's attacked 2 dobermans and a great dane in the past.
He goes for the dogs neck and face and really does try to bite, he's not just barring his teeth and giving the odd snap in the air, he means it.
He is walked in big open fields, and on our local beaches, and coastal paths. I would pop him on the lead but our time is limited and they get so much more exercise when off the lead, as he plays continually with our other dog. We work full time but he gets 3 walks a day, 2 of which include tearing around after the airkong for an hour each time. They have a varied life, and he is in great health.
When he passes another dog nicely or even plays with one, he is rewarded with a small titbit and knows he has done well.

Any tips of the trade would be gratefully received.

x
 
I havent got any tips Im affraid, but Id be interested in any as my Scottish Terrier is the same. He is very random with who he attacks!
I do think he prefers big dogs though, but then he has gone for some big'ons aswell.
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It really does take the enjoyment out of own such a dog though and I dont always enjoy walking him as there are loads of dogs where I live so we will always meets one or more on a walk.
 
Terriers more than any other breed think they can take on the world
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I assume you mean he attacks both on and off the leash...this means u dont have very good recall...and u should restrict his off leash exercise....esp where other dogs are exercising.
U need to work on his recall with the aid of a long line and treat based rewards,and incorperate some commands.

U could also try treat based rewards whilst he is on a leash and walking passed other dogs.

Take some chopped up pieces of chicken/cheese in very small pieces...only use this for the purpose of this training exercise only.
You must always look ahead and prepare your treat as the dog is approaching.....get his attention with the treat before the dog approaches by holding it in the cup of your hand..allow him to sniff/lick at the treat but dont allow him to take it until the exact time the other dog passes...u could also maybe try introducing a clicker....and give him a command i.e (watch me) he will learn to assosiate the click and command with the treat.
Dont panic and rap his leash arond your hand 500 times
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as he will pick up on this and begin to get up a height before the dog has even approached...but do keep good control of him.

Its very important he only takes the treat at the exact time of passing the dog.

If he tries to pull towards the dog turn him in a circle so he goes around the otside of your leg and hold the treat in front of him as he goes around turning him will block his immediate view of the dog....and by the time you are turned and back to the position you where....the dog will have passed....u may not have to do this if he is greedy enough just to try and get the treat
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For these periods I would walk him alone so he has no distractions and you can concentrate on the training in hand.

If would also be good to try and join a training class to allow him to have contact with various size/breeds of dog and learn some basic heel work and recall.
I just had this exact same problem with a doberman I was boarding and she is great now
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I also reccomended her owner took her to regualr training classes to keep up the socialisation and training we had done with her.. good luck
 
Hi it sounds like your dog is just very insecure around other dogs and hasn't really been socialised with others so isn't sure how to behave around them. The best thing to do is to get him socialising as much as possible so he doesn't feel threatened. We have always had terriers and they do have tendancies to be aggressive to other dogs if they feel insecure or haven't had enough socialising. My mum's last Cairn never went for another dog but did often bare his teeth and growl/snap randomly at some dogs when we went walkies. However he did improve a lot when my mum started walking frequently with other dogs/dog walkers and gradually he learnt not to feel threatened and to enjoy their company.

As I said though terriers do tend to be particularly territorial and dominant (especially males) but it can definately be helped with regular interaction with other dogs.
 
He is well socialised, and other dogs he 'knows' he adores, we've met strange dogs most days for his whole life, and several times a year they go and stay with my aunty who breeds Border Collies and they run with 14 of them and all get along great. When we meet 'new' dogs on or off the lead daily he'll just pick and choose what he dislikes. Sometimes he can go a fortnight without so much as a growl. Taking CALAs helpful advice and going back to clicker training - tiny red leicester squares got him walking to heel and sitting at pavements in no time so I guess maybe there is hope. Thanks for help x
 
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