Hello
I have kept dogs before but all have passed away and I have recently adopted a 4 year old Lab/Golden Retriever cross. She was bred to be a guide dog but was unable to commence her training as she had a mild illness (vaginitis) when she was a pup. For the previous 3 years, she lived with another family who had to give her back to the Guide Dogs Association as they could no longer afford to keep her. She is well trained and I have reinforced her training and developed a very strong bond with her. She is a wonderful dog in every way (but one!) and is my 2 year old daughter's best friend.
I have successfully controlled her urge to swim by teaching her to heel and only go into the water on command. However, when off lead, she will continually break her heel to approach other dogs (this is the only time that she breaks heel) who are being walked on leads and I don't know of a way to stop her from doing this. She takes great pleasure in 'winding up' aggressive dogs who are being walked on the lead, particularly if they bark at her. The ensuing barking from my dog causes quite a scene. She also enjoys bullying small yappy dogs and barks back at them and will chase them whilst nipping at their neck. She is a very good natured dog and up until now she just seems to have been finding some kind of amusement in the 'wind up' and not being aggressive.
More recently however, she seems to have learned that a dog on a lead has a limited ability to harm her and she has become a bit aggressive and a bit of a bully which goes against her very friendly and submissive nature. Maybe it's like humans, weaklings can take advantage and become bullies?
I could take the easy option and walk her whilst playing fetch as this distracts her from all things but I'd love to understand why she's doing this and how I can control it without the distraction of a ball.(Particularly as my daughter can become possessive over the ball!!!!).
Please could you advise me as to how to stem this behaviour.
Many thanks in advance.
I have kept dogs before but all have passed away and I have recently adopted a 4 year old Lab/Golden Retriever cross. She was bred to be a guide dog but was unable to commence her training as she had a mild illness (vaginitis) when she was a pup. For the previous 3 years, she lived with another family who had to give her back to the Guide Dogs Association as they could no longer afford to keep her. She is well trained and I have reinforced her training and developed a very strong bond with her. She is a wonderful dog in every way (but one!) and is my 2 year old daughter's best friend.
I have successfully controlled her urge to swim by teaching her to heel and only go into the water on command. However, when off lead, she will continually break her heel to approach other dogs (this is the only time that she breaks heel) who are being walked on leads and I don't know of a way to stop her from doing this. She takes great pleasure in 'winding up' aggressive dogs who are being walked on the lead, particularly if they bark at her. The ensuing barking from my dog causes quite a scene. She also enjoys bullying small yappy dogs and barks back at them and will chase them whilst nipping at their neck. She is a very good natured dog and up until now she just seems to have been finding some kind of amusement in the 'wind up' and not being aggressive.
More recently however, she seems to have learned that a dog on a lead has a limited ability to harm her and she has become a bit aggressive and a bit of a bully which goes against her very friendly and submissive nature. Maybe it's like humans, weaklings can take advantage and become bullies?
I could take the easy option and walk her whilst playing fetch as this distracts her from all things but I'd love to understand why she's doing this and how I can control it without the distraction of a ball.(Particularly as my daughter can become possessive over the ball!!!!).
Please could you advise me as to how to stem this behaviour.
Many thanks in advance.
