Oscar Acting Aggressive

[Janimal]

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Since getting Kobi, Oscar has become quite protective when we are out and has been a little bit aggressive towards some other dogs - eg a Male Boxer the other day and sometimes other strange dogs we meet. :angry:

Ive noticed its usually when they play with Kobi - he seems to get jealous and protective and I see his heckles go and I just know hes not going to stand for it, so try to calm him down or put him on the leader (wrong or right )

Ive been slightly worried about this, but have tried reassuring him and nothing has really taken place until today that is. (w00t)

Our next door neighbour has a collie cross and hes notorious for barking at anything that moves past the gate (our right of way) and up till today weve walked through next door to get out without any trouble at all. Well tonight OH and I were both returning from our walk and stopped to chat with our neighbour and Rex came out to say Hello - next thing Oscar dives in - really nastilly and they had a fair old scrap - which was quite frightening. I managed to get Oscar into a down - relaxed position but Rex had backed off first.

I know it may not sound much to everyone - but Ive already had a VERY VERY bad experience with my old dog.........what do I do next. Shall I walk through as if nothing has happened and see what will take place or avoid going through the back for a while. Help please anyone - advice.

 

[*Lesley*]

Sorry to hear you've had a bad experience Janis, I think Oscar probably is trying to look after Kobi, maybe he see's him as his, I dont really know what you should do but I'm sure someone will help :thumbsup:

 

[Janimal]

Thanks Lesley, I dont want to over react - but I know Rex dosnt get on with hardly any other dogs and I was quite amazed when I got Oscar and they were ok. :unsure: I hope this is a one off.

 

[Strike Whippets]

If I was you I wouldn't reassure Oscar for feeling this way .......I'd also meet every dog (known to your pack or not) in a happy, carefree matter of fact kind of way (as *we* the owners are leaders of our packs)........You may look daft greeting strange dogs in a happy "hiya" or "hello how are you today" gay voice .......but it'll show Oscar that you feel no threat to your pack, so why sould he ??.........

When a dog feel's threatened, if you put it in the down position then you have lowered it's rank and made him feel more vunerable.......So as Rex backed off first IMO Oscar had already told him he was top dog (well he has Kobi to fend for now in his eye's), by making him go down you may have lowered his position in Rex's mind so be prepared for round 2 .........

My 1 girl is a right cow for keeping other dog's away from her pack :b ......She dominates anything that want's to join in with the pack ......but I bare in mind that in the pack structure an unknown dog running towards a pack is a huge threat, a dominant dog strange or known is a huge danger to any pack and we all know territory is a huge thing for pack animal's ........Dog's body language can often be very subtle, but 99% of the time in a well socilised dog like Oscar there's a reason .......we just have to try and work it out :blink:

 

[Joanna]

Janis, I have exactly the same thing with Archie. He is OK off of the lead, but when we meet other dogs on the leads, he is horrendous. I think it is fear aggression, he is protecting the puppy and has no control whilst on the lead. Off the lead is no problem at all, I am just very cautious now, and keep the lead short as I am never certain when he will react. Not sure what the answer is, but I am always anticipating a reaction

 

[Nicola]

Fred gets like that too. I find saying hello to the strange dog in a really friendly way helps to diffuse the situation too. Doesn't always work, but has improved things. Sometimes distract him with a biscuit too.

Tried clicker training recently, but just succeeded in frightening both dogs with the noise and had to give up pronto. :b

May have to resort to the water pistol trick yet, as recommended by Jan. :- "

 

[bappit]

Think strike whippets gave sound advice with this :thumbsup: Very disconcerting for you, hope you find the solution to calming this soon.

 

[tommy gunn]

Cassie the Boxer used to have no dog aggression at all until we got the Pup. Now she puts herself between Delila (GSD) and any other dogs even ones that used to be her friends. It has been quite a problem as it has stopped Delila from socialising with others which can be a problem with a GSD so we ended up walking separately for a while. Still she is now aggressive when the pack is out and about with strange dogs.

 

[urchin]

I can see why you're worried about this - our last Greyhound was an absolute sweetheart with people - but turned into a snarling biting whirlwind of aggression with any dog he didn't know. We had been taking him to lots of 'socialising' type dog classes to try and get him out of it, but sadly he died before we could see any great improvement

Digit (the whippet!) is a diferent kiddy altogether - he's naturally friendly and outgoing and fine with other dogs - unless he's on the lead - in which case he pulls and barks and yodels and generally goes ballistic - am not sure how much of it is 'real' aggression though - or just desperation to 'get in there'

What I've been doing when he does this, is shorten his lead and pull him close to me. Then he has to stay there having no fun at all until the noise stops. Apart from one firm 'no' at the outset, i then pretty much ignor him. Only when he's quiet do we get to move on. I had been wondering if i ought to put him in the down position - but having read earlier advice i think i'll carry on as i am

gradually, this approach seems to be working - although our very well behaved greyhound Audrey seems a little non-plussed by all the stopping and starting spoiling her walk!

 

[~elizabeth~]

Could it be his age as well? I can't remember exactly how old he is, but he's probably just approaching 'maturity' isn't he?

We had a slight 'blip' of dominant behaviour when ours got to three or so; I put it down to a late onset of 'puberty'. It went away again until now, where it seems there's a problem with testosterone levels and prostate.

 

[Janimal]

Thanks your all the sound advice - Strike Whippets (Hannah) that is very helpful.

yes Elizabeth he has just turned 1 Year old.

I am just learning about the 'pack' thing in dogs really as Ive started a dog class with Kobi (cant handle them both together) but intend to take Oscar too sometime - I wish Id took him sooner now.

The trainer there is very good and helpful if you have any problems. Hannah at the class - if any dogs get aggressive with eath other - he has taught us to get the dog into a relaxed position on the floor to calm them down and show you are over the dog - pack leader as such.

I will ask his advice and see if I followed the procedure correctly.

I came through the back today strangely enough and Rex was lying at neighbours door and he didnt even come out - or bark - which I thought very strange for him. :blink:

Ill have to take it one day at a time and am aiming to give Oscar some training on his own - away from Kobi, so they dont get too dependant on one another.

Its also very reassuring to know other people have problems too thought it is something Im doing wrong :unsure:

Totally forgot to add Oscar was ON the leader and Kobi too, and REX was off running free aswe were in Rex's territory as such - in his part of the garden. When Rex approached Oscar - Oscar made the first move to fight.

 

[Joanna]

It only happens when Archie is on the lead...........He is actually frightened I think, and this manifests itself as aggression. He is far worse with bouncing puppy type dogs who are running fast towards him. As he is on the lead all of the time at the moment due to a dislocated toe, the problem has been quite apparent. I think it may improve as the puppy gets older, but Archie sees himself as pack leader and protecter

 

[Strike Whippets]

The trainer there is very good and helpful if you have any problems. Hannah at the class - if any dogs get aggressive with eath other - he has taught us to get the dog into a relaxed position on the floor to calm them down and show you are over the dog - pack leader as such.

The flat command is brilliant in the dominant dog as it is putting them into the submissive (lower) position as you said ..........and yes Oscar at 1 year is probably feeling his feet and starting to push, so it'll be a great command for him .........but just be careful that this command is used when he's being cocky and pushy .........as this command can make a fear aggressive situation and dog much worse .......(not that I think Oscar is fearful btw ......just probably very hormonal (w00t) ) :luck: :luck:

 

[chelle123]

I have the same problem myself, just got a whippet a few months ago and everything went well with socialising him with my older lab cross but my whippet was involved in an accident a few weeks ago and since then the lab cross tess wont let any1 or any dog near him she has gone overpretective with him even to the extent she went for the postman who she has known for months just cos blue barked at him.

I am at a loss what to do with her

She was mistreated as a pup and was antimen when i got her but has improved till the past few weeks