other dogs getting very aggressive around my dog-help!

[picnicinthewoods]

My dog is 9 months old and not neutered. We have no intention of neutering until fully grown at the earliest due to his timid nature around people. This is advice from the behaviourist & supported by our vet.

My problem is other male dogs around him. I appreciate puppies can be annoying, bouncy etc & mine has no fear of other dogs whatsoever. As far as he is concerned, every dog is his playmate. He is very submissive & I think this is his saving grace as when another dog has got aggressive around him, he just rolls onto his back/cries/whines.

So recently Ive noticed a change in other dogs behaviour around him. I think he is defo in the teenage dog phase, hes started cocking his leg/marking etc so Im thinking other males must be aware of this and feel threatened? Not sure how it works, but due to two very close calls with other dogs, I am felling very wary.

I now keep him on a lead if I see a dog I don't know, to suss it out before I let him off, but even dogs who have been v playful with him until now have turned on him.

Advice??

[tabulahrasa]

If he's a teenager still behaving like a puppy - dogs will start to behave differently, what's tolerated from puppies just isn't from adult dogs...it's not aggression just telling off a rude teenager.

If he's running up to other dogs and trying to initiate rough play when they don't want to it will annoy them...that's what you need to be working on, greeting dogs calmly and either letting him work out body language or recalling him if he doesn't.

[picnicinthewoods]

ok thanks that's really helpful:)

How do I get him to greet dogs calmly though???

[tabulahrasa]

Use getting to greet the dog as a reward... verbal praise and rewards when he's calm, take him away immediately if he gets bouncy then repeat, lots, lol.

Basically he only gets to get to approach and say hello as long as he's behaving, as soon as he isn't, he's further away from the other dog.

I find you need to ask someone with a dog to practise to start with or they think you're a bit odd when you get to about 6 feet away and suddenly match off in the other direction.

[basildonbond]

We had the same problem with our pup from about 6 months on - he's never been aggressive and doesn't bounce up rudely to other dogs - these were just dogs turning on him for no obvious reason - a couple of times when he was just trotting along beside me on the lead - he was neutered three weeks ago and not only has he stopped humping but he's also stopped being bullied by other dogs

I know you're delaying neutering but would it be worth considering chemical castration in the meantime

[picnicinthewoods]

Ok I will try this:)