Why does my dog keep getting attacked?

[foolserrand]

Please forgive my brain dump, but I'm at my wits end.

I have a 17 month old springer x poodle boy. He's intact (but that's changing next week). He's a friendly little thing, always happy to play with any dog.

I've noticed that quite a few dogs seem to 'go' for him*. Often it happens before he gets anywhere near. I'd understand if he was being a bit of an arse (he is perfectly capable but has superb recall and I call him off before he goes too bonkers), but there appears to be no reason for the hostility.

He spends his walks, wagging tail high in the air, is happy to have his bum sniffed first, never growls even in play.... I just don't understand! We hoped getting him clipped would help, but it hasn't.

*When I say go for, I mean the hostile dog/s adopt a focussed, unblinking stare, tail low and stalk him, often with hackles raised. I never had this with my previous dogs.

I can't take much more. It seems there's a new incident at least once a week and today's was particularly upsetting for both dog and myself.

Any advice? I will try absolutely anything at this point!

[foolserrand]

Shit! Apologies for the * fail!

[missbattenburg]

I think there is some theory that intact males trigger aggression in other (mostly neutered) males more often than neutered males do. I cannot remember where I read it, but may be that?

[Whitecovers]

My dog (shar pei) has been attacked 4 times, twice enough to draw blood.

The first time we walked past a man walking his dog, as we did he unravelled his dogs lead and it flew for mine and pierced his cheek.

The second time my friend and I had took both our dogs for a walk on the lead and my friend threw the last bit of her sausage roll on the floor without thinking, both dogs went to grab it and her dog bit mine. (Another pierced cheek)

And the other two times he was on the lead walking when a dog came over and started snapping. One was a Jack Russel, the other a Labrador.

I won't even let another dog go him now, just keep him close and keep walking. I used to wonder if it was because Shar Peis are funny looking. Or maybe some dogs are just unlucky?

[Cantbeatatryer]

Happened with my boy all the time. Completely stopped once i had him neutered.

[foolserrand]

Thanks folks! I really hope neutering him helps. He ran back to the car this morning. Took a short cut through a river and canal. He was freezing and soaked when I found him. That can't be repeated!

Would a bottle full of gravel help to startle the other dog short term (hopefully) or am I being overly optimistic?

[hahahaIdontgetit]

Your unneutered dog is off lead?
How do you call him back when he scents a bitch in heat?

[foolserrand]

I say his name.

He's a late bloomer according to the vet.

[noitsnotteatimeyet]

Before my dog was neutered it was as if he had a big target sign floating over him he’s the least aggressive dog you can imagine but he was getting attacked several times a week, always unprovoked, and I was worried it was going to affect his temperament long term. We ended up getting him neutered at around 11 months, earlier than we’d planned but ok’d by the vet as he’s not a large breed and was fully grown.

The effect was almost immediate - the attacks stopped straight away and it’s not changed his character at all. He’s still a wuss, but he’s not a reactive wuss.... Occasionally we get a dog falling head over heels with him and desperately following him around the park trying to hump him - he doesn’t like this and if the dog is really persistent he will growl but usually I’ll manage to get him to sit with me and we wait for the other dog’s owner to collect them

[foolserrand]

Thanks! Roll on Wednesday then and I'll cross my fingers. I don't even want to walk him today

He's such a sweet little thing, i want to keep him safe. It's always massive dogs who take issue with him too. (This is most definitely not a big dog bashing, we've had large breeds)

[SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon]

Your unneutered dog is off lead?
How do you call him back when he scents a bitch in heat?

Seriously? You're surprised male dogs can be off lead in their natural state?

My entire male adult dog has impeccable recall. I'd also expect the owners of a bitch in heat to take responsibility for that bitch during that limited time, rather than make dogs have their entire life lived cooped up/on lead just in case some irresponsible owner of a bitch, is failing to look after her.

[SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon]

op does he look like a proper spaniel? Or does the poodle make him look more inbetween? I think some dogs find some types of other dog a bit worrying.

[Silverstreaks]

It happens to neutered dogs too. Mine has been attacked and rolled a number of time.

It could be because he looks like a woolly black sheep from a distance when the collies have done it but he's been attacked by Labs too.

Poor boy gets nervy now when they are around and I think it makes him look scared and therefore more likely for them to come in for the attack.

I don't know how to solve it. I keep him close when I think there might be a problem but can't stop a sudden rush from other dogs.

[babyblackbird]

This happened to my dog at about this age. He is probably having a huge testosterone surge due to his age and other dogs are reacting to that.

You will always get some neutered dogs who don't tolerate entire males because they are intimidated by the testosterone. Sadly for my dog he got picked on and attacked so many times during this phase that he is now very wary of unknown dogs and we are working with a behaviourist now to try to improve things. I wish I had chopped them off when it first started because now the vet won't do it because he is so nervous and needs all his testosterone to help him cope.

As for allowing my entire male off lead.......he has come across a bitch in heat who was also being walked off lead and I can tell whichever poster it was that was horrified by this that my dog recalled to me immediately and was put on lead as soon as I suspected the bitch was in season and it was the bitch's owner who could not get control over their dog who proceeded to follow us and shove her arse in my dogs face for a long way whilst I was trying to get away.

[foolserrand]

This is him. Clipped and not. He is very submissive and fluffy, he does look a bit..... prey like?

It doesn't seem to make much difference if the dog is male, intact, neutered or female a few times.

Dp is laughing at me now for packing a bag of supplies to stop other dogs, including my long line for my own until I know he won't bolt again.

[muttmad]

Do the dogs seek him out or does he go up to them? A lot of older dogs have no time for over friendly, bouncy type dogs, the best way to keep him safe is to pop him back on his lead when you see another dog and let him off again once the cost is clear.

[fessmess]

This is interesting. My 15 month poodle cross gets growled and barked at a lot and she's a wuss. I wonder if they sense her hesitancy?

[foolserrand]

Dogs seek him out. He doesn't bounce up as a rule, he's getting rather cautious now. He does get more excitable as he plays with another dog, but simple recall calms him very quickly. I do understand the older dogs problem, but this is dogs of any age.