Dog is nipping other dogs!

[Snappymcsnappy]

Im really concerned it's becoming a habit.
She has always been nervous and can be lip curly as a result since a bad experience when young, recently, in the last 6 months or so she has started nipping.

the first time it happened she was playing with the other dog getting along fine, my dog sat down near the other dogs owner and the other dog went too close to her backend and she nipped her, they carried on playing straight afterwards mind. No hardfeelings or injury.

The second time a dog she knows fairly well and gets on really well with got too close too the pram and she nipped him.
Again, no hard feelings they continued to be friendly.

The third time a big boisterous young male lab bounced over to her and she nipped him, he ran off.

The fourth time we were with my in laws.
Their two dogs do not like my dog at all and snarl if she comes close but they can be walked together - they ignore each other.
One of my in laws got close to the pram again and was nipped.

And today, she approached a group of dogs, actually quite a big thing for my dog who almost never approaches groups, she had a little chase game then went for a wee, other dog went near her back end and got growled at.
My dog then got properly stuck in and sat down next to another owner with all the other dogs in very close proximity.
Dog went near her back end again and got nipped.
The victim dog went to approach her again but I called my dog away so no injuries I suppose, other dog obviously not scared of her and keen to chase again.

But I feel really deeply uncomfortable.
Is this 'normal' doggy corrective behaviour or do I need to invest in a basket muzzle?
I'm really worried she might cause injury one day!

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

I would invest in a basket muzzle to be honest. While she might only deliver a mild nip, some dogs will escalate that instantly and you've suddenly got a full blown fight on your hands, which is unpleasant and potentially dangerous - for your dog, for the other dog, for you when you have to break the fight up.

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

Sadly she needs a muzzle.
She might only be "nipping" but to the other dog it's a bite and they might retaliate.

Is she on the lead when this "nipping" happens?

[Snappymcsnappy]

Yes, I think it's the only reasonable thing to do.
Sad, I was hoping to be told it's normal though deep down I suspected that would not be the case.

No, always loose off lead.
I don't allow her to meet leashed dogs.

[bunnygeek]

As others have said, a muzzle will help avoid any escalation of any nip. She just needs to nip the wrong dog and get seriously hurt herself. Do some reading on how to introduce muzzles positively so she's not even more anxious when wearing one.

Have you had a chat with any dog trainers? You'd need one with experience of anxious doggos like yours, and they should be registered with APDT: www.apdt.co.uk/dog-owners/local-dog-trainers

[Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten]

This is totally normal behaviour BUT it is not acceptable behaviour and does need to solved asap.

Do NOT Really on a muzzle - have you seen the damage a dog can do that wears a muzzle. A dog can break bones with a muzzle "push" so this is not a cure or treatment.

Aggressive/reactive dogs is my profession and for that reason I can not give you advice on how to "cure" this over the internet BUT you do need to control and manage the situation from this point onwards.

At all costs you must avoid any dog interaction with any dogs.- this may mean walking into another area or at a different time.

Your dog needs time to chill out so for the next dew days I may not even walk the dog but do lots of brain games.

The reason your dog has started biting is that the initial lip lifting has not been picked up on by you or the other dogs - your dog has been politely asking for space and as noone has taken any notice - the only way for her to get the space has been to "shout" or nip to get it.

She is having a hard time and in the process giving you and the other dogs a hard time.

She is being put under a lot of pressure in being made to continue to be "friends" with the other dogs after the encounter. It does sound like she is a sweet polite girly but has been forced to up the anti. If this is not picked up on she will increase it even more. So far she is showing great restraint.

You do need to get qualified advice (I can recommend colleagues in your area if you need me to) It will be really ok to deal with BUT it will not get better on its own.

[Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten]

really - rely (grr predictive text!)

[Snappymcsnappy]

Just come back with the muzzle.

I'm so sad.

Thank you Vallahalla for such a helpful informative post.

Re continuing been made to make friends though, I never force interactions, I carry on walking, she chooses to greet the dogs herself.
The dogs she met today were in the middle of the field.

I just feel so sad.
She does have friends, I used to take her to the home boarders, she was due to again at the end of August, she probably can't go again now, I have so many photos of her smiling sitting with strange dogs and sleeping on sofas with strange dogs.

After the initial lip curl she generally used to be fine.
They would give her a bit of space, she would greet normally and all good.
On occasions where they didn't I used to call her away in a happy tone and we would just continue our walk.

I'm just so sad it's come to this.

[Snappymcsnappy]

I know the muzzle can be dangerous also.
One of the dogs who made her like this years ago was muzzled.

She will return immediately if called, never lunged etc so I don't anticipate her causing injury with it on.
If she does start muzzle punching I'll have to think seriously about her future, she wouldn't be happy on lead for the rest of her life.
She lives to run.

[nervousnails]

One of my dogs had this problem. Got a trainer/behaviourist in and it was sorted soon enough. You have to read the signals and also invest time and patience to fix this. Good Luck.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Have you come across the secure dog walking fields that can be hired out? It would give you both a no stress walk off lead www.dogwalkingfields.co.uk/

[Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten]

It is incredibly hard when you first encounter reactivity and aggression but with help this can be dealt with and she can have a fantastic happy live (and so can you) and still have lots of running about.


Control and management is ace and with an outsiders view to help it can make a huge difference to the dog.This can in some cases be all that is required to make life better, the dogs relaxes and emotions calm down.

There are some fantastic strategies that are very powerful and again can really help in this kind of situation

Do not be despondent (although I have been there and do understand why this seems quite hard). There are solutions that can make a huge difference.