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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anyone good at dog psychology?

5 replies

PotNooodle · 02/12/2019 13:21

At the weekend I took my dog to a breed meet with two other dogs. 1st dog was an adult male that my female pup (6 months old) plays with numerous times a week. 2nd dog was a young female (7 months) who my girl has met a handful of times. After a few minutes of playing my girl chased the other girl, took her down and attacked her. (No injuries but she had to be dragged off her). We are seeing trainer tomorrow but from breed experts I have been told that it likely erupted as my girl sees the “pack” as her and adult male. New girl threatened her place in the pack. I thought the alpha pack stuff had been dismissed? Any thoughts on what went wrong?
AIBU/unrealistic to think this can be trained out of her?

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 02/12/2019 13:30

Yers... it is my job...

Alpha/pack stuff is utter bollocks, because dogs don't form packs nor seek to become 'alpha'.

I suspect (and knowing the breed would help) that your possibly adolescent bitch, got a bit over aroused and over the top and is still too young and immature to know how to calm herself, how to back off etc.

When the dogs were playing, did you observe them (any of them) pausing to check everyone is still into the game, taking turns in chasing/being chased, polite body language such as head turns away from the other dogs gaze etc?

Often what we see as play actually isn't, its more 'testing boundaries' and seeing where they stand with the other dog, and in young dogs that are maturing thats normal. It's about learning manners and where boundaries lie, what's ok and what definitely isn't...

Unfortunately not all adult dogs are good at teaching this to young ones, and young ones are unlikely to teach each other much of use at all as they don't yet possess these skills.

Also unfortunatley the sorts of people who tend to arrange breed meets/pack walks, tend to have no idea of dog behaviour and are die hard fans of the pack theory rubbish and so really don't help matters.

I would spend a lot of time walking her just you and her and rewarding her heavily for seeing other dogs and staying with you, so the sight of other dogs is associated with treats, play, being with you.

I would find some sensible friends with dogs of all ages/sizes/breeds that you can WALK with... but not off lead play type walks, I mean walk together but both engaging your own dogs, walk one ahead of the other, switch around, walk parallel, do bits of training on the way... so that your dog experiences being around other dogs in a structured, reinforcing way thats fun but NOT giddy silly play..

And then I would arrange some sessions where there is a mixture of the above and some off lead time with very sensible steady adult dogs who have extremely good dog to dog skills (this is where you may need a trainer but avoid anyone who tells you their dog will 'put yours in its place' or any pack rubbish!) so she can learn polite manners.

Play should be mutual, balanced, consenting.. it should involve each party pausing frequently to check that the other is still 'in the game', pausing to catch breath, pausing to switch roles.

Play that involves one dog chasing the other with no check ins, no pauses, one dog hammering another, one dog always being chased.. that isn't play, and is likely to teach one dog to excell at being a bully and the other to fear other dogs!

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 02/12/2019 13:37

That's really helpful and interesting. I'm glad the pack theory has been debunked. I had a similar issue with one of my dogs (retrievers) when he was a pup, except he was the one who got knocked over and "attacked" though he didn't have any injuries. I have to be honest, despite owning dogs for almost my entire lifetime and having lots of experience dealing with all types of dog behaviour, I completely failed to understand the impact on him. He's now nearly 9 and is wary around other dogs to the point where he goes on the defensive and can appear aggressive.

frostedviolets · 02/12/2019 14:18

I agree with dominance theory in that some dogs have more assertive, overbearing personalities and want to control, much like some people!

But I don't for one minute think what happened here was dominance related.

I suspect that your dog was either over excited/overstimulated and it got out of control or your dog was nervous and uncomfortable and you didn't realise and she just ended up exploding.

No professional experience but the owner of a dog aggressive dog.

PotNooodle · 02/12/2019 16:11

Thanks for the replies. My dog has history of “over excited play” and can only really be trusted with dogs that are bigger and stronger than her ... or little dogs that are not afraid to go back at her. If a little dog snaps at her and warms her she will back off straight away but as soon as she senses submission, she goes daft and wrestles them to the ground and gets bitey. It’s a worry.

OP posts:
frostedviolets · 02/12/2019 16:19

Yeah I wouldn't let this dog socialise anymore based on your latest reply.
Stick to calm walks past others and reward for ignoring.

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