Have just got back from a nightmare walk down the park which is, unfortunately, becoming the norm at the moment.
I have a six year old fox red Lab. Gorgeous temperament, likes playing with other dogs, although mainly only interested in retrieving his ball when we take him for a walk.
For the last couple of months, we have noticed that other dogs make a beeline for him and attempt to mount him. They tend to be larger dogs and I did think it was a dominance thing but now I'm wondering if he is giving off some scent which is attracting them. He certainly seems to be a bit aromatic at the moment!
He lets them know that he doesn't like it by snarling at them but they will not leave him alone. I put him on his lead as soon as I see a big dog around in the hope that owners will steer their dogs clear. Today, two ridge backs ran right across the field to him and cornered him whilst on his lead. I had to call over their owner to pull them away from him before it developed into a really nasty fight.
One woman wondered if he was picking up on my nerves and becoming protective but this happens regardless of who takes him for a walk.
What used to be an enjoyable experience is becoming very stressful. He's not getting his full amount of exercise because I have to keep him on his lead so much. What gets me is that he never starts it. He never even notices these dogs most of the time until they try to climb on his back so it's not as if he's making a dominance claim of his own.
I've rung the vet but they're not really sure what could be causing it. They did suggest that, because he has been neutured, he could be giving off a scent but what I can't understand is why this should only start happening in the last three months or so.
Any suggestions would be great. I was a bit shaken up this morning and I don't want my dog to have a reputation as a fighting dog when it's not him that starts it.
Thank you.