re training lab which has become aggressive

[toody]

I intend speaking to vet who is behaviour specialist but she is away until new year wondered if anyone any advise. Our Lab is 7 when she was about 2 she was attacked by a staffy on our local park this happened twice both times she was on lead and couldn't get away. I stopped walking her on park for a while but one evening when walking her around streets met same dog the owner let it off the lead despite me screaming at him not to again my dog was attacked there was no where for me to go to get away I also got bitten. (reported to police etc. but that not the issue here). After this my dog became more aggresive towards other dogs especially new dogs - she had always been social running/playing off the lead on park now I don't let her off as I never know how she will react. She is fine with people and my 3yr grandson but when we go to the park dgs wants to run with her do you think it possible to re train her so not aggressive or do i have to accept that these attacks have changed her personality.

When you take your dog out,, leave the collar loose around it's neck..
So that if it really wants to or in your case needs to get out of it ..it can.
It would be normal for any animal to get aggressive if it is attacked and can not fight back or run away. If another dog does attack your dog, you should let go of the lead because you are stopping your dog from defending itself against the attacker..and like you have found out..you too can get bitten..
It seems to me that this person likes to teach their dog to attack, as it is certain it should be on a lead. I can only hope the police have done something about the attacking dog..If they have not? go to the local dog control people.. All too often staff dogs are goaded by the owner..to be nasty..as they are really a very nice dog.. unless provoked and encouraged to attack others to include dogs and people.. If the police do nothing and the dog control do nothing contact your MP try to take a photo of both the dog and it's walker/owner..
As for your dog..Labs are chewing machines when younger but at the age of yours, it should be well behaved while out walking by this/it's age.. So a loose collar will not cause it to run away..unless being attacked.. But in future if it is attacked..let go of the lead..You might be amazed how well it can fight back.. Not that I would condone dogs fighting but at the moment it seems it is a target that can not fight back to defend itself.

I am sorry but I completely disagree with the comments above.

The last thing you want when out walking in the street is a terrified/agressive dog who can run away... right into the path of oncoming cars.

Yes, by age 7 a lab is usually well behaved so in general will probably not stray far... unless it sees a cat... or a squirrel.... or a scary dog it wishes to run away from...

I sympathise greatly as now my 4 year old lab can be dog agressive on lead sometimes after being attacked several times when on lead due to surgery recovery.

I would sugget you speak to a qualified behaviourist, who uses kind reward based methods (anyone who mentions dominating your dog, run away as fast as you can!)

Very very very common behaviour I am afraid and now the behaviour has set in you will have to work on it. However it can be changed or managed so that your dog is happier in situations with other dogs.

I would either use the look dog technique or BAT. Both work and both are very similar. You also need to make sure your dog is not in situations that you and him can not handle. The less negative incidences he has the better and =the more positive incidences he has will build his confidence. Do not rush him into meeting dogs or expecting to play with dogs you need to make him be happy around dogs and that may mean he ignores them.

BAT Link here also loads of videos on you tube to help with this

Thanks have been talking calmly to her with firm hand on collar which she seems to like when we walk past dogs with a reward if she hasn't reacted aggressively sometimes on park I have sat beside her talking stroking whilst dogs walk past this worked well until a dog came bounding over could feel her tense asked the owner to call her dog but instead she came over to ask what problem was my dog now barking aggressively her dog running round and round. Her solution let my dog loose and let them fight this will "cure her" I despair of some dog owners.