Being aggressive when approached off lead

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

Ok, I think I need to work out what's going on here and how to sort it. Jasper is never aggressive on lead. But when off lead, and chasing his ball, he can be very grumpy to other dogs that try to join in. So, other dog approaches to have a sniff or whatever, and he ignores them and moves away. But if the dog persists, or starts chasing the ball, he will turn around and jump at their face with a lot of noise and mouthing. He hasn't bitten or injured another dog, but it's a very clear 'Fuck off'. He's now a year old, and seems less tolerant of puppies than older dogs. But yesterday he took on a rottweiler and I had visions of having to rescue him from down its throat. Luckily, the rottie was a friendly girl who snorted at him in disgust and pissed on his ball in retaliation. Today, a collie puppy approached, started barking at him (I assume he wanted to play?) and Jasper lunged at his neck and the pup submitted. I was mortified and apologised profusely. The owner was fine about it, but I'm beginning to think this is a growing problem and I need to do something. I've googled, and there's a lot of pack stuff about leadership etc that I don't really understand. Any advice? He is ball obsessed, and I'm reluctant to give up the ball because he gets so much exercise and joy out of it.

Sorry I can't give advice (my dog is most definitely a lover not a fighter and regularly gets mugged by other dogs for his ball :( I wish he'd stand up for himself a little bit because his ball is his most favourite thing in the whole world!) but your rottie story made me

I hope someone can help!

Thanks, Panda :) Jasper is my first dog, so I'm not sure what I need to worry about and what I don't tbh. But it isn't nice when a friendly owner and dog wanders over for a chat and my errant hound is playing Billy Big Bollocks and embarassing me.

I have the same problem with my Springer Spaniel - he started when he was about 2 1/2 with dog on dog aggression. It is more handbags at 5 paces and he never actually hurts the other dog but from the reaction of some owners you would think he had ripped their throats out.

Ruins holidays on the beach. Spoils many walks. If I see another dog I recall him and put him on the lead.

No advice as it is one of the hardest things to cure (so I have been told). Don't know with my boy if it is fear or aggression.

Sorry not to be more help.

Gah, see, I have been trying not to put him on the lead when I see other dogs in case that reinforces his idea that they're something to worry about. But I might well have that wrong. If the other dog just wanders past, so does Jasper. He only reacts if they stick around a bit. And he's always waggy and happy to have a hello sniff on the lead. In fact, often when he jumps and reacts his tail is wagging. Not sure if that's relevent.

What is he like with other dogs if he has not got his ball?

Hmm. That's hard for me to answer because he, er, always has it off lead. It's a sure fire recall aid, so I'm reluctant to lose it. Do you think he's guarding his precccccciooouuuussssss?

Hate to say this but it was having his ball stolen by another dog that first set off my spaniel's aggression. But now he can be aggressive whether or not he has his ball.

What breed is he.

My spaniel is my first dog too. I think I am probaby a crap owner. A dog trainer did tell me that I was my dog's bitch and he was protecting me.

Nice.

If he is guarding it (which would be my first idea but not seeing him in action I could be totally off!) then teach him the two ball game.

Obviously the best thing would be to try not to let the situation happen but that is sometimes hard to do. If he knows the two ball game it should help.

Teach him in the garden to chase one ball and then before he reaches it throw another ball and you fun like crazy to the second ball. Basically if you can get his interest onto a second ball if a dog approaches the original ball you can sidetrack with the second ball. You can then resend him to fetch the original ball once the dog has gone.

This will take away the importance from the original ball and may in itself stop the guarding response.

It will at first I expect be really quite hard to get him to like the two ball game but usually it works a treat.

I would be interested to see what he is like with other dogs without the ball. Could you keep the ball in you pocket and let him just wander (If you feel it is safe to do so) then for recall you could produce the ball to still get him back and only throw it once he has returned to you.

Will Jasper recall for any type of food treat? If there's something that he really likes I'd maybe try carrying some of that with you and recalling him to you when another dog appears, asking him for a sit/down or "look at me" and talking to him in a calm, upbeat voice to keep everything positive, giving him the treat, let him say hello have a sniff and then lots of praise/fuss and another treat if he remembers his manners. I've heard that some dogs can be very funny about their balls so perhaps it's a kind of resource issue?

He is 3/4 cocker, 1/4 springer. Springer in looks and character, but cocker in size.

That's interesting, herbert. I think he'd pretty much ignore other dogs like he does now, but I don't know how he'd react if approached when there was no ball in play. He was attacked on lead when he was just 13 weeks old, but I did work hard to socialise him with other dogs after that. Since we moved 3 months ago, he has had less regular dog interaction, and when he does meet dogs they tend to always be 'new' iyswim. He's an excitable dog, so getting him to be calm even during training sessions can be challenging

I think pack theory is considered to be a bit outdated now. I wonder if he feels anxious when approached? I think a vocal "Fuck off" when he is approached is OK to be fair, if he is the one being approached but the problem with that is some dogs will react to that, my bastard jack russel would :( Maybe try a training class so that he can be socialised in a controlled environgment and will feel less threatened when other dogs approached as to be fair, i think if i see a dog off a lead approach my dog i am happy it is an ok dog as responsible owners with not ok dogs will have them on the lead. I dont think your dog is a not ok dog as he doesn't approach and attack btw.

I definately agree with not putting him on a lead when a dog approaches as he will pick up on your anxiety.

An excitable spaniel. Really?

Exit

That is is ball. He will protect it at all costs. When our dog was like this we got this advice from a dog trainer.

The ball is yours. Not his. You give him the ball at playtime and you take it away after. He should never be alone with the ball. This will stop him feeling he has to guard it.

This does come into the leader of the pack stuff that you mentioned. Its the dominance theory. You need to be the leader of the pack.

Never leave mine alone with his ball - he shreds them.

at Exit. Yeah, who'd a thunk it, eh?

That's the thing, doggiemumma. I don't want to leave him off lead if he's going to be a threat. So far, we've had a couple of posturing type incidents, but no dog has been hurt. He's all gob and bluster. It's hard to know what to do, because running off lead is something he needs and he isn't approaching other dogs. He also isn't aggressive in passing. So, if a pooch ambles past and has a quick sniff, he reciprocates and all is well. It's only if the other dog continues trying to engage with him or runs after his ball. Then he gets a bit 'RAAAAAH!'. Another dog walker said maybe he was guarding me, but I don't think so. He doesn't seem bothered if I fuss the other dog or not. It's only when the other dog interferes with his ball game that he spits the dummy.

Oh, he is never left with the ball. The ball is only ever out on walks, and is removed as soon as he's back on lead. But I did wonder if that was part of the problem? That because he only has it sometimes it's become more precious, iyswim?

Drop any dominance theory idea your dog has years ago! You can Own the ball if you like but Jasper will really not give a toss. I agree to keep the ball as a "special" toy to keep it more exciting. Jasper really does not care if you "need to be the leader of the pack".

He just wants to play ball.

Could you maybe just drop the ball game for a bit? my dogs are boring and don't really do fetch and they still love to run around like loons off lead

I think I'll try it, doggie. We've been working on 'Watch me' today and a few other simple tricks that he loves doing, so on tomorrow's walk I'll take a pocketful of cheese and see if that improves things. I don't want him to be 'that' dog that everyone else avoids :(

I think it is being leader of your pack, but in the nicest, I will take care of all of us way.

My girl dog is fine, she is not aggressive at all and pup is just a little boy. But big boy likes to posture with other dogs. A little posturing is fine, as dogs need to interact in their own way. If it gets too much, DH or I tell him sternly 'enough, back now' and that is it. Big dog comes back to him, looking sheepish.

I think none of these are isolated issues, iyswim. It is an overall training and consistently letting the dog know its boundaries and that you are the decision-maker, not him. It makes them secure and more relaxed, at least in our case.

We reward and correct with no drama either way. Dogs are happy and content, as they know that they have clear, consistent boundaries.

Just walked him without the ball and we came across an elderly lab. Jasper was much more friendly, but got over excited wanting to play and the old boy had a grumble at him. Jasper took heed, and they had a happy ten minutes pootling around the long grass. I feel much better knowing that he can socialise nicely. I think I need to walk him more without the ball, and then try and find a way of keeping him close. Because he can and does recall without the ball, but he's so damn fast that he's over the field and in the lake before I get off the footpath. He has no great desire to stay close to me without the ball. If he hears me, he comes hurtling back, but unless I then lead him he's off again like a rocket.

I should say, foods which make him delirious with joy in the house hold no value to him once we're outside. So food rewards do not help. Even cheese.

Brilliant - that will be easier to solve if it is just his ball.

Could you try a ball on a rope for recall so he sees the ball and plays with it with you but does not need to chase it constantly. Recall, ball game, released to go play and ball back in your pocket.