Best way to deal with aggressive dogs?

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Other dogs do not seem to like my 10 month old puppy. He can be very jumpy and over excited when he sees other dogs (which we are working on) but even when he is being calm and walking nicely on the lead they still seem to take a dislike to him.

This morning he was walking close to my side on the lead when he got pounced on from behind by two other dogs. He hadn't noticed them and I didn't see them coming at all. He is only little and the other dogs were big. My first instinct was to pick him up as the other dogs were trying to pin him down however this seemed to wind them up more as if I was goading them and dangling him as bait! My dog was also scrambling to get out of my arms and run away so I have a scratch on my arm and a ripped coat! I had DS(3) with me so was also conscious about him and not wanting him to get hurt. The owner caught up eventually and pulled the dogs off. My pup was unhurt apart from a little scratch but he is very, very shaken and is currently trembling on my lap.

What is the best thing to do if this happens again? Should I pick him up? Should I get down to his level and shield him? Anyone with any advice please as it was a horrible experience.

Has he been socialised with other dogs much? I sometimes think doggie ettiquette is as complicated as the school playground mums!

Is it you? are you reacting when you see other dogs? Do you pull him close to you when you see other dogs, tense up on the lead? send him other signals at all? I know this doesn't sound like it will affect the other dogs but it may well have subtle effects on his body language, or not so subtle if he is getting over excited. Do you allow him to say hello? is he off lead much?

Obviously not everyone has their dog under control even if they are aggressive so in that instance, you try and get the dog out of the situation. Do not put yourself between your dog and other dogs - you'll get bitten. Try not to panic - dog fights often look and sound a lot worse than they are its all snarl and teeth 90% of the time and no damage done.

I have a dog aggressive JRT the little bastard he isn't like it with all dogs but he is no longer allowed off the lead. I do let him say hello to other dogs though, i keep the lead slack and just keep a close eye, i can tell if he is going to kick off and i just hoik him up and out of the way. He is worse on the lead and worse if he doesn't get to say hello, he sounds like some sort of devil dog when he is actually very sweet.

I am pretty laid back about dog "fights" my friend was concerned the other day as JRT1 and her springer were having little goes at each other but i just told her to ignore them - they played ok together with the occasional snarl when one tried to get the upper hand but other than that it was fine, I can tell if my dog is being snarky.

I think the key is not to panic - most owners will pretty much step in pretty quick if their dogs start to fight, let them pull the dogs off and don't try and do it yourself as you will get bitten - unless of course there are obvious injuries being inflicted, then you have to weigh up the situation and intervene - but in 30 years and 6 dogs there have never been fight related injuries for them (only had 2 that are fuckers) or opponents.

Thanks for your reply. Not got time to answer fully now as dashing out. Will come back this evening.

At 10 mths old your dog is in his teenage/ high hormone stage. It's quite common at this stage for them to be "told off" by other male dogs.

This happened to my male dog at the same age, he was neutered aged 1yr and the problem ceased.

Hope it all works out