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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Problem behaviour - my dog has started to get aggressive

22 replies

MajesticWhine · 01/04/2015 13:19

She is an 8 year old working cocker spaniel. It has happened a couple of times, when I tied her up outside a shop for a few minutes, and someone approached her. If it's women or children, it's fine. All tail wags and friendly, loves being stroked. She is a very pretty dog, and people often approach her. But recently when approached by a man; she had a snap at them.

I am now obviously worried about taking her anywhere where she has to be tied up, which is a total nuisance, because it means her getting far fewer trips out than she otherwise would. She's always been a little bit nervous, and she occasionally snarls at other dogs she meets if she doesn't like the look of them, especially male dogs who show a great deal of interest. But she's never really caused a problem before, and she has never shown this aggression to humans until very recently. We took great care to socialise her as a puppy, and we did puppy training. What can I do now? Is it a case of getting a muzzle? Can I retrain her to stop doing it?

OP posts:

Lilcamper · 01/04/2015 13:36

Seriously, don't leave your dog tied up outside of a shop. Not only is it not fair on her to have to cope with being approached by strangers who want to invade her personal space but dog theft and general thuggish twattery is on the rise.

Original poster

MajesticWhine · 01/04/2015 14:35

I have tied her up places for 8 years, so whether it is unfair or not, it would be quite a dramatic change for us, and not really workable for me. Not doing so would make it so much more difficult to take her out. It would mean I can't combine fetching milk with a dog walk. It would mean she can't come on the walk to school. (I have to leave her outside school for a minute while I park/fetch DD's scooter). It would mean she can't come to the park at the weekend (or DD can't go to the playground). She would get far less exercise.

OP posts:

Booboostoo · 01/04/2015 14:43

You tie a dog that snaps at people outside a school? Please stop and think about what you are doing. It may bean inconvenience but you need to stop tying her up and find more time to fit in proper walks for her.

JustJanice · 01/04/2015 14:48

Stop tying her up FGS!

What on earth else do you expect people to advise?!

SmartAlecMetalGit · 01/04/2015 14:54

If she's suddenly started expressing discomfort at being approached by only a very specific type of person then I'd be concerned that something has already happened when she's been left tied up to make her wary.

It's worth noting that she doesn't have to actually have to bite someone to be considered "dangerous" under the DDA.

Leaving dogs tied up outside shops even when they're happy to be left is a much bigger risk than I'd ever be happy to take, there's far too much potential for things to go wrong. Leaving a dog tied up that is already iffy with other dogs and has started snapping at people is absolute madness.

Original poster

MajesticWhine · 01/04/2015 16:10

"You tie a dog that snaps at people outside a school? Please stop and think about what you are doing"
Booboostoo, by posting here, stopping and thinking is exactly what I am doing. She has snapped twice in the last few weeks. I have been taking her to school for 8 years. It is not as if I have been thoughtlessly continuing this for several months or years without a care in the world while she savages thousands of innocents.
SmartAlecMetalGit um, similarly, wouldn't "absolute madness" be not bothering to do anything about it, rather than posting on here for advice?
Jeez, thanks all.

OP posts:

Booboostoo · 01/04/2015 16:15

Have you read your own response to the thread? You have a dog that snaps at people when tied up, obviously you have to stop tying her up...in response to which you give a bucket load of silly excuses. There is no magic cure for this problem. Firstly you need to make sure other people are safe, so no tying her up anymore, then you need to work with positive reinforcement and behaviour modification techniques to get her comfortable around men and other triggers, but you cannot rely on tying her up ever again.

Tying a dog up and leaving her is a very risky thing to do. You don't know what people may, purposefully or by accident, do to your dog, being tied up wounds dogs up more than usual and there is a risk she will escape or be stolen. It is very possible that someone interacted with your dog in a way that has made her weary of men. What has happened in the last 8 years is irrelevant, you must stop tying her up now.

Mitzi50 · 01/04/2015 16:24

Obviously leaving her unattended is not wise, but it might be worth taking her to a vet. My old lab began to get very wary if people suddenly patted her on the top of her head; it coincided with her failing sight. Another friend was recently bitten when he tried to pick up his very large but previously docile dog - the dog turned out to be very unwell and after treatment is back to her old gentle self.

Arkkorox · 01/04/2015 16:29

Tbh by leaving her in that situation you are asking for her to bite. If she bites and someone goes to the police she could well end up being pts.

I don't really care if it doesn't work for you. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure your dog is safe. Tied up outside a shop she isn't.

CarbeDiem · 01/04/2015 16:40

I'm no expert but it sounds like someone (possibly a male) has hurt and/or frightened her recently.

I also agree with others to not tie her up. I personally wouldn't forgive myself if someone stole or hurt my dog if I left her tied outside, nor if she bit someone out of fear.

Original poster

MajesticWhine · 01/04/2015 16:59

Look, I get that I can't tie her up. That is why I am posting. I see dogs tied up all the time. I am wondering how people manage to fit a dog into their lifestyle without occasionally leaving them outside a shop. For me, not doing this is going to be a big problem, mostly for her, because she won't get half the exercise she currently gets. That is not a silly excuse. It is a fact, based on her lifestyle. She is integrated into everything we do, trips to the park, walking to school, going on holiday etc.
Thank you Mitzi50, that is a helpful suggestion.

OP posts:

WastedEffort · 01/04/2015 17:23

Muzzle it if you're going to tie it up and he's crotchety with other people.

Booboostoo · 01/04/2015 19:08

I've had dogs pretty much all my adult life so about 18 years now,as many as four dogs at a time, and never had to tie one up outside a shop. It is not a safe or wise thing to do. You need to find the time to give the dog two dedicated walks a day.

Lilcamper · 01/04/2015 21:01

You are setting your dog up to fail by leaving her tied up outside. Just don't do it.

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 06/04/2015 22:06

majestic

I don't have any miracle answers in afraid, but I think this thread has been pretty harsh.

A vet trip and a muzzle sound like good ideas for now.

Fearless91 · 09/04/2015 21:53

Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps one of these times where she's been left tied up, someone has done something to her or something's happened??

Dogs don't act this way for no reason.

I'm sorry but having a dog is a huge responsibility. Yes it may be more inconvientient to stop tying her up but for the love of your animal just stop doing it!!

Walk her when your partner gets home. Get up half hour earlier and walk her then. Walk her AFTER you've taken the kids to school. Walk her on an evening. Two of you go to the shops and 1 person holds onto her while the other goes in the shop. There is always other ways.

I would NEVER tie my dog up anywhere but even more so at a school! All it takes is some kid to come running up to her and spook her resulting in her lashing out.

You know there's an issue, but you don't seem to be willing to resolve it when it means things being more inconvientient.

KatharineClifton · 10/04/2015 13:16

For the school run, perhaps your child could hold the dog while you sort the scooter? There are probably ways around this all with a few adjustments.

Arkkorox · 10/04/2015 15:37

Leave a child incharge of an aggressive dog. Of course!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 10/04/2015 15:42

Why can't your DD fetch or park her own scooter?

KatharineClifton · 10/04/2015 16:16

Sorry, the way I read it was when the dog was left unsupervised and tied up he was aggressive. Of course if the dog is also aggressive when leashed to a member of his family then that wouldn't be a good idea.

Chattymummyhere · 10/04/2015 16:18

I've never tied one of my dogs up they wouldn't like it for a start.

If you must take your dog it needs a muzzle. Vet check for obvious pain etc issues.

Positive reinforcement for good behaviour.

Original poster

MajesticWhine · 10/04/2015 21:33

HeartsTrumpsDiamonds - there are steps to go down and a very heavy metal door with a security code on it. DD has just turned 5. So that's not an option. But I have thought of another way around this problem.

Thanks for the comments, but I have got my head around this now, and I have adjusted my mindset. Obviously we have been a little complacent about tying her up and I will not do this again. Thanks for the helpful comments.

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