Dog aggression - help

[MiniMiniMiniBar]

Hi all,
Hope someone might have some advice for me.

I have a 2 year old mini schnauzer boy, had him since he was 11 weeks. He was neutered around 9 months at the advice of the vet as he had an undescended testicle.

He was great initially, didn't cry at all, even on the first night with us, toilet trained in a week, has never chewed anything or eaten anything he's not supposed to (could leave a roast chicken within reach and he wouldn't touch it. He's just not particularly food motivated). Recall not perfect (running after other dogs) but we practiced every day and felt like he was getting there.

He gets a minimum of 3 hours walk a day, 90 mins with a walker with a couple of other dogs. And he's groomed every day and we play games.

Over the last few months he's started to growl, snarl and lunge at other dogs. He's never bitten but it looks and sounds pretty bad and obviously other owners don't like it. His recall has gone to pot too and he's back on the lead unless I can't see any dogs in any direction.

It's not every dog (he has some dog friends he likes to roll around with) but it does happen pretty much every walk (in a v doggy area - so usually meet quite a few other dogs).

I have a water spray to spray at him if he starts growling, or I make him sit, watch me, give him treats and talk to him, or throw a treat to distract him. Sometimes it works, sometimes not as he's not that bothered about food.

It's hard as every other dog is off lead and they all run up and get in my dog's face. And dogs in season are running around off lead sending my dog crazy.

I also wonder about him in general as when I invite him onto the couch for a belly scratch he'll only sit with me for a minute before slinking off. He'd rather just be on his own.

Does anyone have any tips for handling the aggression?

My schauzer is not interested in food when he's out either. His recall is rubbish too and he'll only come back when he's bored with whoever he ran over to see. He has never shown any aggression however and loves a cuddle. My mums terrier recently snapped at someone (out of character) and a trip to the vet found 3 blown discs in his spine. He'd been in agony! He also wasn't into being stroked and preferred to be left alone obviously for good reason. Get your dog checked out for any possible health/pain issues first before trying any training/behaviour specialist.

Definitely get a vet check.
I would avoid highly populated areas. Keep him away from dogs that might provoke a reaction. I would stop the water squirting. That just reinforces that bad things happen when he sees other dogs.
Did the dog walker report any incidents?
Focus on the look at me. Use a toy or very high value food. Don't get any closer to dogs than he's comfortable with.

Were both testicles removed just when you say one was undescended? Your boy should not be particularly interested in females in season if both removed. Similar to a rig in horses. You definitely need to speak to your vet because if one testicle was left/couldn't be removed that could explain your problem.

Definitely stop the water spray. All that is going to do is create further fear of other dogs.

Can you walk in areas where there are few dogs or lots of little used paths off the main path that you can divert down, when you see a dog?

The key is to try and prevent a situation where he feels the need to growl or react to another dog, whilst working on the issue. With my brother's dog (I'm walking and working with her to get past fear aggression to other dogs - bro is disabled and can't walk her) I have a very small walking route, that avoids most dogs - it is repetitive but every time we avoid an incident happening it's reinforcing that walks are happy things and she doesn't need to worry about meeting another dog. On those walks we are constantly working on her watch me using her favourite food (cheese). It has meant that on the rare occasion we do meet another dog - I call ahead with "she's dog aggressive", so the other owner knows to keep their dog away, then I focus on getting her looking at me and eating cheese. As we managed to avoid any dogs for a good few weeks before coming across another dog, she reacted far less (as in only whilst the other dog was within a 4ft radius and not as badly - she was clearly torn between reacting or looking at me and getting cheese) - previously she'd have reacted severely from the moment the other dog entered her field of vision, to about 2-4mins after they'd totally left her field of vision. She is better every time we come across another dog and I'm slowly going to build up to going on busier dog walking routes.

Thanks so much for your replies. Sounds like a trip to the vet is definitely in order and I'll put away the water spray (it didn't seem to be making much difference anyway).

BLUEsNewSpringWatch Thanks I am starting to put this in practice and adding more pavement walks. It is SO doggy around here that we always meet a dog but there are less on the pavements. Other walkers can be half the battle. A couple have ticked me off for keeping him on the lead.

Whatsforu Now I've remembered actually it wasn't so much an undescended testicle as one didn't develop at all. They showed us at the time and I took a photo which I found again last night. One normal testicle and one that was like a little red tadpole. The vet said she'd never seen it before. He definitely goes absolutely loopy for in season dogs, crying and howling. He even ran a mile after one (we'd walked on and I took him off lead again deciding he was OK - won't make that mistake again). So I guess I need to do more research here.

Wolfiefan Yes the walker has had some similar incidents but he's walked with a couple of other dogs, one he absolutely adores, she seems to keep his mind off any other dogs.

Fatjilly Thank you and hope your mum's terrier is better now!

My neutered boy was recently very interested in a bitch just off season to the point where he started trying to hump her, something he'd never done before, so I don't agree that neutered dogs shouldn't show interest in bitches in season. That may be an age thing - mine is also 2. Presumably older dogs settle down a bit... I hope...

You say he's not fussed about food, have you tried really high value treats like cooked chicken, cheese, sausages etc? My boy (a lurcher, but equally not too fussed about regular treats) need the high value stuff when learning new things or breaking bad habits.

Keep up the positive distraction technique. Also try walking away from other dogs if he gets reactive - this will reassure him that he will not be made to stay in what he feels is a stressful situation.

Yes, I used to walk around with a little box of cocktail sausages, have tried tubes of primula cheese, little fish etc. He goes mad for these things in the house but it's always a different story outside when there's dog and things to sniff! I will keep trying.