Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

Original poster

Is there anything I can do to stop dogs attacking my dog?

15 replies

elevenswan · 09/08/2017 12:39

Just got back from the park and am massively shaken up because yet again a dog has tried to attack my dog. This is the third time in less than three weeks, this time it was very close to being really bad, I managed to pick my dog up but only after the other dog had flown at mine trying to bite him repeatedly.

My dog was on the lead, the other dog wasn't (surprise surprise), it came over, sniffed, then just went for him. The owner eventually came over and apologised and I just said 'for god's sake keep your dog on a lead' and she did the usual 'oh she's not normally like that' thing.

My dog is the least aggressive dog in the world and never remotely attempts to fight back, he just tries to get away in absolute terror. When other dogs come up to him he goes straight on his back, he never gets in their personal space and he's never so much as growled at another dog let alone started a fight.

I keep him on the lead or on a long line at all times now as his recall isn't good and I need to be able to get him away from other dogs if they come up to him and attack him. He's clearly very scared of most dogs now and I don't know if he's giving off some sort of 'attack me attack me!' vibe?! And never stands up for himself back. I don't know how to manage his doggy interactions as it's happening weekly now and seems only a matter of time before someone's dog does real damage to him.

Apart from keeping him on a lead and trying to avoid off-lead dogs is there anything else I can do? And how can I boost his confidence when other dogs just seem to hate him :(

Thanks x

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 09/08/2017 13:29

Can you walk somewhere else?

Sounds stupid, but I find that some places just attract numpty owners and if I walk somewhere a bit further away than the closest place to me it's much better.

As for positive interactions, you want a controlled environment, either someone you know with a suitable dog, or, an organised walk or training class.

Jenny70 · 09/08/2017 13:52

Positive interactions with friends dogs... how old is your dog? What breed?

As a generalisation, similar breeds seem to get along well - so if you don't know any friendly dogs to play with at house/away from other dogs are there facebook groups for your breed that might help/meet up?

I think some dogs do give off overly passive vibes, but a bit like people I think successful experiences builds confidence - few, short positive interactions, then build. If starting with similar breed, expand to other breeds of varying sizes.

Chickenagain · 09/08/2017 14:22

There are several things you could carry to scare off another dog. The best thing to do though is to not let it get to that situation in the first place. If you see another dog coming, shorten up your lead, stand tall and walk away at 90 % angle so you can still watch him. Prepare to use either the pet corrector (noise spray), a rattley tin or a washing up bottle of water to squirt ( wait till in range). Could you take s walking stick out with you?
What type of dog do you have?

Original poster

elevenswan · 09/08/2017 15:37

Thanks guys, he's a cavalier king charles he's about 16 months old. Weirdly all the recent incidents have happened in totally different places with very different dogs; by the river, in the park, in town and on the beach. With a weimaraner, JRT, lab and today a boxer. We meet a fair few CKCSs and he's sometimes scared of them but has a couple of dog mates that we see often that he likes, including a few springers and a little friendly terrier who he loves. He's been so submissive ever since a tiny puppy, at puppy classes he was on his back the whole time and the leader of the group kept having to make the other dogs have timeouts as he was obviously a bit overwhelmed.

It's funny because he's over the top confident and friendly with humans, thinks everyone wants to be his best friend. I think he's a bit like that with dogs too, he loves it when they are nice to him and play with him but he's giving out the wrong signals! I could definitely take a rattly tin or something on walks. With a quick march off I guess if we don't know the dog..?

OP posts:

babyblackbird · 09/08/2017 16:20

Is he still entire ? I found my lab went through a period where he was picked on every time we went for a walk by other dogs as he was going through a testosterone surge around the adolescent age and other (usually neutered males ) took objection to him. We did come out the other end after a period of time but I still come across the odd dog who doesn't like entire males although sadly mine has started fighting back now having once been like yours

BiteyShark · 09/08/2017 16:47

I was also going to ask if he is still entire as I have read other dogs can view them as a threat (even if they aren't).

When my dog interacts with other dogs I watch them closely. Only a few times have I decided it didn't look good and I got infront of my dog and waved my arms about and shouted shoo to the other dog which was enough for them to go back. A bit risky I know but it worked for me.

hollyisalovelyname · 09/08/2017 16:54

OP That's why I think all dogs should be on a lead.
My dog's always getting aggressive behaviour from other dogs. Mind you, he fights back, but it's not fair.
Plus the owner of a dog off lead doesn't know if the dog has done a poo and needs it picked up.

Original poster

elevenswan · 09/08/2017 17:50

he's been neutered for ages, since he was 6 months old

The Weimaraner it was fairly obvious he was going to go psycho as he had his head lowered and a really scary look on his face but we were on a very narrow path and it was hard to get away, the dog today seemed to be fine was playing nicely with two other dogs but just turned on mine! He's like the sweet gentle kid getting bullied in the playground cos he's an easy target, doesn't help that he's small-ish and very cute. I want to go absolutely ape shit anyone (aka not the dog but the owner) that hurts him tbh.

Drives me bonkers they always seem to be off lead in busy places, if you know your dog has any kind of tendency towards aggression surely you should keep it on a lead or in quiet areas...or if it goes up to another dog then immediately call it back! People are idiots

OP posts:

MarcoPoloCX · 09/08/2017 18:01

One of my dogs doesn't like overly passive dogs.
Sometimes I see an off lead dog and think everything is fine then the other dog stiffens, looks nervous and scared, giving off a bad vibe and looks as though if you come any closer he'll snap at you and that makes my dog wary.

Luckily he only barks back and stays away.

Anewcareerforme · 09/08/2017 18:20

Reading with interest. My old dog has just been badly attacked and like you OP I genuinely thought this was going to go very wrong the dog had my old boy on his back and was tearing at his throat and like you OP the owner gave me all this stuff about "he's never done it before". This is the fourth time in 6 months. On the previous occassion my dog was actually on a lead and the dog who attacked him was on the other side of the road he slipped his collar and ran across the road to attack him, again the owner (who was very embarrassed to say the least) said he'd never done it before.
I wondered if its his age? He's getting old and other dogs see him as weak? But I could be talking crap. His more slightly more timid friend (to a humans eye) has never been attacked.

Ylvamoon · 09/08/2017 21:56

He's been so submissive ever since a tiny puppy, at puppy classes he was on his back the whole time and the leader of the group kept having to make the other dogs have timeouts as he was obviously a bit overwhelmed.
^
There is your clue - he is probably not very confidant (with fear) and may even luck social skills. Some dogs are offended by this...
My advice is to take him back to training class, where he can learn to be more confident around other dogs and practice doggy etiquette.

RandomMess · 09/08/2017 22:11

My dog doesn't like teenage, she is quite a nervous dog ( got picked on by a teenage Labrador in former home) and I think she wants to get in first - all growl and snap with her though!

My point is she can tell they are teenage dogs from a long way off! No idea how...

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 09/08/2017 22:52

There was a thread very like this a while ago only it was a frenchie who was always being attacked. IIRC the consensus was that dogs didn't like the flat face of that type of breed - it made it difficult for dogs to read the body language - maybe it's something similar with your dog?

babyblackbird · 09/08/2017 23:32

Have read the rest of the replies and suddenly felt like perhaps we hadn't been particularly positive or helpful and instead had just told you our negative experiences.

I am by no means an expert, so much so that I am about to consult a behaviourist for my own dogs nervous behaviour around other dogs, but all I do know is that my own attitude of being nervous and scared about the prospect of my dog being attacked has not helped at all. You have to view the other dogs as having the problem and be confident and not let it affect the way you would walk your own dog ( within reason) and believe me I know this is easier said than done. I have spent the last 18 months actively avoiding other dogs on walks and it hasn't helped. I would also urge you to get a behaviourist in now before you have a real problem on your hands, even if it's just to teach your dog how to relax around other rude dogs. I considered doing this 2 years ago and then stuck my head in the sand and now have a dog with more difficult issues to solve.

Good luck op. All this stuff is not at all what I signed up for when I became a dog owner but as a caring dog owner in today's society it seems par for the course sadly.

Anewcareerforme · 10/08/2017 14:04

My old dog doesn't lack confidence around other dogs neither does he have a flat face. So perhaps it is his age, young dogs see him his weak maybe? Although to human eyes (not just to my biased ones) he looks about 5-6. He's 12 this problem has only arisen in the last 18 months.

Flip