Straw poll- Would you address this problem (aggression) or just live with it

[FaintlyBaffled]

DDog3 is a little dream in the house, loves our older two dogs, DCat, DS and us. Out of the house she pulls on her lead when out with the others (she's a Staffie X so not entirely unexpected) but is otherwise perfect with an amazing recall (I mean first time, every time)
EXCEPT... she hates other dogs. Partly due to her background (we're her 4th home) partly bad experiences and (I suspect) partly due to being spayed while in season. We've never had any actual dog on dog aggression because she's always come back when I've called (and I'm exceptionally careful) I'm almost 99% sure it's fear based and we are making very slow and tiny inroads into nicer behaviour, but I'm almost certain that I would never trust her off lead around other dogs.
So my question is, do we try and improve things with the help of a behaviourist or trot along happily as we are? DDog3 is only 3 so potentially a long life ahead of her, a life which would be hugely easier if she would just be a bit nicer. OTOH she's perfectly under control (and indeed would never need to be on a lead if there were no other dogs about) and we live rurally so there's no need for us to walk in a busy park or field.
I'm just not sure whether the time and expense of a behaviourist would actually yield the magical results that would allow me to trust her off lead with other dogs

I would at least give it a go, as you say it would make things easier in general and it would also be better for her if she didn't feel worried by other dogs. You don't necessarily need to aim for getting her playing happily off lead with strange dogs, just being able to be unconcerned by their presence would be an improvement for her and is a pretty realistic goal for many reactive dogs.

I'd definitely have a look for a decent behaviourist either via a referral from your vet or by going through one of these organisations.

How are you working on her issues currently? I've made a lot of progress with my current reactive boy using the CARE Method and there's a very supportive FB group for owners of reactive dog shere which is well worth joining.

For her sake, I'd go to the behaviorist. Bull breeds get far less leeway when things go wrong, and one day there may be a dog that appears unexpectedly from behind a tree / around a corner which you can't avoid

For the sake of other dogs, I'd go to the behaviorist. As a child the family puppy was ripped limb from limb and killed by two dogs in an unprovoked attack. It was more than 20 years ago, I didn't witness it but I still can't go near the breed that did it; I will cross the road to avoid that breed and there's no way in hell I'd let PestDog near one on a walk. I don't think it will ever leave me.

If things go wrong, they can go really wrong. It's not just about whether or not you can plod along, it's about the unexpected and the consequences if things go wrong, even once.

Personally having a dog that dosent like other dogs isn't the end of the world for me. Some dogs just don't like others and as long as your able to keep others safe then I don't really see a huge issue with her not wanting friends. We tried for years to make ours like others but it never happened and we also lived in an area where it wasn't much of an issue.

However I would do lots of work to make her indifferent to them so I think a behaviourist wouldn't be a bad idea.

I do think it's risky letting a dog who dislikes others off lead without a muzzle though, it only takes once for her not to listen and dogs can't be trusted!

We have a rotty that hates other dogs, she is 8 and no sign of her letting up either. I wish I had taken stock and done something about it. The kennels (for hols) won't take her as she shows signs of aggression in their strange environment too. She is muzzled at times and she isn't bothered at all.

Thank you for the input
cornflake at the moment we tell her to "leave it" or "walk on" and praise her when she does (wherever possible we cross the road or walk in the road rather than ask her to pass nearby) This can be very hit and miss, depending on the dog in question (eye contact will send her ballistic) and the level of excitement she's already at. We've had some success with a ThunderShirt and also by using a friends very placid and totally submissive dog as a form of desensitisation.
I never allow her to round corners or go through gates where I can't see clearly, and on regular walks she's in the habit of coming back to me at points where she knows she will be clipped back on so she seems unbothered by it.
As I said, her recall makes her 100% manageable (I suspect now she's found us after three previous homes she's not chancing us disappearing by not coming back!) we even train at a local agility club, though it's far from a relaxing experience for me

Reactive dogs uk as mentioned upthread is a fantastic resource. They will also suggest local behaviourists who use the CARE method. All behaviourists are not the same. I am now trying to undo the harm that a previous "positive trainer/behaviourist"s methods caused to my reactive girl.

I would tackle it.

Not because I wanted to let her off lead eventually but for two other reasons:

• because day to day she must have to see other dogs at some point and right now that is (presumably) quite a stressful event for her, even though you are responsible and have control over her behaviour. It doesn't sit right with me that I don't try and do what I can to make life happy for my dogs and the behavioural treatment may help make this a little bit less of a stressor, even if it doesn't make her trustworthy around other dogs.

• because you cannot predict when life will totally scupper all your best laid plans to avoid conflict. Other people with out of control dogs, an accidental release of the lead, a life event that means someone else may have to help care for her. Anything you can do to minimise the trouble she may get into when that happens would be well worth it, imo. Again, even if she is never totally happy around other dogs and able to mingle, any work you do now with her may just prevent or delay that immediate aggressive reaction in unforeseen circumstances long enough for someone to get the other dog under control (for e.g.) would be worthwhile.