Dog aggression

[elvislives2012]

Hi all am after some advice please.
I am co sharing a black cocker spaniel bitch. She is 6 and I have known her from a puppy. She's lovely. She's the best dog ever and is responding really well to being shared. She's well trained. Has good recall and walks beautifully on the lead. However, if she is approached by another dog she will attack them and try to pin them. She will never go out of her way to attack another dog and will ignore them until they come into her space. When we are on walks if I see another dog I put her back on the lead and move away. If another dog approaches I ask the owner to call them off but this doesn't always work as people assume that as she's a cocker she's friendly.
She goes with a dog walker once a week and when she knows the dog she's fine and never attacks-it's just to unknown dogs.
I'm worried she's going to hurt a dog one day and I'm not sure what to do. Anything or nothing? We are thinking of taking her to a behaviourist. We spoke to the vet and they recommended this and that she doesn't need a muzzle yet.
She's always been like this (she's 6) and my friend has trained her so well, we just aren't sure if there's other things I can do.
Thanks a lot

Yes, go to a behaviorist.

With regards to the muzzle, if you think your dog might inflict damage, she needs to wear a muzzle, if only as a temporary fix until the behaviorist can work with her. As someone who vividly remembers the family dog being killed in an attack by two other dogs on a walk when I was a child, it's really, really not worth the risk.

Is there anything I can do in the meantime? She never inflicts damage and is easily called off

Definitely muzzle. You need to let people know that she is aggressive so that they are alerted to give her the wide berth she obviously needs, and you need to prevent her getting her teeth into anyone.

I know that when you say she never inflicts damage that you mean she has not (yet) shed blood, but the sort of aggressive encounter you describe is damaging to the confidence of whoever she tackles and their owners.

Work with a behaviourist.

Also if the dog can be recalled reliably and it doesn't approach or bother other dogs, and the owner can regain control instantly in an incident, why does it need to be muzzled?

I have witnessed a muzzled reactive dog being approached by an off lead dog, it lunged and gave a warning but the other dog that's normally friendly kept coming and a fight ensued. And the reactive dog ended up with puncture wounds as it couldn't defend himself.

If she doesn't hurt the dogs is it actually aggression or inappropriate play?

"Wearing s muzzle so to alert others to give a wide berth!!!!!!"

There are various reasons why dogs are muzzled, just like being on lead.
You don't know why. It's not just aggression.
People let their poorly trained dogs approach on lead dogs so what makes a muzzle any different?

Definitely not play. She's got excellent recall and never seeks out other dogs. It's purely if another dog approaches. I always ask the owners to take their dog away but it doesn't always work.

A lead doesn't say "Don't come near me!" On a city street it's universal and even in a place where most dogs are off-lead, it more often means "I don't have great recall". A muzzle lets people know to stay away and keep their dogs away.

No off lead dog should be allowed to run up to an on lead one. It's basic manners.

Obviously, but you know, dogs pass each other on foot paths ... OPs dog needs more space.

On a footpath I would keep my dog on a short lead.

Watching with interest as my cocker can be similar. Not with all dogs, just occasionally. I think I’m starting to realise it’s mainly puppies. I’m wondering if it’s the puppies’ lack of awareness of personal space IYKWIM? I’m not sure.
She is also much much worse on her lead. If a dog passes her and sniffs her when she’s off lead, most of the time she doesn’t bat an eyelid and is wagging her tail. If she’s on lead, she snaps before they’ve even got close.

She is a rescue though, and wasn’t socialised as a pup.

Personally i'd hold off on the muzzle for the moment; you say the problem is when other dogs come in her space, so she isn't actively attacking anything. Having had experience of my muzzled dog leashed dog being attacked by two off lead i stopped using muzzles unless i was concerned about my dog attacking.

Definitely a behaviourist, it could be all sorts of things including fear aggression.

Thanks for your replies. I'm loathe to muzzle her as she doesn't actively attack other dogs- only those coming near her. She loves her ball and would happily catch and fetch it all day long- if I muzzle her it'll impact on that.
Is there anything I can do to help her on a day to day basis?

With muzzles a dog can still really batter another dog and do damage.
I'd take her to dog training classes where there are other dogs and see how she goes with this.Once shes more relaxed with other dogs and sees them all behaving well etc it might help her.

I think you can get yellow leads and dog coats with the words "I need space' on them.....might be worth considering.

Join Reactive Dogs UK on facebook and read their files on CARE, a method of counter conditioning your dog. At the moment she needs lots of space from other dogs to feel safe, and a yellow bandana/lead slip cover/jacket that says "I need space". They are a fantastic group and will also reccomend a decent local behaviourist that follows the CARE method.

Not keen on yellow lead or harnesses.
If you have a reactive dog then it is your responsibility to give your dog space. The onus is on you and not on other dog walkers.
People allow their "friendly " dogs come up to yours so what makes you think a yellow bit of fabric would make any difference and by the time they can read the writing on the harness your dog is probably over its threshold.

It might mean you're unable to walk at busy times in the park, it means you have to choose time and path carefully so to avoid triggers and zigzagging and be on constant alert.
You have to set your dog for success and you shouldn't be relying on others to provide you space.

Also successful counter conditioning and desensitisation doesn't involve keeping triggers away forever, they need to get closer and slowly over time.

I have a lurcher who is not always good with other dogs. With him it is because he is frightened, it sounds like that could be the case with yours as she is worse on the lead when she can't get away. Mine usually wears a muzzle and I find that people definitely try more to keep their dogs away when he is wearing it than when he isn't. I don't know why you wouldn't put a muzzle on her, she will very quickly get used to it. You can always take it off when you want to play a ball game with her.

• Not keen on yellow lead or harnesses. If you have a reactive dog then it is your responsibility to give your dog space. The onus is on you and not on other dog walkers. People allow their "friendly " dogs come up to yours so what makes you think a yellow bit of fabric would make any difference and by the time they can read the writing on the harness your dog is probably over its threshold.

It might mean you're unable to walk at busy times in the park, it means you have to choose time and path carefully so to avoid triggers and zigzagging and be on constant alert.
You have to set your dog for success and you shouldn't be relying on others to provide you space.

Also successful counter conditioning and desensitisation doesn't involve keeping triggers away forever, they need to get closer and slowly over time *

Sorry, but i think this is rubbish. Even doing all these things does not prevent other people letting their dogs approach mine. She's on a lead and wearing a muzzle, I go to quiet areas and I zig-zag like nobodies business to try and avoid people. I literally cannot do any more unless I stop walking my dog. It is not my responsibility. The onus is on the other dog walker to NOT let their dog approach mine. Not only that but that is the law, a dog should be under control in public. Just because people 'allow' it doesn't mean it's ok. it's not.

OP, I have a dog very similar to yours, she will become aggressive if a dog comes right up to her but will not actively go after a dog. She does wear a muzzle which gives me peace of mind and creates a calmer atmosphere for walking - if I'm less stressed then she's less stressed. Maybe you could play with her ball at home so she gets to do that too. But, yes to a behaviourist and good luck.

Bold fail!

@luna

You can do all those things and still get dogs coming up.
But how are you or anyone going to change the behaviour of those whose dogs are poorly trained and lacking recall? Like I said if they go up to on lead dogs then something yellow is not going to make any difference.

It's not ok that they let their dogs go up to yours but you cannot control that, you can only control what you and your dog do. If it was then we wouldn't be having this conversation and everyone knew the importance of walk manners and observe them.

If my dog needed space then that's my responsibility to provide it. I would not trust others in giving me space.

But the logical conclusion of that is that I don't ever walk my dog because I can't possibly control other people's behaviour. Why should irresponsible people get free pass while the rest of us have to miss out.

I do give my dog space from other dogs. It's not about trusting others to provide it for me but with the best will in the world, however quiet a place is there's always a possibility of meeting other dogs. If someone is approaching me with an off-lead dog and I ask them (very politely) to please make sure their dog doesn't approach mine then yes certainly expect them to do that. That is both their responsibility and the law.