Why do most dogs go for my dog?!

[labradorcuddles]

It really upsets me. Most of the time it can be amusing seeing a little dog on a lead yapping away trying to launch at my beautiful black lab, but today a big dog launched at her and bit her on the neck.

It's really bothered me and to be honest i don't want it to make me feel paranoid about every dog but it's getting to the point where I'm wondering why?

She's a lovely soft dog and wouldn't hurt a fly. She doesn't get in other dogs faces, just plods along by my side minding her own business.

My dog is more reactive towards black dogs that others mine however isn't allowed to get that close so the owners are clearly idiots I've been told that dogs with fully black faces have expressions which are much harder for other dogs to read and that's why they react.

I've heard the same as Wombat. Also dogs with squishy faces like mine for the same reason

My dog has a squishy face. I do not!

Your poor dog. I'm so sorry. I've also heard about other dogs not being able to read their expression.
I wonder if somehow dogs are misreading her behaviour. You say she's plodding along minding her own business but dog behaviour is really complicated. Maybe she's unknowingly giving off not so friendly signals. Or does she look like another local dog that's not friendly. Case of mistaken identity?

My dog was bullied by a teen black lab... so anything playful, bigger than her, dark is a potential threat

Tbh if the "offensive" dog is calm and ignores her it's fine. When she's off lead I have to have eyes like a hawk to keep her anxiety in check.

Is she spayed?

That's interesting to know about dogs not being able to read black dogs faces. At least I have a bit of an answer there.

Actually 2 people locally have said their dog had been chased by a big black dog so now they are wary so that makes sense to me too.

Yes she's spayed. She's 11 so a real plodder and not into playing at all.

My dogs don't like black dogs and I've read about the facial expressions theory. It's so unfair!

Oh this always happens to us too! Wow. Had no idea.

We have a 14 month black Labrador and have experienced the same issues.

He is soft as butter, very submissive and non threatening but time after time a dogs have approached him- taken a look and gone for him.

On several occasions this has involved teeth.

the dogs trust told us that as others have said, it can be tricky for other dogs to read the expression on a dogs face if it is black. However, dogs ready much more than each other's faces and they said that most dogs approach each other slightly side on, whereas labs naturally app

.... ooops pressed post too soon sorry....

...whereas labs tend to approach head on which many dogs find intimidating.

We've also been told that the fact that our dog is unneutered makes other dogs react aggressively towards him due to the pheromones he gives off.

In addition much as I love my boy, labs can have a reputation for being overly boisterous and maybe other dogs are prejudiced towards them if that is their experience of labradors.

I do not let my dog greet any others except where their owners agree, but even then many normally friendly dogs go for him.

He goes out walking with a pack twice a week and these are his mates who are friendly towards him so it's not all bad I guess.

Our boy is being neutered this week as sadly his recent overly charged sexual behaviour is causing us issues.... He's generally the lovely Dog described above but increasingly commonly he is obsessively interested in other dogs and people and so sadly we can't hold off any longer.

This was not the driving factor to get him neutered but I am hoping that as a bonus it might reduce the hatred that other dogs display towards him sometimes. It's very scary as an owner (never mind a dog) when another dog attacks yours. I'm worried he may get seriously hurt, bite back or develop fearful behaviour.

Last week a GSD slipped its lead, sniffed my boy and attacked him drawing blood. Other owner was justified and mortified. My dog was still on the lead and was in a play bow position?

Sorry OP, I'm rambling on your thread. I do sympathise, it's a tricky position to be in....

Mines attracts all the wrong type of attention too.
Very flighty.
I'm sure the sudden movements stir some very basic instincts in other dogs.
She's got a rather large scar on her side as a result.

We have a racist dog too. He just hates black dogs. He has to be on the lead all the time anyway as he's a monster and has terrible recall, but if he sees a black lab he lunges and barks.

(He is an absolutely tiny terrier, so hasn't managed to do any damage and the other dog usually looks confused at the stupid rat-dog)

Wow. Really interesting theory about the black face. We have a black cocker. He has recently turned 2 and we have noticed that previously pleasant encounters are sometimes now turning into a snapping contest with no obvious provocation. This is usually when both dogs are on lead, street-walking, and they approach each other face to face for a sniff. It never happens with dogs he knows...especially with another (female) black cocker who he has known since his first walk and who is identical to him.

My previous boy who died in January was black. First black dog I had ever had and he was always being snapped at or gone for. He was properly attacked twice in the five years we had him. It was horrible because he was the most placid loving gentle dog ever. He didn't retaliate either time he was attacked. Cleverly, our new boy is also black...I wonder about my lack of brains sometimes