How to conquer fear of one breed?

[JessieEssex]

We have a nearly three yo JRT cross and she is the most wonderful dog - energetic, friendly, well behaved (most of the time). However, she absolutely petrified of Black Labradors. She sees them coming a mile off and will hide behind my legs and cower, snarling if they get too close. There are a few near where we live and the owners always have them off the lead and they bound up to her (accompanied by that old chestnut 'they're just being friendly' from their owners...) and scare her witless. I presume it stems from an incident when she was a puppy, when she was bounced on by one that appeared round a corner. She's pretty good with all other dogs but this is a blanket hatred. How can I train this out of her? Or am I destined to watch out for black labs for the rest of her life...

IIRC the colour of black Dogs means it's hard for others to see their face properly and thus read body language and intention, therefore many dogs are scared of them.
I think that black labs are the most common block black breed, so people think it's a "black lab" thing, rather than a black dog thing.

I see if a lot with my oldest girl.

fairfax thanks, I'd heard that too but she is fine with other black dogs - there is a jet black labradoodle she sees on walks who she thinks is great!

Does it have a curly coat?

I've noticed this too and wonder in the wavy/longer coat dogs have more light diffused by their coat or somewhere which times down the effect.
Friend has a Papillon which hates my lab but of fine with mutual friend's black cocker.

• something

• which tones down

Yes I hadn't thought of that. So if it is something ingrained in them I guess it's even harder to train out...?

This is very interesting, my staffie cross is highly suspicious of black dogs and it is difficult to get her to relax and be friendly with them. She usually ends up growling at them and trotting away, looking back and glowering. I didn't think of her not being able to read their facial expressions.

I read an article that labs are very in your faceand some dogs react badly to them because they are over friendly my dog hates labs especially black ones.

Following as my JRT X is the exact same - but with Irish Wolfhound. I've always got an eye out for that one dog, and if I see him my dog's lead goes on and we walk in the opposite direction. When we see it on the street... well, let's just say I've dived into everywhere from a nursing home car park to shops to people's front gardens to avoid it.

Sadly I'm not sure it's fixable with mine - the second he sees it he's absolutely beside himself with fear and aggression, with the red mist having so firmly descended that I keep him away from my lower legs, which he has caught before because he's in such a frenzy. No idea what caused the pure hatred of one specific dog breed - it's not size because he's fine with great danes, but he's a rescue with a murky history.

We've been making progress with motorbikes because there's a bit of time between him seeing the motorbike and being over threshold and I can work during that second. I've been using a CARE inspired method (see Reactive Dogs UK Facebook group for the original method) but sadly I just can't see it changing with wolfhounds! However, the fact that yours has a period when she's "just" cowering means I think there's something you could work with.

However, I'm not a dog trainer

IIRC the colour of black Dogs means it's hard for others to see their face properly and thus read body language and intention, therefore many dogs are scared of them.

Heard similar, unfortunately for my friendly on lead black lab it means he gets attacked regularly by these "scared" dogs

OP do you know someone with a black lab who could help you train it out?

Thanks all. avocados she has never gone beyond the growling, never tried to attack or got herself worked up into a frenzy but I do understand that it could go there one day so I'm keen to get her sorted!
Wings sorry that your black lab seems to suffer from the other direction! I don't know anyone personally with a lab that can help us - maybe I'll try and chat to some owners I see when I'm out.

Labs are fairly commonly disliked by other dogs - they’re often bad mannered and overly boisterous in dog social terms and charge up to other dogs very rudely. Their lack of social skills often upset other breeds even if their intentions are good

@Veterinari I don't think it's that labs are bad mannered per se, more that they are extremely popular and attract inexperienced or lazy owners who don't train them properly.
I have three and none of that is tolerated whatsoever.

When my dog was younger he developed a dislike of German shepherds, soon as saw one would start barking growling. We got to know a few of the ones we saw regularly so I exained it to the owner of one the older calm ones and asked if she wouldn't mind waiting five mins. My dog was very unsure/unhappy at first but within a few minutes got a bit nosey, started having a sniff and was fairly quickly saying (cautious) hello. Did that a few times after and he now has no problems with them. Might not work in your situation, my dog was younger, but maybe worth a shot.

Oh yes fairfax I absolutely agree that the lack of training is an issue but that coupled with their naturally boisterous behaviour and exuberant character often makes them a pain for other dogs to deal with because owners perceive them as ‘just being friendly’ and so don’t prioritise proper social training with them.

It's circular though @Veterinari.

Annoys me because it gives the rest of us a bad name. DBoyDog would run over if given a chance but he's not, and if he does I run after him and apologise.

Actually annoys me when people apologise to me because their dog is fed up and has given a warning snap at him - he's the one in the wrong!

Not really - there are many breeds - collies for example, that don’t display that overly boisterous and ‘rude’ greeting behaviour so it’s not just a case of training - there are some breed predispositions to how dogs behave