I have a mini poodle who is two.
He just seems to do something that annoys other dogs. But I've no idea what!
When he was about one some over enthusiastic labs ran over together and jumped all over him. They were out of control and while they didn't go for him they were very dominating. He was on his back, tail between his legs etc.
After that he was very wary of bigger dogs. He would just freeze when he saw one , standing so still until the dog passed him and then leg it, tail between his legs and looking over his shoulder until completely out of sight.
Over the year he's had quite a few bigger dogs jump all over him. He never approaches them. He's never snapped at a dog or growled. He's incredibly passive and will roll over immediately or stick his tail between his legs and try to escape. This has been in a number of situations, sometimes with his lead on, sometimes with it off.
In the last couple of months though three dogs have actively attacked him. Once a couple of labs (different ones) went for him while he was on a lead. My dh had to pick him up. Even then the dogs were lunging at him.
Next he walked by a group of 3 or 4 dogs his size who were all milling around each other very calmly while their owners chatted. My dog clearly felt more comfortable than usual so he approached one with his tail wagging (he was walking, not running or being excited) and the dog immediately snarled and went for him. He didn't know whether to submit, or run so he tried both and I had to pull the other dog away.
Today I had just put him on his lead as we were heading out of the woods when a dog came towards us slowly and calmly, wagging its tail. It was off lead. It annoys me that people allow their dogs to approach a dog on a lead but I didn't want to call to the owner to get his dog as everything seemed so calm and waggy.
The dog came over and my dog stood still but they sniffed and then suddenly the bugger dog went for mine. Completely out of the blue (to my eye). I had to again get involved. The owner apologised and said 'he doesn't usually do that' (which makes me think the dog had done stuff like that before maybe).
I just don't understand why my dog keeps annoying other dogs so much! He's such a lovely boy! I wonder whether he now emits nervous-ness and that's what makes the other dogs behave that way?
Am I missing something? Is there some really subtle body language he's getting wrong?
Not sure what to do to be honest. I try to be calm and assume the off lead dog is ok and leave mine off lead. And I know dogs feel more relaxed off lead with another dog because they can escape. But he never runs away. He just lies there yelling and crying. It's awful. Poor little guy was so spooked today.