Hi dog peeps, will try to give you a full-ish picture.
Ddog is 18mo, intact per vets advice as v nervous pup. Much more confident now although still a bit skittish with people/new environments. Never been brilliant with other dogs - very full on and boisterous, loves to chase, can be reactive and try to “dominate” more submissive dogs (don’t know how else to describe it: puffs up tall, tries to stand over/mount, has flipped and pinned other dogs on occasion, will growl and scuffle if the other dog reacts/doesn’t back down. P.s. most of this behaviour has happened when offlead dogs have run over to us. Or when we took him to “socialisation” classes on behaviourist’s advice (bad!). I’m not freely allowing him to batter other people’s dogs!). Then with some dogs he is FINE, usually larger, calm, confident males, and his sister. Was the largest of 11pups from not the best start (long story). Don’t know if that matters? He’s 28kg so big enough to worry about. Very high prey/chase drive. No longer trusted to play with any dogs except his sister, as they have similar drive and style.
For all of the above reasons, he has been under strict management from day 1 and really strict management from about 1yo, when his behaviour became less predictable. In hindsight, I definitely gave him too much freedom as a pup, but I was so focussed on building his confidence that I think I was a bit soft. He is now always on a long line around other dogs, which I avoid and reward calm from a distance. I have worked endlessly on recall, focus, obedience, calm, impulse control. We have done dogstrust classes and enlisted the help of a behaviourist. He has made huge, huge progress. Bombproof recall, zero interest in other dogs. Very focussed on me. So much calmer.
So. I recently started to let him off, off, when there are no other dogs around. He has been fab, only yesterday his recall was 100%, he was lying down letting other dogs pass, he even interacted fairly calmly with a couple of dogs he’s known from a pup (on lead).
Today. Let him off his lead to go for a swim. He spotted a couple of dogs I had not seen. He promptly pissed off at breakneck speed. I ran after him, to discover him jumping all over this poor man, with a terrified dog in his arms, desperately trying to get my marauding beast away. Partner shouting at me and obviously scared.
I think my dog had pounced on the other, which is why the man had picked it up, but I didn’t see the initial interaction; there was no growling/yelping from either. Another bigger dog in the mix, thankfully placid. In other words, a recipe for disaster. He would not recall. I could not catch him and he kept harassing this poor dog - not biting or aggressive, just jumping really excitedly (not to excuse that at all, but he’s not trying to hurt the dog … I don’t think). Eventually (probs about 40secs but felt like forever) got hold of him and apologised profusely, many times. Felt so terrible. And so fortunate this was not more serious. And I’m absolutely gutted and embarrassed. It’s really knocked my confidence in him, and in my ability to manage him without a lifetime of dawn-raid walks on constant alert, clutching a sodden, manky long line. Sigh.
What to do? Why is he doing this all of a sudden? Is he forever confined to a long line/no dog interactions? (How) can I improve his dog-dog manners? Should he be muzzled for extra safety?
Feel like we need a decent trainer with some bombproof dogs to practice around but I cannot for the life of me find one. Any suggestions gratefully received. I’m in Cheshire and will travel.