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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

9 month old puppy showed aggression to another dog this morning

36 replies

drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 17:49

We have a (almost) nine month old Weimaraner puppy.
This morning while on our walk we met another pup we'd met before.
As we approached he showed his normal behaviour but when they met my pup literally showed his teeth and quite aggressively approached the dog.
Luckily we were on a part of our walk that they were both on a lead.
I was mortified. We've never seen any aggression signs from our dog.
We have noticed that he's been humping his favourite teddy much more recently so are wondering if this is a 'normal' profession as he matures or something we should worry about.
My mind is veering between thinking that maybe he just didn't like this dog or the other dog showed some cues I'd missed, or wether it's our dog starting true adolescence.
Obviously we won't be getting him nurtured until his a good deal older, but if he's going to repeat this reaction it'll be a struggle.
I guess I'm hoping someone might convince me it was a complete one off.
He's literally never shown any aggression before so it's very out of character

OP posts:
Snowpatrolling · 10/10/2023 17:51

Why can he be neutered now? Can have them done from 6 months. Between 6 and 12 months is optimal age

Throwawayme · 10/10/2023 17:53

Why obviously re not having him neutered? He's old enough at 9 months

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 17:53

Should add that fortunately the owner of other dog was really understanding, I was not.
My dog definitely knew I wasn't happy because he walked to heel perfectly for the next part of the walk, looking up at me periodically with sad eyes 😞

OP posts:
Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 17:55

All the advice for his breed is to wait as long as possible.
Our vet said he wouldn't consider neutering a dog of his size and breed until 14 moths at the youngest.

OP posts:
margotrose · 10/10/2023 17:56

Are you certain it was genuine aggression? Lead reactivity, lead frustration and fear can all look very much like aggression to the untrained eye.

What do you mean when you say your dog knew you weren't happy? Did you tell him off or something? Please don't.

Fiddlerdragon · 10/10/2023 17:56

Snowpatrolling · 10/10/2023 17:51

Why can he be neutered now? Can have them done from 6 months. Between 6 and 12 months is optimal age

People get really funny on mn about having dogs neutered before around 2yo for some reason. My vet always tells me the optimal time to get a male neutered is 9 months, they’ll all have their own options though. Funnily enough my dog was 9 months when came home a bit growly and humping everything in sight (including the children) after I had to put him in boarding kennels for a few days. I got him neutered and he never did either ever again

margotrose · 10/10/2023 17:58

Snowpatrolling · 10/10/2023 17:51

Why can he be neutered now? Can have them done from 6 months. Between 6 and 12 months is optimal age

He's too young to be neutered as he's not yet fully grown and his joints won't have finished developing. Large breeds shouldn't be neutered until they're two, if they're neutered at all.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 17:58

Absolutely didn't tell him off, I walked away still in a bit of shock.
I have no idea why he reacted like he did.
We had numerous encounters afterward when he didn't react like that.

OP posts:
margotrose · 10/10/2023 17:59

Fiddlerdragon · 10/10/2023 17:56

People get really funny on mn about having dogs neutered before around 2yo for some reason. My vet always tells me the optimal time to get a male neutered is 9 months, they’ll all have their own options though. Funnily enough my dog was 9 months when came home a bit growly and humping everything in sight (including the children) after I had to put him in boarding kennels for a few days. I got him neutered and he never did either ever again

Show quote history

It's not MN being "funny" about it - there are multiple studies showing that early neutering isn't recommended for many breeds, especially if they're showing signs of fear and/or aggression.

autumnpumpkinlattes · 10/10/2023 17:59

Maybe he just didn't like this particular dog?

margotrose · 10/10/2023 18:00

drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 17:58

Absolutely didn't tell him off, I walked away still in a bit of shock.
I have no idea why he reacted like he did.
We had numerous encounters afterward when he didn't react like that.

It could be anything - the other dogs' body language, fear, frustration at being on his lead. If this is a one-off and it's never happened before I would try not to worry too much.

fufulina · 10/10/2023 18:00

Our dog got really humpy about 9-10 months. If we’d had him neutered we’d put the fact that it passed down to that. It was just that he grew up. The advice on neutering has changed and if you have even a whiff of a fearful dog, neutering is likely to increase aggression.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 18:01

Thank you Margotrose for what you have said about neutering.
That's the advice we're following.

OP posts:
margotrose · 10/10/2023 18:04

drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 18:01

Thank you Margotrose for what you have said about neutering.
That's the advice we're following.

No problem!

Honestly, I know it's worrying when they show behaviour like this but unless it starts happening regularly I would really try not to fret about it.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 18:06

Thank you !
It's so easy to lose a bit of confidence after a 'bad' walk.
Luckily the good walks are getting more than the bad as his training really seems to be becoming more ingrained.
Never thought a dog could make you question yourself so much, don't remember second guessing myself this much when DC were young!!

OP posts:
margotrose · 10/10/2023 18:10

Dogs have off days just like us! There will be days they feel less social or less "in the mood" to greet other dogs and that's okay. It doesn't necessarily have to be the start of a major problem, though it's probably worth keeping a note of it just in case it happens again.

Personally speaking, I don't allow on-lead greetings unless it's a dog we know incredibly well, as there's too much risk for it to go wrong - I prefer to distract (with food or a toy) while we pass other dogs to prevent any leash reactivity or frustration from building.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/10/2023 18:16

That's the thing, I do usually either make him sit and wait while other dogs pass.
But this morning the early sun was shining and we'd met this dog before.
We always praise him when he passes other dogs/people/cyclists etc paying no attention.
It's likely a just 'dropped the ball' this morning.
DH is out with him this evening and tomorrow is another day!

OP posts:
margotrose · 10/10/2023 18:17

Exactly! Nobody is perfect all the time and we all have days where we forget things or get distracted. Nobody was hurt and I imagine your dog has already forgotten so try not to worry :)

Alloveragain3 · 10/10/2023 18:20

Neutering isn't a blanket solution for aggression.
In fact, when anxiety related, neutering can make it much worse.

Recent studies have shown that neutering larger breeds early can be detrimental to their development and may make them more prone to certain joint disease and cancers

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full

ringoutsolsticebells · 10/10/2023 18:24

Snowpatrolling · 10/10/2023 17:51

Why can he be neutered now? Can have them done from 6 months. Between 6 and 12 months is optimal age

You are out of date. Large breeds have a longer maturity and bone development time and neutering before 2 is not recommended

CantFindTheBeat · 10/10/2023 19:03

Don't panic, OP.

It can be very much par for the course.
Our lab had a couple of entire males that he took a random dislike to, and a couple did the same to him.

He's still not keen on those particular dogs years later, but he's not aggressive in general at all.

You're doing the right things with body language awareness, distracting and continuing training,

Daveismyhero · 10/10/2023 19:15

Please please ignore anyone that suggests neutering!! Weims are large breeds and shouldn't be neutered until at least 2 years old so allows the joints to mature. Neutering can also make aggression worse if it comes from nervousness. A good trainer will help you to teach your dog to be neutral around other dogs, some dogs aren't social butterflies and that's OK :)

EdithStourton · 10/10/2023 20:06

OP, on-lead greetings are notoriously difficult. Both dogs feel confined and can't express their body language fully.

I've read the big neutering study (Hart et al), and I would not neuter a Weim before age 2 or 3. Not just their joints: they are from a breed group notoriously slow to mature socially and mentally.

PinotPony · 10/10/2023 21:11

Are you sure it was aggression? Or could he just have been hyped on adrenaline?

Humping rarely has anything to do with testosterone. Again, it's an adrenaline reaction. It's excitement. Have a read of this... www.wylanbriar.com/behavioural-information/canine-humping-discussed/

Newpeep · 10/10/2023 22:15

If it’s anxiety neutering will make it far worse, not to mention he’s not even near fully grown.

Lead to lead greetings are to be avoided. There is no value and a lot of frustration. Leads greatly interfere with communication.

He’s an adolescent. It’s pretty common. I don’t allow my dog to meet onlead dogs and if it happens then we do a three second max and encourage on. It’s not something I’d worry about at all. If you are then engage a good reward based trainer with good qualifications and experience and go from there.