My lab has recently become reactive to other dogs who she perceives as a threat. It started a year ago when she was at her dog sitters and the dog sitter told me my lab had gone for another dog. I didn’t get anymore details but she kept them apart and all was ok. She hasn’t been since as the dog sitter retired.
after that we saw it for ourselves a couple of times. She used to be submissive but then it changed and if an unknown dog came bounding into her personal space or barked at her from close by she would aggressively bark back and run at it. No biting etc but did look fierce.
from this, we are extreme vigilant with her on the lead. We move off the path if another dog is passing, we take her to empty fields to throw her a ball. She’s mostly fine with other dogs but if one comes into her space and she feels it’s a threat she panics and goes for it.
the other day I had her on the lead and a lady let her beagle bound into my dogs face. My dog was as close to me as possible but we couldn’t move away and so my dog barked and tried to jump on her dog. She was swearing at me and saying she would call the police which shook me up but I was explaining her dog should have been on the lead and not bounding up to strange dogs. If you haven’t got good recall, keep your dog on a lead.
anyway, at the moment we are distracting her with treats when other dogs are near to keep her focus on us instead of them. She’s really an amazing dog, so loving and gentle with people, especially children. She’s 4 this summer and she’s been spayed when she was 2.
does anyone have any experience of this behaviour and/or advice on how to remedy it? Thanks