Anyone else’s dog hate some dogs and ignores or loves others?

[SirChenjins]

And how the hell do you work out which ones they’re liable to go off at so you don’t spend every walk on high alert?!

This morning - 7 dogs of varying mixes/breeds were all his best pals. Yesterday - 1 ploddy lab minding its own business and el diablo was spinning on the end of his lead 🙈

just put on lead if other dogs approaching I suppose….

Ours hates all Alsatians.

likes smaller dogs she might have a chance of bullying

has an absolute full on crush on a particular handsome cockapoo we meet every so often…turns into a simpering harlot.

everything else she ignores.

Sorry, I should have said this is when he’s on-lead. He’s always on-lead when we’re walking round the neighbourhood.

It would be so much easier if I knew it was all ploddy labs, or all black dogs, or all boxers - but no, it’s like a game of will he, won’t he.

Ddog isn't bothered about most dogs, even the ones he "likes" get a quick sniff and then ignored - he prefers owners (or treat givers as he sees them).
However, he can be a bit of an arse with on lead dogs if he isnt so he isn't allowed to approach them.

Yep, can totally relate!
Yesterday another dog came running over and mine seemed happy to see him and wanting to play.... and then suddenly screamed in the other dogs face for no reason 😬
And then happily met/played with the next 5 dogs 🙄

Ours is the same, it’s a pain in the arse, he generally doesn’t like other big black dogs, and loves/ignores little fluffy dogs, but you never know whether he’s decided say a small collie or a spaniel will fall into which category in his furry brain 😩

My dog doesn’t like very large, very hairy dogs like St Bernard’s.

He really really dislikes flat-faced dogs too so pugs, Frenchies and some Boxers have to be avoided. I’m not sure he realises they’re dogs as they don’t have proper snouts.

He has sometimes taken a dislike to Vizslas and Ridgebacks, presumably because they are a lot more athletic than him and he feels inadequate.

He’s an unsociable git really and mostly ignores other dogs, but will occasionally meet one he takes an instant liking to and will play with for ages. He met one such the other day- a small but very dominant female rescue from Morocco and the two of them played very happily for a good 15 mins- proper face-bitey time. She spent a lot of time with her jaw clamped around his neck flab but he seemed to be having a great time 😂

Glad it's not just mine! Just back from our lunchtime walk - met 2 spaniels and a black lab we've never come across before and you'd have thought he'd just met his long lost bezzie mates. We could have met another black lab and all hell would have broken loose as I struggled to control my Tasmanian devil at the end of the lead whilst apologising profusely to the other owner and cursing his name.

Get a dog, they said - it'll be fun, they said.

Yes my dog is generally friendly and likes meeting other dogs but some he just hasn't taken to at all. I think it's quite "bouncy" dogs he doesn't like and very small ones that bark, he gets scared (even though he's much bigger!)

My dog can’t deal with bouncy ones either. He doesn’t get aggressive but just stands very still giving me the side-eye like ‘Mum, what’s happening here? Can we go home now please’.

Our boxer ignores any dog smaller than a terrier, hates rotweilers and is head over heels in love with every black labrador she meets.

Mine is exactly the same. Do you have a greyhound?!

Same with us, our Border Collie hates boxer dogs and black labs seem to hate him. There’s also a male golden retriever who neighbour got at 1 year old, he hates our dog. Also a male Rottweiler, neither like each other. We walk on farm land near our house, because we never know how they are going to be, ours is on a lead if we see another dog. Most small dogs love him and he takes them jumping on him, licking him.

Mine's the same. Unless I know he likes the dog (and its reciprocal), I recall him and put him on lead to walk past, keeping him close at heel with me in between him and the other dog.

I can tell by his body language if he's got an issue with it and either reroute or step off the path to give the other dog and owner more space to pass. Seems to work for us ☺

I do the same re-routing/creating distance/ day ‘leave it’ and try to distract with treats depending on the circumstances but it’s all very will he/won’t he - it would just be nice if I could predict his reaction!

Mine doesn’t like German/Belgian/Swiss shepards, golden retrievers and particularly despises chow chows. She sometimes takes dislikes to flat face dogs if they are noisy breathers. She’s great with all other dogs.

Whilst it seemed my dog was indiscriminate, it actually appears to be unneutered males he has issue with. Especially larger ones. Something about hormones and pheromones. After he has an episode I check back for balls. 🤣

Our dog only likes 'his own kind' so doodles, cockerpoo types, anything else is a gamble so is on a lead at all times 🙄

My Labrador isn't keen on small dogs or over bouncy dogs. She likes other Labrador/retriever types who are old and placid like her. She also likes my friends beagle but they have known each other forever.

Can I just say this thread makes me feel so much better! I always worry my dog is so anti social but it’s so nice hearing other people’s genuine thoughts on their dogs too!

Ditto!! I often feel like a complete failure as a dog owner so it’s nice to hear it’s not just mine!

They can be quite picky.

Our middle aged lab cross totally ignored all other dogs, until one day someone arrived at the park with a duck toller puppy. From that day on she adored this dog, got really excited to see her and would play with her constantly. Very cute. Both long gone but every time I walk through that park I think of them running towards each other with their ears flapping!

oh I am also so glad to read this thread!

One of mine is quite the enforcer and loathes rude young male labs and golden retrievers. She goes about her business in a watchful and slightly menacing way until they come into range, then just stands and waits as they barrel up going, 'Hello! It's me, I'm absolutely great, my name is-' Then, as their face goes into hers, she tells them loudly TFOTTFSOFATFOSM, and chases them a few paces.

I've never known one not immediately back up, submit to her evident superiority and come grovelling back in going, 'Terribly sorry, I didn't know you were so tremendously important, I won't do it again!' Her reaction is very much, 'Cool, all good, off you trot now.'

Most owners are well aware that their full of himself young dog had it coming. The odd one has an attack of the vapours. 'Ooh, she's quite aggressive!'

She's not at all. She's probably just saved your dog from having his head kicked in by another, less tolerant, dog in the future.

It's very difficult to teach a dog not to do something. Much easier to teach it what you do want. Have you tried teaching him to sit when other dogs approach? How is his loose lead walking?

No, sitting is too much for him so I’m working on him disengaging and I’m getting some success with that. The problem is more the inconsistent reaction.