Dog suddenly started reacting to other dogs

[Floofydawg]

Looking for some advice on our 4 year old Cavapoo please. He's been well socialized with other dogs from being a puppy and is friendly to other dogs on walks. But he's suddenly started snapping and growling at other dogs when we're in pubs and cafes. Some of these dogs he's known all his life and he's suddenly started growling at them and I don't understand why.

How do we train him out of this behaviour? We started letting him sleep on our bed a few months back and I wonder if the two things are connected ie he's got more protective of us.

Any advice much appreciated.

Firstly stop putting him in a position where he growls and snaps. It’s easy to avoid pubs and cafes.
Then a vet check.

He's just had a vet check, all fine. We want to be able to take him out with us, also we use a dog sitter who has other dogs when we're on holiday. Surely it's trainable.

A sudden and significant change in behaviour warrants a vet visit IMO, you need to get everything checked, especially sight and hearing. If the vet doesn’t find anything then it’s time to work on behaviour, maybe with the guidance of a trainer

Has he had a bad experience with another dog recently?

As it’s a new behaviour I’d suspect pain so talk to the vet again.

You might want to take him with you to these places but he’s not happy.
Has the vet checked for cavalier specific problems?

With a change in behaviour like that I would definitely get a vets check up. I really don’t think the bed sleeping is connected tbh. In the mean time keep him away from situations and animals that he is likely to react to as this will make him very stressed.

Get a vet check up.

Ah I see you’ve had a check up. Still seems very odd for the sudden change tbh. I f the vet is 100% sure nothing is wrong then I would get them to refer you to a behaviourist. Dogs don’t suddenly change personality so something is going on.

Research suggests he's maturing and asserting his need for space.

Yes, vet check was literally a week ago and nothing flagged.

Please don’t take him to places he’s clearly uncomfortable in. It may be what you want but he doesn’t seem to want it and everyone else in the pub / cafe will be cursing you silently.

Generally with reactive dogs the advice is not to put them in situations where they are going to struggle so make sure he has plenty of space.

Also work on his focus on you so when he looks at another dog bring his attention back on you with a treat.

Has he been neutered?

Dogs don’t generally “assert” themselves like this. Please get vet to check for syringomyelia and other cavalier specific things.
It could be resource guarding? You could talk to a behaviourist.
Maturing doesn’t generally mean dogs start behaving like this.

Yes he's been neutered. Ok, we obviously need to leave him at home when we go to the pub.

Or just sit somewhere away from other dogs or outside? My dog can be reactive and this is what we do.

Our dog barks at other dogs when both on a lead. Apparently it’s a defence thing. They feel they can’t protect themselves as they wish as on a lead. So we are on full alert with other dogs. We keep her away or hold onto her collar if another dog comes close. She just barks but some owners think she’s going in for full attack when she’s not.
However we get the odd owner with another dog who brings them to say hello. We warn them she will bark, they carry on, and then they get upset that our dog barked at theirs…..

Has his socialisation to date been allowing him to join a melee of other dogs? There are a number of fabulous people on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/finntheacd?igsh=d2F1MmJsbGh5ZG51 is one, who really dig into dog body language and what they are really saying.

Quite possibly often what looks like a bunch on dogs having a gay old time in the park is anything but.

Perhaps your boy has experienced a series of interactions which actually despite looking friendly, have put him under pressure or in situations he’s not comfortable with.

Brush up on dog on dog etiquette and body language and you’ll be in a better place to advocate for him.

Thanks for the Instagram recommendation.

Just a point to balance things up, we have two dogs in the wider family who he's sees probably once a month and he's fine with those.

The ‘research’ is bullshit. He was fully mature at two. Don’t diagnose your dog via Google. It’ll be telling you he has cancer and two days to live next.

But agree with others, dogs with behavioural issues need a vet check and a proper trainer (vet recommended - not some Facebook or instagram group). Not decent trainer, behaviourist or vet operates via social media diagnosis. Why? Because it doesn’t work. You have to be with the dog in person.

Until it’s resolved he absolutely cannot be out and about in social settings - it’s grossly unfair on other dogs to be snapped at (and can cause them to have behavioural issues) and it’s unfair on the staff of these establishments to deal with complaints (and potentially loss of customers) due to your dog.

My border collie was similar around 2. It’s common in BCs in that they’re aloof and focused on ‘work’. She’s fantastic with people including kids . In the park she can walk past other dogs and very occasionally will say hi (ok bum sniffing!) but if approached will bare her teeth and occasionally snarl. We just keep her away and explain to other owners. It’s just her nature. As I know her I can anticipate it and it rarely gets past the teeth baring .

she loved other dogs as a puppy!

when I was younger the bc we had was like this a bit. Back then the advice was to let a bitch have a litter before spaying, and she was like this before she had a litter. After the litter she was less friendly to other dogs, I always put it down to her realising what other dogs were after!!!! But on hindsight and comparing her with Maggie I think it was as maturity and as I said a border collie trait.

This is my confusion. On walks and out in the open he says hi to pretty much every dog he meets. So I don't think he has a problem with dogs as such.

Clearly the position of being trapped and surrounded by people and other dogs is stressful. On a lead. Surrounded. Risk of being stepped on or bitten. Feeling overwhelmed with no escape.

Yeah I see that now. Thanks

Yes. You don't really know your dog until they are at least 3. I'd even argue older than that with some breeds. As a puppy and even a teenager, your dog might have enjoyed the playful company of other dogs. Now they are older, this is the real them, and they do not enjoy that close proximity.

I've had a dog like that. Again, a rottweiler. It didnt change our expectations for acceptable behaviour while we are around other dogs, but it did mean that we didnt do cafes and pubs and stuff. We didn't want to put him in a stressful situation unnecessarily. That's asking for trouble.

Our current dog is different. He's great outside with other dogs and is good at finding a spot and ignoring them when he wants space while in company. He's great with people, too. He is less comfortable about unfamiliar people and dogs coming into our home though, so we limit that accordingly. He won't attack anyone; he just makes it clear he can't relax when there is too many people he doesnt know.

Vet check requires more than just brief touch over by the vet. You need full bloods and urine test as a minimum.

He may need ears teeth and eyes checked in depth.

If cant find anything a pain trial may be a good place to start

It sounds like he feels unhappy in closed spaces like cafes.

mine got reactive at this age- she had developed arthritis in her hips (Labrador). Shes on medication and much better but I think will always be more wary than she was as a young dog before the arthritis