My dog almost attacked another dog.

Debunker

So I was able to get home early today and figured I would walk my dog in the park. We got this new leash to help handle him better, as he'd normally pull you alongside him since he's a big fella. So we get to the park, and as soon as he sees another dog, he goes frantic and tries to remove his collar. It felt like only a split second but his collar loosened and he darted across to the other side and, even though he didn't snap at the dog, still went for him all the same. He's absolutely lovely when it comes to people but for some reason he seems to get all flustered when it comes to other dogs. Which is very weird considering we have 2 other well mannered dogs. I feel awful about it. Even though he has 2 other dogs and there's always someone here for him he doesn't seem to get out enough. My brother said he used to give him walks during the day but now I'm starting to doubt it. Apart from try and get some behavioural therapy for him, I'm not sure what to think.

ISDW

I don't understand what you mean when you say he didn't snap at the other dog, but still went for him. What exactly did he do?

How often do you walk him, and how long for?

Have you ever taken him for any training? It can be beneficial for the dog, and great fun for the owner if you go to the right place.

Debunker

He basically just kind of went at him, with his head going for the other dogs head and they both started growling. My dog was fended off by the other dogs owner's foot. I didn't see either dog open their mouths past a snarl.

I walk him from either 15 minutes to an hour depending on the situation, normally 20 or so minutes at night. Also, no I haven't taken him training, at the most he doesn't bother anyone because he's toilet trained and entertains himself by following people around the house.

Birdnuts

What breed/combo is he/she?? -

ISDW

What sort of dog is he? Sorry, that doesn't sound like anything near the amount of exercise a larger dog would need. If you're taking him out for an hour, then fair enough, but if its only 15 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night, I'd say the dog needs more than that.

Debunker

How much would be the recommended amount? An hour a day? It's a Labrador.

kylith

Debunker wrote: »

How much would be the recommended amount? An hour a day? It's a Labrador.

For a Lab, at least an hour.

SingItOut

Seeing as he's a Labrador he definetly needs an hour of exercise every day, preferably two hours if you can. I have a labrador myself and he goes for nearly two and a half hours almost every day or else we take him to the river for a swim to burn off energy. With the way he is around other dogs you could try him on a halti and introduce him slowly to the dogs he meets? haltis are fantastic as they give you complete control over the dogs head so he can't lunge at another dog, Get the one that attachs to your dogs collar as they are safer. Labradors are so intelligent as i'm sure you've discovered with yours so he will pick it up quickly. Make sure to give him treats when he's done really well with other dogs, food is the way to a Labs heart

teacherspet

Did it maybe cross your mind that he was excited and wanted to play. If he had wanted to bite the other dog he would have !!!!!!!

callmekenneth

my dog is the exact same, he's great in a house/garden environment with other dogs but he goes mental on the lead when he spots one in the park, jumping/pulling/singing/shouting/growling. he's a big boy too so i find the best thing to do is use a good quality extendable lead, have him on the choke or a harness, reel him in when he spots a dog and just keep him under control until they pass. he's not been overtly aggressive but he has snapped at dogs in the past when they've come within range so just take no chances with him

tk123

Possibly he's frustated / wants to play? It sounds like he was possibly hasn't been exercised and therefore socialised enough? When my guy was restricted there for a few months - bloody hell he'd go nuts barking at other dogs because he wanted to talk to them lol!! Most owners thought it was hilarouios because he was play jumping etc like an overgrown puppy! I was having a nervous breakdown though when he did it cos his leg was technically broken! He's allowed off his lead now and will be going back to see his day are buddies next week!

Zapperzy

callmekenneth wrote: »

my dog is the exact same, he's great in a house/garden environment with other dogs but he goes mental on the lead when he spots one in the park, jumping/pulling/singing/shouting/growling. he's a big boy too so i find the best thing to do is use a good quality extendable lead, have him on the choke or a harness, reel him in when he spots a dog and just keep him under control until they pass. he's not been overtly aggressive but he has snapped at dogs in the past when they've come within range so just take no chances with him

Do you use the choke chain or the harness with the extendable?

Cherry Blossom

Zapperzy wrote: »

Do you use the choke chain or the harness with the extendable?

Interested to know this as well - dog with a broken neck or human with a dislocated arm? :eek:

Extendable lead plus big dog equals bad, bad idea!

axle108

Extendable lead with a choke chain. Even worse idea.
If the dog dashes off on the extendable lead he's gonna get one hell of a jerk to his neck when the choke chain kicks in.
The dog can gain a lot of monentum, then the owner pulls on the lead in the opposite direction. The dogs neck pulls back and its rear continues forward , a recipe for disaster.
I dont hide the fact that i have used a choke chain and find it has its uses, for me anyway. But not in this manner.
I think the first thing the op should address is a better fitting collar.

callmekenneth

Zapperzy wrote: »

Do you use the choke chain or the harness with the extendable?

normally the choke as there's no deterrent to stop him jumping around like a mad man when he's on the harness. but he was ill over xmas with a throat infection and since then i've been back to using the harness.

yes the choke and extendable can be a bad combo but not for him. he goes crazy when he sees/hears a trailer being pulled, one passed us one day and i didnt wind him in in time, he shot passed me and when the lead fully extended all my 14+ stone flew through the air to land in a heap, he was fine. the choke really is the only way to fully control him but even at that choking doenst seem to be a problem for him, im just mindful to not let him dart off.

Vince32

+1 on the dog training, it only costs about a tenner a week more or less, and it will help with the dog walking you, instead of you walking the dog, bringing the dog to heel and walking with a slack leash is the most rewarding thing you can do for both you and your dog, good social manners and a little obedience training will go miles toward a happier life for both of you.

20-30 minutes of exercise for the whole day really isn't enough, and if you can't find time to do it yourself, perhaps you can ask one of the neighbours to take it out during the day?

I heartily disagree with any form of collar that can hurt or damage a dog, teaching a dog to come to heel is time consuming, but very worthwhile. There are some exceptions of course but using a corrective collar is something that the handler needs to be trained on also, it's not just a case of put this on and as if by magic the dog is suddenly perfect, unless your willing to be trained on how to use the corrective collar effectively then I would strongly urge you to stop using it, or you can seriously and perhaps permanently injure your dog.

On one of my walks, I met a nice retired man who just recently lost his dog to old age, and he told me he misses the long walks in the park with his dog, and if I was interested he would happily walk mine free of charge 2-3 times a week. I'm sure if you asked around you can find someone to walk your dog during the days, even if you have to pay €10 per hour, it will be of good value.

Latatian

The training sounds like a good idea, and maybe a tighter collar.

Could you introduce him to well-behaved dogs you know, under controlled circumstances, and see how he does?

I would be thinking an hour a day of exercise for an elderly/late-middle-age lab, a bit more for a younger dog.

are you serious

I'm on the phone at the minute so can't post links, would you try a harness or a think collar with a handle?

I think the site is www.fordogtrainers.eu