Benjie's dog problem..

It's a curious one this one..

When out Benjie will lunge, bark, growl, everything for another dog (he is much calmer with me than my OH) But and it's a strange thing for me to try and understand.

Everything I've been told and learn't about dogs meeting is that they should meet on neutral territory and have a walk together before bringing them into one another's place. However with Benjie - this just doesn't work. Last year my friend brought his Boxer x bitch round to ours, OH was out with Benjie (it was before Louie) and then when he got back - Benjie walked straight past this bitch - in his own territory and ignored her, but then 10 minutes later, played with her and was happily existing with her.

Similarly, when Louie and I visited Pilgrim to help with Ludi's socialisation, the OH came to pick me up with Benjie. Pilgrim kindly allowed Benjie in (despite the hair!) and he got on fine with both boys..

Also I can put any type, age, sex of dog in the garden - his territory or the other dogs and Benjie will not react the same as he does outside.

He is fear aggressive and a very nervous dog by nature - but how can it be that he will happily give up his territory and his fear aggression when there but not out.

BTW these dogs when out do nothing to provoke it - they only have to be on the other side of the road walking by - not even looking at him and he will begin to react.

Is this a common thing to happen or did my OH rescue a right 'un from the kennels?

It could be that he feels his home is his place of safety and nothing bad will happen there, but when out in the big, wide and scary world he feels the need to defend himself from others.

Is he relaxed and confident at home or are there things that worry him there?

Well I've tried +R whenever dogs pass him, give him a treat for being quiet and lots of praises - turn him if he grumbles etc..and it has seemed to stop a lot of it - but of course I'm not the only one who walks them so anything I say goes out the window (walk him and Louie separate, take treats out - Louie on a long line, Benjie muzzled etc) Men!

At home - he barks at any little noise - like if I accidently knock the living room door (it swings) he barks. He doesn't like the other dogs going near him - he tolerates Sadie - she'll tell him off if he starts with her.. just a grumble nothing serious from her. If he is laid down in a door way and you need to pass - unlike the other two - he jumps up and runs out of the way..not walk - run. The other two stay laid down If he is on the bed and I move my foot and touch him - he jumps up.

In short - no he's not calm at home at all, part of it is my OH's family just wanted a dog and thought that love is all it needed (they live with his "quirks" and put up with his barking at anything - I can't stand it) and part of it could be the constant torment he gets from the OH's brother - who is autistic.. he has been told not to but it doesn't stop him.

Which makes me question this behaviour more. It doesn't bother me that I can bring in any dog and he'll be fine with it - because then they can go for a walk and come back and exist happily. This weekend we had a BBQ and in total there were 5 other dogs and him - Pilgrim's two who he'd only met once and our other two plus one I was looking after - he'd only met her twice. Then after 8-ish we had 5 puppies round so we had 9 in total and he was fine.

It's odd isn't it..

I think it's strange as Parker who is very sociable with other dogs when out and about, will not be happy about dogs coming into our house. Someone from work brought her Airedale round to use my clippers once as she couldn't get a grooming appointment and I had to put Parker out of the way as even though I introduced them outside he was not happy about this dog coming into the house. He is fine with my Sister's Bichon Frise if she brings that round.

Could it be because he is on a lead when outside but indoors he would be free to take the flight option rather than fight? Just a thought.

We thought it was the lead - so we put a muzzle on him - he is comfortable with it - and let him greet a few dogs - Goldens who are very lovely and submissively friendly with other dogs, but very focused on their handlers (i'm jealous!) - we walked the opposite side of the field with him offlead and we were completely calm about it - what damage could he do with a muzzle on..he ran over and started doing what he did onlead. Luckily the Goldens sat and stayed whilst the owner held him and sat him down whilst we got there. So I don't think it's us or the lead and it definitely isn't other dogs..

It's just odd, it changes every perspective of how dogs meet and how it normally works..

Oh dear know how you feel as we were told Cherry may be reactive because she was on a lead so we let her off muzzled on the heath once. She went off and did exactly what she would have done on-lead and it was someone's small rescue dog who was scared of other dogs

After abject apologies we didn't think to try that again. Fortunately their dog was small so they could pick him up but I guess that wouldn't be wise with a Golden Retriever!

I'm just lucky the Goldens are so beautifully trained, one got attacked by a security dog the other week and is still so good with other dogs including the breed it was attacked by - hasn't changed a thing about him.

We asked permission from the owners to do this first though - I know how scary it can be a dog running up and doing what Benjie does.

When he is out and about is it on lead aggression? Or is he the same if he meets another dog and he is off lead?

Lol I realise you might have just read the first post..

There doesn't even have to be a sight of the other dog - if he catches scent of one nearby he is on full alert and his tail goes up fully and his ears are up and he does this arrogant kind of trot - so he gets called back and put on lead when we see these signs..

Sorry! I did only read the first post as i was in a rush!