Hi Emman

This might surprise you but I would do anything to have a dog that growled when he wasn't happy to see another dog. My dog doesn't growl, he skips that bit and often just lunges aggressively when he isn't happy. We rescued him when he was 18 months old so it's possible that he was "told off" for growling or growling just isn't his thing.

Dogs are allowed to growl - it's a very strong signal that he isn't happy with the situation and if he's been attacked then I'm sure you'd agree he is right to feel unhappy in the company of a creature that potentially could attack again.

When he growls distract and treat, call him brightly and cheerfully and change direction, over and over again - lots of praise and treats, make him understand that you aren't going to lead him or leave him in situations that he cannot handle.

Over time he won't feel so unnerved or you might want to come on here and ask for the next step - e.g getting him closer to other dogs.

I know what you mean about not wanting to appear like a bad owner - I have today posted exactly the same thing. I like to think we are responsible for our own dogs - that means keeping them safe in situations that they feel unnerved by. Do look up "BAT" and "LAT" - 2 techniques that I use often in rehabilitating my dog. Neither involve "tellling off" !!

Good luck with him

It's very hard isn't it because you would like to think that someone who worked with dogs would know what they are talking about ....but it's not the case in your situation I'm afraid. Don't give up letting him meet other dogs just because he growled at a couple. A couple of growls doesn't mean he is an aggressive dog...it just means there was something about that particular dog/their behaviour/or the situation that he wasn't happy with. Having a dog communicate thier discomfort doesn't make you a bad owner....it's how you react that is important. Unfortunately lots of people would like dogs to be little people in doggy jackets and like everyone all the time.

My friend who I walk with a lot said at least we know he can stand up for himself and he has not growled since!! We go to quite a few different places to walk so he gets to meet lots of dogs and socialise as its the one thing I wanted to make sure I did with him before he could go out I used to carry him around to different places to get him used to different noises and also why we went to puppy training/party.
Baxter8 I will look into those techniques xx

Catrinsparkles we have a LOT of the doggy jacket even doggy push chair brigade around here!! From what I've seen/read a lot of older dogs like to put puppies in their place and I think mine was having a go at that!!! I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing as he is such a lovely lovely dog

You sound like you are doing really well and doing the right thing..it's so easy to be persuaded into using not great techniques with your dog when your keen to get things right and other people seem more experienced than you. As a rule of thumb, if anyone suggests you need to tell your dog off, use physical correction....or tries to discuss dominance theory with you.......they really don't know what they are talking about! Nod, smile....And back away....and come on here and ask advice!

Thank you Catrinsparkles xx

Hi. Sorry to hear you're having problems. You don't say whether you have had your boy to the vet to rule out any further health issues.

Assuming you have, think back to what happened the last time you walked your boy before he became grumpy. Was this the time he was attacked? Then perhaps he's fearful of new encounters.

If this is the case you might need to rebuild his confidence. Take him to a good training course and work with the trainers there to help him back to being a confident, happy boy.

Neutering him when you haven't worked out what is wrong probably won't resolve the issue and you will probably have to walk him on his lead and he might have to wear an Elizabethan collar which will make new encounters even more difficult.

Good luck.

Hello Naj. I think he was just a bit hormonal those 3 times he hit 10 months old and became a monkey and it links in with his rubbish recall at that time!!I think he was just trying to put puppies in their place. He has not done it again since! Phew!!! As he has always been such a wuss it was a shock as he meets lots of different dogs and we have always socialised him since he first got him. Not booked in for neutering yet as he is only going to be 1 on Sunday!

Hi,

What were the puppy classes like? I ask because some are very badly run and encourage pups to all be off lead and having a free for all - this is in fact really bad and can encourage dogs to be nervous/fearful/aggressive/bullies etc etc.

There are many of these still about unfortunately and it may be that if he attended one of these, he has learnt the wrong thing and is now more confident in expressing it.

Hopefully the classes were good, but if not, this might be the cause of some of your problems.

Alternatively, he may be reaching a Fear Period during a developmental stage, which is due to hormones and changes going on. This has to be handled sensitively obviously and it's best to continue socialisation gently as his pace, using food and toys to make good associations with other dogs - if in doubt, seek out a good reputable behaviourist, and esp. do this if he appears to get worse over the next couple of months...

Good luck,

Wys
xx

My dog is very choosy about who he likes and doesn't like (other dogs, not people, he just ignores them totally). He often gives a warning growl, which most of the time means the other dog will wander off, if they don't and persist in sniffing his butt when he has told them not to he'll turn and snap. This usually does the trick, but also means other dog owners start tutting and sighing.