URGENT-I need advice

Hi.

I have 3 dogs. 2 labradors and a westie. My labs are 4 years old and my westie is 3 years old.

I have had my 2 labs since they were 8 weeks old. We got our westie about 10 months ago aged 2. All 3 get on perfectly.

They are very well socialised, from pups. There health is excellent and I have never had any problems.

However, 1 of my labradors has always had an obsession with balls (tennis balls, footballs.etc....) she often finds them on walks or if someone throws one for their dog she always ends up getting hold of it. She doesnt take the ball out of other dogs mouth or anything like that.
I used to take a ball for her but i have stopped because recently she gets very nasty if a dog goes anywhere near her when she has her ball (unless its one of her sisters). Since I stopped taking her ball there was no conflict (obviously as she nothing to argue over).

These last 2 months have been a nightmare. my dog is like a different dog on walks. She goes for dogs when they have their own balls, however today she also went for a dog who didnt have a toy and I honestly couldnt she a reason for her attack!!! this is not my dog!!!

I dont know what to do.

She is 4 years old and never ben like this. Nothing has changed like her food or her routine. Only thing i can think that has change in last 12 months in we got our westie, but they get on like a house on fire so cant see it being that. And it is only these few weeks she has been like this.

She is not ill or in pain and other than doing this randomly she is as bouncy and daft as ever.

I was going to breed from her. But have decided against it. So i have booked her in to be spayed this Thursday.

Can anyone help?

Hi and welcome to Dogsey.
The only advice I feel i can offer is for you to get in touch with a behaviourist who can come and help you and your dogs...and can see what is happening with her. Check out the APBC website to find someone.

In the meantime I would pop her on a harness and lead and don't let her off if there are going to be other dogs around, especially if there are other dogs with balls. Best to stop her doing it until you have a proper behavioural plan in place. If she is being spayed she won't be allowed offlead for a while anyway.

Sorry I can't offer anything more helpful. Hugs though...it must be so hard to see a dog you love doing this x

I have read that unspayed bitches can become quite snappy for no reason. Due to all the hormones etc....So maybe when she is spayed she will calm down. I cant afford a behaviourist to come out im afraid. As I lost my job in May. All i can do is ask my vet, have her spayed and keep her on the lead. Which seems such a shame because she is such a playful dog.

I think she learnt that when other dogs are around you take the ball off her - so she blames other dogs for no toy!
I read somewhere about dogs respecting each others personal space, but when ball is thrown it's a fair game for them.... as in no personal space is invaded. She does not realise that she's done anything wrong.

If she nicks the ball again I'd distract her with a treat or another toy. Don't take toys off her, praise when she brings one to you, pick it up (put in pocket) and give her something else.... then you can pass the ball to the other dogs owner. But you must build up trust with her around other dogs.

hiya. some very good points. however tonight no toys were about, and one minute she was ok and next she randomly attacked a dog walking past.

i was hoping having her spayed would calm her down. but no one has said it might so im unsure now. i suppose it makes sense tho, no hormones for her to deal with.

Does she like her food? Try giving high value treats when you spot another dog and before she goes into the 'zone' and if she ignores praise.
She probably now associates all strange dogs with her missing out on something.
I honestly don't think it's the hormones, sounds more like an anxiety towards other dogs, otherwise you'd have the same thing happening at home.

I can normally read the signs from my dogs, including reading my dog when she starts getting stressed. However today one second she was just playing with a dog and lunged at one walking past. There was no warning signs, no toys, no possiveness. She seemed relaxedd. She nearly always gets a treat for recall, she nearly always gets a treat for dropping her ball (and will drop her ball for a treat as she is food orientated). But like i said todays attacked was unprovoked. We dont take toys off her when dogs are around. What we do now is dont take one out at all. If she does find one I either keep her on the lead or take it off her as soon as she gets it (normally there is no other dogs around).

So now as there have been a few attacks in 2 weeks we are talked about by the 'clique' of the walkers. Its not nice. And not nice to see my dog change like this when we are doing nothing different to what we have done in all her 4 years.

you mention running and chasing quite a lot

is their any quiet structured stimulation?

Hi,

UYou mention that spaying yur bitch may calm her down. Firstly, are you absolutely sure of this? I've never heard of this but I'm not an expet. What I do knwo is that if another dog upsets my bitch, she will react accordingly (depending on her frame of mind at the time) and it has nothing to do with her being spayed. She'd have done the same before she had the operation.

Also, to have her spayed to change her behaviour in this way, IMHO, is wrong. I believe she should be spayed if you are worried about unwanted and/or unplanned pregnancies (and the possible complicatins that can go with that). However, you also mentioned that ayou were intendnign to breed from her. you'd need to have all th erelevant health testing done first to ensure her litter would improve the breed but these tests may or may not show why she's reacting like this. It doesn't necessarily mean though that she doesn't have a sound temperament.

You say she's not ill or in pain. have you had her checked over physically by a vet?

Also, was she on or off lead when she attacked the other dogs?

And what exactly did the attack comprise of? Was there physical damage to the other dogs? Was it all noise and nothing else? What did the other dog handlers say or do when your dog attacked?

It may not be the bahviour of your own dog that's setting her off to attack in this way. it could be something abotu the behaviour or certain other dogs that's instigating her reactions. Can you think of anything at all that may trigger her attacks?

Don't worry about the clique of other dog walkers. Leave them to your own devices. You are trying to help your own dog and you've come to the right place for help and advice - although we may not suggest anything you haven't already thought of! If they bother you that much then I'd recommend walking elsewhere. Ideally you shouldn't ahve to, but if you have peace of mind walknig in a different place then surely it's worth the change, no?

You never know, maybe your dog's behaviour could change if you walk in a different place. After all, a dog's behaviour can be influenced by the immediate/surrounding environment as much as the people or other dogs in close proximity.

Good luck and I hope other members can shed more light on your problem than I've been able to.

Laura xx

Hi, I noticed you said you could not afford a behaviourist at the mo. If you don't already take them training try your local dog training club. My local club have a 'dogs with issues' class where they can help you get to grips with what may be causing your dogs behaviour. They are only a few pounds per session and you will receive a lot of support from people with similar problems who understand what you are going through!

I have similar problems with my dog and through advice and help from this forum (members actually meeting up with me to assist me in working out Molly's triggers, particular thanks to Laura ) we are working on her problems and as I am getting a better understanding life is getting more pleasant!

As Laura says dont worry about the dog clique let them get on with it.

Good luck

Ali xx