Issues when you've had a dog from a pup? Anyone else?

I took Shiloh to meet a friend's dog the other week. During the meeting, he felt cornered when the dog was harassing him (friend's dog is a very BIG puppy) and let the dog know in no uncertain terms, which he does and always has and usually dog backs off and everyone is happy. But this dog didn't, it floored him and he was on his back with his tail curled round while this dog was still attacking him. I grabbed the dog by the scruff and handed it back to friend but it seems to have had a very negative effect on Shiloh.

He hasn't really met many other dogs since due to walking in a different place but got into a fight the same way on a walk today, twice. Both involved dogs were unstable and both have previously attacked other dogs (often pups) so I know it wasn't all Shiloh but he's so defensive now and that's what's caused it. One of the dogs' owners didn't even bother to help me out when I was trying to split up this fight, and the other dog was a very big labrador

I feel so gutted about this. I had to walk Shiloh away, distract him with lots of nice treats and sit him up and he seemed much happier once all dogs were under control and he was distracted with nice treats. I got back to the car though and just burst into tears.

I've had Shiloh from 7 weeks old and I guess I think things like this happen to troubled dogs from troubled backgrounds, I feel so distraught that Shiloh is so fearful of other dogs. He was even very nervy and snappy around pups he's known for months and always played with. He just couldn't relax.

Has anyone else had any serious behaviour problems with dogs they've had from pups?

I can't help but feel this is my fault entirely. He showed me all the signs of being a dog who wasn't entirely confident around other dogs, but I didn't see it, and now it's reached this point and I just feel absolutely awful about it.

I keep crying, and feel like a right fool too. I just feel like I've let him down so badly.

Please don't feel bad.

I have a 12 week old lab and he had an experience with a Boxer.

When we meet Boxers now he is very nervous. It was not the Boxers fault he just was not controlled by his owner.

I too was very upset as it was our first time to the park together......once we went again and met some friendly dogs it is all good........have not seen another boxer in a few days but stick with the plan and if it looks like trouble pop him on the lead and walk the other way.................

I'm so sorry your poor Shiloh had such a bad experience, well looks like 3 in total Quite honestly, I think it's the way of the world at the moment, imo, there's far too many unruly dogs out there, and even though you think a puppy is quite safe, sometimes it isn't. In fact, I met up with a little 14 week old cocker the other morning, and I witnessed it being bitten by two gorgeous bouncy flatcoats, which Zena had been ok with only minutes earlier, so I really don't know why one of them took offence to this innocent little puppy.

We got chatting, and I asked her if she'd like her puppy to be introduced to two very gentle giants, especially my older dog, and she said it might do the baby some good after having just been bitten, but you could see it was somewhat terrified of my big oldie, even though he's the gentlest dog around, he adores babies, I knew it would be ok, and we did it all very slowly and it worked, the puppy seemed to bounce back and forgot the incident.

There's nothing you could have done any different, there's nothing to blame yourself for, I've been telling myself that for months now, after my very sociable youngster kept getting lunged at and attacked by unruly dogs coming over to us. I had to put in a lot of work, keep her onlead for ALL dogs approaching us, yank her off them if they went for her, even though I would think to myself, why the heck have I got to pull MY dog off another dog who has it's teeth in her neck!!!! Anyhoo, I'm now of the opinion, that my dog is a dog that a lot of other dogs don't particularly like, so I keep her away from them, unless they are her age or under, coz then I know she is safe, because these have never posed a threat to her, only the older dogs, but I can't put my finger on the "why", and maybe your Shiloh is the same, just something that other dogs take a dislike to, who knows

You've now got to let him know that not all dogs are going to be like this, so I suggest you find a friend with a very friendly dog and go out walking together just to get his confidence back coz he'll need it.

Just like you, I did it all properly, I did the puppy training classes, I did the socialisation, I did it all, and yet here I am 20 months down the line, thankfully she hasn't turned aggressive on me (YET!!!) and all because people can't keep their dogs to themselves, they let them run riot, they have no recall to get them back if there's trouble, and most of the time, just like you experienced with that lab, they don't seem to even CARE do they I had a choccie lab attack mine and the woman had the neck to side step her own dog to run back up into the woods out of the way, leaving ME to deal with her dog who was snarling and lungeing at mine whilst I had put her onlead!!!

It's getting worse out there, don't know why, but if I were you, I'd be very careful who you let Shiloh mix with until he's well over this........ until the next time of course, which will always happen I'm afraid (it has here )

Don't beat yourself up like I did, it's not your fault, and I know they say, it's best to let the dogs sort it out, what I want to know is, why is there so much aggression out there in the first place!!!!

have you got friends with nice dogs you can walk with to get his confidence back? Dogs are happier in groups.
These things happen. But it`s our job to help the dog learn to cope with them. You may need to work on recall and put him on lead when you see dogs you don`t know. Unfortunately, as Helena says, there are a lot of silly people out there.

Just because you have had a dog since it was a pup doesn't mean to say it won't have issues .
It also doesn't mean you are to blame or have done anything wrong .
Sometimes it just happens .
I have had loads of dogs from pups , some were fine and some had issues which had to be worked through .

Agree with the above, I had dogs all my life and most have been from puppies, and lucky all have had no real issues .

Millie on the other hand opened my eyes to what can happen,

Had her from 8 wks old, brought her up as I have done with all other dogs, she is the only one that has aggression issues.
Not point in blaming yourself, sometimes its down to breeding, environment or a lack of insight in the owner, it could be a combination of all three, one or the other.

He may well of inherited one or both of her parents temperament, if one was of a nervous disposition , it may have been passed on to Shiloh, and you have not picked up the signs or seen them as particularly important.

The thing is now, you know, you have to act, forget about the whys and whats, you can start from today.

You know he has a nervous disposition, you know he may act aggressively if he feels cornered/worried by other dogs.

So from now on, dont allow him off the lead unless you knwo the other dogs he is meeting are OK, dont put him in positions where he is going to react, find some friendly dogs to walk with to give him good experiences, and find a good trainer to help you with his issues.

At best you may be able to work him through his issues , with you being more aware of the triggers, at worst, you may simply have to manage his behaviour and be vigilant around other dog.

But dont beat yourself up about it, its what you do now that matters!

Good luck, BTW, the tears, been there , done that too

Agree with all the rest. Protect him when he needs to be protected---take a water or similar spray with you when you walk just in case one comes to you and you can't help any other way.

Try not to get shouty at other dogs ---he may think you are frightened and worried as well---which you are but you have to try and hide!

See if you can find someone with a confident steadty dog to walk with--not always possible.

Do lots of training stuff with him---it always helps both handler and dog IME.

Blaming the owner for everything is daft---things happen, some dogs react differently to others, like humans. Not your fault.

Good luck

rune

Yep, I also agree with the others.

With the best will in the world, & having a load of experience & knowledge about dogs, things can & do still go wrong ~ no blame & nobody's fault, these things just happen.

Some of the most experienced owners I know, who've worked successfully with rescue dogs with severe behavioural issues for years, have taken on a puppy that has turned out to be fearful, sensitive, noisy, boisterous etc etc. There's no guarantees, you can only do your best ~ same with children no doubt!

The only difference is that experience & knowledge helps you recognise potential problems more quickly & try to alleviate the problems or at least know how to avoid or deal with them.

One of the many things I've learned from friends & acquaintances is the location of very quiet dog walking places

Thanks guys for all your support and advice. I guess I was just so upset and sure it must be something I've done (or haven't done) which has made my boy feel like this.

He has an excellent recall no matter the distraction so I know I can always get him back immediately, and I will do this in future whenever I see other dogs which I am not sure about.

We're just starting clicker training with Shiloh and so far it is going well. I hope that this (plus the one to one attention it gives on a regular basis) will help to increase his confidence.

I took him out last night before bed and a gentleman stopped his car and got out and approached to ask for directions. Shiloh did a lot of showy barking and growling, so I tried my best to distract him with some treats and a command. It failed miserably as Shiloh had no interest whatsoever in not seeing off the 'scary man' so I had to walk him up and down while Kev gave the bloke his directions.

I'm a bit torn because I know he relies on the other dogs for confidence, but I want to 'wean him off them' if you like.

Think short and often outings on his own might be the way to go.

I feel less emotional about it today but more annoyed about the situation round here in dog walking parks. Think I'm going to be spending more and more money on fuel to travel further and further to quiet walks.

Agree with everyone, don't feel bad. One of my old spaniels used to be attacked by one particular dog, it would run from across the park and have a real go, even shoved it with my foot once just to try get it off. Am sure you'll find a way to build confidence, good luck