What are we doing wrong

What are we doing wrong? My dog Gus, is a quiet gentle dogwalks to heel, on the odd occasion, is madly in love with our cat, but seems to have a dual personality. When he meets any other dogs 9 times out of ten he will get vey angry and start shouting a lot almost as though he is protecting us from a imagined threat. This can be slightly embarrasing, as when you take him out for a walk and you see a dog that he doesn't get on with which is most of them, it means either walking the other way or going home till the coast is clear. Can any one help with this, or offer any advice as to how we can over come this problem, please.

Would suspect that your dog is scared of strange dogs. Can you let us know if he was properly socialised when a pup, what sort of breeding establishment he came from and what age he is.

Please bear in mind that it is difficult to give advice without seeing the situation but with a little more information we may be able to give general advice.

i had the same problem with my dog but after advice about what i was doing from Shadow Boxer he is great now hopefully she will see this post and help

Hi Thordel
I forgot to add that he was a recue dog from the local RSPCA and he was apprx. nine months when he came to us, and things seemed to go alright at first but quickley declined to the situation now where even taking him down to the river for an off the lead run is filled with risks. He is about five years old now.

Seems as if he has no idea how to deal with other dogs, is he castrated, I would imagine so. Think that the best way would be to take him to a dog club/training school where there are people who understand the situation and will help you without you feeling that you are to blame. Easy said I know but if you ring around I think you will get an idea of the one that will help you. Have you contacted the RSPCA, they should be prepared to offer you help and suggest groups you could attend.

As I said before it is not easy to give advice on line as you need to see the dogs reaction to other dogs to decide how to deal with the matter, I am a bit too cowardly to offer defined methods to try in case I am wrong and make matters worse and would urge you to seek advice from those who can see the dogs reaction and progress.

Sorry not a lot of help but would say preserver a dogs behaviour can be improved no matter what age but you do need to be able to see the problem.

This is the thread to which Doggy Mad referred: http://www.dogweb.co.uk/talkdogs/hel...xer_11544.html

(I'm pleased that you found it helpful DM. It is nice to get feedback )