Aggressive behaviour

Hi I have a 5year old Lab and a 2 year old lab, the 2 year old seems to be unpredictable around other dogs.

He was ok off lead at first and only reacted when he was on lead but now it's on/off lead and you never know if he wants to play/sniff or whether it's going to turn nasty. he has never broken skin but furs up and it sounds like he is attacking the other dog, I've tried all sorts and things work for a while but then goes back to square 1.

He is so unpredictable and I feel i'm at a loss

any help would be great

Thanks Sarah

It could be a number of things so I suggest you have a session with an APDT behaviourist to determine what should be done?
In the mean time I suggest walking him on a line and recalling him round other dogs.
A book you might find useful is Fight! by Jean Donaldson.
Many people on here have successfully addressed this sort of behaviour so don`t despair.

Hi thanks, the first behaviourist put him on a choke chain but I wasn't too keen so I found a really good specialist in animal behaviour but she lived too far away but gave good advice over the phone like diet/techniques which seemed to work but now they sadly don't work.

We do use a long line now and sometimes a dog comes over and it's fine and other times it's not it's just unpredictable. Last week he went for our other lab but it does seem like he's all talk as no skin is ever broken.

He's only 2 and it's when he's mainly on lead, off lead he is much better but your always cautious as he has attacked off lead.

Thanks Sarah

Gawd! I don`t know how some `behaviourists` live with themselves. What a pair of......
Yanking a dog about on a choke chain or changing his food will not (as you have discovered) change his attitude to other dogs.
Have a read of that book first. It will help you.
If you say what area you are in, hopefully someone can recommend smeone to help you.

Hi thanks I'm going to give the book a go I live in Cheshire and a typical walk like today was OK then they went for a swim with a golden retriever all fine then GR gets out walks away passing by me with its owners my lab runs up to her and attacks her for no reason he doesn't touch the dog but barks/snaps frantically in the dogs face and it looks really aggressive.

Thanks Sarah

are you certain it is aggression and not ignorant pushy 'play'?

Hi I wouldn't know the difference to be honest but he can go and have a sniff but fur is up and he looks on guard then all of a sudden he is in the dogs face barking/snapping etc its sounds aggressive but he never actually bites. Also he's mainly like this on lead it's only happened a couple of times off lead
( today being one of them times)

It does sound like a dog fight but its always one sided no dog has responded and done it back to him.

Thanks Sarah

at the moment i have 4 adolescent dogs (clients) that play this way, one is a lab as well.

someone needs to see the behaviour

I agree. It could be bullying, rudeness, timidity or simply youthful exuberance.
Any good trainers in the area? (That don`t use choke chains or prescribe low protein diets I mean)

I`d work on his recall, and also play with him when out. If he`s got you and a ball to play with, other dogs are less interesting.

A good reputable behaviourist is what you need, most of whom will belong to either/and/or the:

APBC
COAPE
UKRCB

Some also belong to the APDT but this is one of the many professional organisations for trainers rather than specialising in behaviourists.

A reputable behaviourist will generally only see you via a vet referral.

I see you live in Cheshire, I can personally recommend Cath Phillips in Rochdale if that is not too far.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/site...raining-school

But all of the three organisations listed above have websites where you can find members by region.

Good Luck