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A question about dogs and aggressiveness with other dogs
Posted on 1/28/16 at 4:48 pm
Posted on 1/28/16 at 4:48 pm
i currently have 2 dogs. Dog 1 is a lab mix. super loyal, obedient, good with strangers and children, and intelligent. Best dog i ever had
Dog 2 is a coon hound. young, dumb, stubborn, but sweet.
they play fight a lot. lots of snarling, teeth bared. then they fall asleep side by side and are BFFs.
Dog 1 has become extremely aggressive whenever he comes across other dogs. there's a large field by our house we take them out to, run, throw balls, and chase. if other kids or families come up they run up, say hi, and no problems.
other dogs come up and he bum rushes them and gets into it. dog 2 will join in the fight (with dog 1,) but only when dog 1 starts stuff. i've taken him to a dog park (not his territory) and get the same results. he knows he's below beta in our house, but turns alpha outside of the house and absolutely does not get along with any other dogs
dog 1, again, is incredibly obedient and well trained. he knows hand signals, eye gestures, you name it. never had a better dog. dog 2 is less so, but does better uninfluenced with other dogs in a social setting.
is there something i'm missing as to why he's being sooooooo aggressive to other dogs, even not on his turf? does play fighting with dog 2 influence this?
Dog 2 is a coon hound. young, dumb, stubborn, but sweet.
they play fight a lot. lots of snarling, teeth bared. then they fall asleep side by side and are BFFs.
Dog 1 has become extremely aggressive whenever he comes across other dogs. there's a large field by our house we take them out to, run, throw balls, and chase. if other kids or families come up they run up, say hi, and no problems.
other dogs come up and he bum rushes them and gets into it. dog 2 will join in the fight (with dog 1,) but only when dog 1 starts stuff. i've taken him to a dog park (not his territory) and get the same results. he knows he's below beta in our house, but turns alpha outside of the house and absolutely does not get along with any other dogs
dog 1, again, is incredibly obedient and well trained. he knows hand signals, eye gestures, you name it. never had a better dog. dog 2 is less so, but does better uninfluenced with other dogs in a social setting.
is there something i'm missing as to why he's being sooooooo aggressive to other dogs, even not on his turf? does play fighting with dog 2 influence this?
This post was edited on 1/28/16 at 4:50 pm
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:03 pm to 3nOut
quote:
i currently have 2 dogs
Found it.
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:06 pm to 3nOut
Have you recently moved or lost a dog? My coonhound does the same thing at dog parks now. We used to live with roommates and other dogs where he clearly wasn't the alpha, now he thinks he is when we go out to dog parks.
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:08 pm to 3nOut
Our dog did this for a while but once he got more acclimated he eased up. Just needed to be around other dogs more. Weird though because yours is around dog 2 all the time so you'd think he would be accustomed to being around other dogs. Idk
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:09 pm to wmr
quote:
Found it.
I've considered that and it makes sense, but would appreciate any expansion on the thought. I will say that his behavior around the house (chewing) has greatly improved with the other dog.
I didn't socialize him too much before that I'm sad to say.
This post was edited on 1/28/16 at 5:13 pm
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:24 pm to 3nOut
Could just be a protective of dog 2 thing.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:31 pm to 3nOut
He's "below beta" in your household? How low is that? Below dog 2?
Lab mix? What's in the mix?
Who was first in the household? Dog 1 or 2?
I think the Dog Whisperer would say that dog 1 is not happy with his station in life.
Lab mix? What's in the mix?
Who was first in the household? Dog 1 or 2?
I think the Dog Whisperer would say that dog 1 is not happy with his station in life.
Posted on 1/28/16 at 5:36 pm to Kentucker
quote:
He's "below beta" in your household? How low is that? Below dog 2?
Meaning that he listens to my wife and kids and knows that they are above him in the pecking order.
I had a dog previously who acknowledged me as alpha but could give 2 shits about my wife or kids.
Dog 1 was there first.
This post was edited on 1/28/16 at 5:39 pm
Posted on 1/28/16 at 8:46 pm to Kentucker
quote:
What's in the mix
Shepherd
quote:
I think the Dog Whisperer would say that dog 1 is not happy with his station in life
It could be. i mean he's always whole body tail wagging when I come home and seems to love life, but I could be missing something.
Like I said, incredibly obedient, lets my kids make a playhouse out him without a growl, just something about other dogs.
This post was edited on 1/28/16 at 8:47 pm
Posted on 1/28/16 at 9:08 pm to 3nOut
quote:
whole body tail wagging
He recognizes you as alpha.
quote:
just something about other dogs.
He's demonstrating his value to the pack.
Be sure to give him lots of love and attention. This must come from you because you're the most important thing in his life.
Let him know you don't approve of his aggression towards other dogs, gently of course.
Most importantly make sure you recognize his status is above that of dog 2. Dog 2 understands that he is below dog 1 because dog 1 was already in the household when he came to the pack.
I think dog 1 sees the pack differently than you do. He wants to be your "right hand man." He doesn't see your kids as part of the hierarchy but knows they're of utmost importance. Probably the same with your wife.
Throw him a bone. Let him know you value his service to the pack/family and he'll let you shape his behavior.
Posted on 1/28/16 at 9:56 pm to Kentucker
Sincerely appreciate that. I think that could be some valid advice.
Posted on 1/29/16 at 8:01 am to 3nOut
We have a large German Shepherd that wants to murder every other dog it sees. Not fight them, kill them. It hates all other animals, not just dogs, but her hatred for dogs does make going for a walk rather challenging at times.
And we can't have two dogs. It would kill any animal we brought into the house.
And we can't have two dogs. It would kill any animal we brought into the house.
Posted on 1/29/16 at 9:52 am to 3nOut
We are thinking of another dog.
Please update how it turns out!
Please update how it turns out!
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