Flatcapdriver

Got a problem which could get out of hand if I don't resolve it soon. I've got a three year old Rhodesian Ridgeback who's been attacked by two Black Labradors recently when he's been on the lead. One of Labs, frankly, either needs some serious training or should be put down as the owner is a stupid woman who refuses to take responsibility and attacked my last dog when he was at death's door. The last attack took place when mine was on the lead with a recently removed toe nail - usual story, this bimbo continued to walk away with me effing and blinding at her whilst her mate tried to call the dog off.

A couple of weeks, my dog was minding his own business when the butcher's dog had a pop at him. Mine finally reacted and there was a bit of handbag throwing.

Now, my dog has taken to attacking black labradors at every opportunity. Normally, he's a typical Ridgeback (placid, calm and not really looking for any trouble) and this morning had a right pop at this innocent Labrador who was totally surprised - just like mine normally is.

Personally, whilst he's in this mood I'd be quite happy for him to give the errant owner's dog a good beasting before I train it out of him - immature I know but he's reacting out of fear as a result of her stupidity. However, given his nature I reckon this can easily be trained out of him by socialising but how to do it?

I'm considering the following approach:

Find a willing volunteer with a black lab and locate a quiet area where they can be socialised at a distance, rewarding him for being good whilst eventually leading up to full socialising without any leads involved.

As he's been on a lead for five weeks as a result of his operation I'm wondering if excess energy could be a factor. Any advice?

Non +Plus Member

Its a job for a professional dog trainer, it has to be done properly as the potential for harming the other lab is now very high.....

And the last thing you want is an all out fight, as this could result in permanent damage to your dog!

Matteeboy

Weird to have two labs being aggressive - Very unusual.

Sounds tricky - bit scared to volunteer our little ten month old black lab!

TURBOTRONICS

Hi mate I also have a ridgeback dog well almost he’s a cross but is mainly a ridgeback by looks just a little smaller. I have had a similar problem taz my dog is now 7 years old and still thinks he’s a pup in result all he wants to do I jump about and play with other dogs but unfortunately not all dogs want to play and he has had several dogs go for him. In the last 6 months or so he has had enough and has taken in on him self to not even give an approaching dog a chance and goes for them straight of unless they are smaller than him then he sees them as no threat and will play around even if they go for him.
I have recently spoken to his vet and they have given me the number to a local dog behaviourist and said that unfortunately this is not uncommon so I would suggest contacting his vet and see if they could give you a number of a local dog therapist.
Im my opinion dog owners that let there dogs off the lead should be fined I don’t think they realise what damage even a small dog can do to another dog or worst case a child
Once 2 dogs start to fight they are not bothered what they bight ie fingers when you try and separate them but this is just my opinion though

Flatcapdriver

You say that but if I've ever had a problem with any of my dogs and other breeds, its always been black labs causing the problems. I'm not saying its breed specific, more the popularity of them and some of the numpties who own them.

Some of the women round here have to be seen to be believed. As soon as they see another dog, they immediately put their's on the lead due to their own fear which consequently gets transferred to the dog leading to aggresssion.

I wouldn't be too scared with your black lab. I want to train it out of him positively, rather than wacking him when he 'launches'. What I had in mind as an initial meeting from a distance of five metres, for example and provided he behaves rewarding him immediately. Break off and play.

Next time, meet the other dog, make him sit and reward appropriately until he can socialise normally like he used to. I hear too many people apologising for their dog's behaviour - 'I'm sorry but he was attacked when he was younger'.... when all the dog needs is some decent training. Its utter bollocks.

I need to break the chain here. Up until recently, I had a decent socialised dog but due to others stupidity I've now got to sort the problem out. I'm just not sure my method is the best way.

Flatcapdriver

Why shouldn't dogs be off the lead? Keeping them on the lead in the right environment is what causes the problems.

TURBOTRONICS

It depends on where you would call the right place to let your dog off the lead I personally don’t think that public parks or along a road are a good place, in open woodland yes and places that don’t have lots of other dog roaming free and children playing but like I say this is only my opinion as I see all dogs could and I only mean could be a lethal weapon

Matteeboy

Flatcap - our lab is unbelievably obedient and placid.
I've grown up with dogs and none have been anywhere near as well trained as Maddy - a good sign.

Does help having a load of land to run around on I reckon - Dogs MUST be let off the lead unless you are an elite athlete - any medium to large dogs will run rings around a human!

stormyuklondon1

our Ridgeback was attacked by a white gsd last year, and got into the habit of 'stalking' any dog coming towards her, then launching at them and rolling the other dog if it was small enough or shoulder barging if it was bigger.

being a ridgeback, we found the best way to moderate her behaviour was through her stomach when she started to flatten herself against the ground and start to stalk forward, i'd get her attention by breaking out the cheese(her favourite snack) and keep her attention until the other dog was nearer, then lots of praise and her little snack. seems to have worked well now just a quiet word is enough to get her attention once she's met the other dog, no problem at all

sbk1972

Gents, im going through a living nightmare regarding my dog. I have a japanese akita who recently had a bite at someone who came into my home. Ive got the police chasing me to put him down, Ive got solisitors ringing me, etc etc.

The laws regarding dogs are tightening every day, but on the whole, when a dog is out in public domain, like on the green etc, the laws are very clear. If your dog is on a lead, and is attacked, then you have the legal right to sue the other owner. You would contact the dog warden and report the owner, claiming for vet costs etc.

Also, on the top 10 dangerous dogs, 8th is a labrador, i was shocked to see that. You could claim that the owner was guilty of breaking the 1991 dangerous dogs act, where he/she wasnt in control of their animal in a public place.

See these sites.

Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue - To campaign & oppose the Dangerous Dogs Act

Doglaw


To the guy with the ridgeback, the general public will always see you dog as the guilty party, regardless, as everyone will see the labrador as a cutey "wouldnt hurt a fly" type of dog. Keep him on a lead, and you will be perfectly safe, as you have demonstrated suitable `control` of your animal.

As for training, training is great for young dogs, but as mine is 8 years old ,a little harder. I also suggest insurance, petplan are the best.

Dogs, I love mine 100%, and will fight to the end of the earth to keep him, but f**k me, Ive got a battle ahead.

SBK

lem6

m8 i had the same sort of thing, a stupid vhav b*tch near me has got a staffie which is never on a lead and attacks other dogs.Whilst out walking my dogs (cocker spaniels) her dog came and grabbed my dog by the throat!so i thought f*ck this punched the staffie square in the head and nearly broke my hand,still didn't let go so i kicked the little b*sterd as hard as i could and it squeeled and run off,(owner just got there as i was kicking it)luckily not much damage to my dog, i then proceeded to inform her if her dog tried that again i would f*cking kill it! why do ppl have staffies???...chavvie dogs...rant over.

Flatcapdriver

The problem is that he was on the lead at the time of the initial attack due to having had a toe nail removed. I've got to break the chain as there are too many muppets with dogs that instigate fights, so I want mine to return to his normal jovial self.

sbk1972

I see where your coming from, wanting your dog to be his happy self. I dont blame you. How old is he ?? Has he still got his ***** ? Like human's, his character will develop around situations, and he's obviously had a scare and tries to fight back now at all other labs.

If honest, a ridge back is a powerful dog, and it will always be in him to tear the *** off other dogs, so will you ever feel confident to let him off the lead ?? I, myself, never do, as it just isnt worth while. I used to walk my dog late at night, 10/11pm, let him off, but I still encountered problems.

I would certainly try dog training, as not only to train, but to socialize the dog with other dogs. No doubt labs will be there. Next door to me is a golden lab that grew up with my dog, and they are great friends, but if out, and he see's other labs, he's a terror, well, not so much now, in his younger days. Now, my old boy just wants to sniff, and pee everywhere.

However, let my situation be an example, you really cant trust anything, so its best if he's on the lead, all the time, preventing problems, than having to fight / worry about the police trying to destroy him.

The next dog I get, will be a right, soft, limp of chap, as society just hates powerful dogs, and see them as the guilty party. When out, its always the little pi55y dogs that causes problems, the old dear's jack russell, or poodle, barking and nipping my one. But, Im seen as the agressor !


SBK

Devildog

Going to disagree with you there Mat.

Male labs can be dominant aggressive - its not that uncommon.

Devildog

Flatcap - what you are proposing sounds like the way to go.

Break the cycle and you should be fine.

I suspect also, that being on the lead is making your ridgeback behave more aggressively - its pretty common behaviour.

Matteeboy

Often been advised to let the dog off the lead when approached by another one.
They seem to have some weird aggression thing when on leads.

Flatcapdriver

Usually caused by the handlers' fears being projected onto the dog, ultimately leading to fear/aggression in the hound. My problem started when he was on the lead and attacked by the labrador - not the other way round.

Hopefully, when he's on holiday away from other dogs he'll forget the behaviour. Otherwise its off to dog training with the yummymummys and their rug rats.

Spoon

Fear biters are the worst dogs to have. At 3 years old and of previous good character it's not too late to put him back where he was.

Other dog owners who think it's OK to let their dog run freely in a public place need shooting in my book, especially when they do sod all to stop their dog from invading your space. The same people insist it's fine to come and pet your dog even when you ask them politely not to because it's being trained not to be petted by every Tom, Dick and Harry.

You'll need to get your dog out as much as possible allowing it to walk past other dogs and when it does without so much as a look then tell him 'good leave'. If he growls or lurches towards other dogs, simply say 'leave'. Cross the road if need be to avoid other dogs without letting on you did it for any reason.

The trouble you have though is no matter how good your dog is, the problem you have lies with other dogs allowed to confront yours.

My PP GSD will do exactly as I ask of him on or off the lead but I will never let him off in public due to the fact I'd never trust a dog completely and just don't want the hassle that could have been potentially avoided in the first place.

I have to admit the other week he was out when an errant dog approached quite aggressively for no reason, the owner was shouted to call her dog but to no avail. My dog bit her dog quite hard (trained full grip) and it ran off yelping. The owner of the dog said nothing and just carried on.

Holding my dog back either on the lead or by the collar only serves to bring out the fight in him, similar to if I signal for him to show aggression. The problem you have letting a dog off the lead in such instances is that they are free to fight and no longer controllable in the slightest if they aren't trained.

My dog is trained on command to run after and attack an assailant BUT stop and turn back if commanded to do so also. That as you can imagine, takes some doing once the dog is wound up.

If I was you I'd carry a stick when out walking to 'flick' any dogs that approach you before they reach your dog. Lets face it, the problem is with other dogs, not yours.

Flatcapdriver

Some good stuff there Spoon - thanks. Encouraged by his behaviour tonight towards another white labrador, both on the lead tails wagging and a bit of dominance from both in the form of paws on each others heads but more in a lighthearted way than anything else. Shame his paw isn't mended otherwise ten minutes bombing round the field would have done him some good.

To be honest, I've let his training slip generally so it will be good to do some work with him on a general level at the dog club so if I can get him to sit/down stay around other dogs and improve his obedience overall it'll do him some good.

Not sure about the stick as I'm just as likely to wrap it round the owners head rather than the dogs.

Spoon

Good news and more to the point it helps yourself want to take him out more without feeling like he's going to get you into trouble by association, let alone anything else.

Lets hope on his visits out he doesn't come across a loose dog for a while, just to let him know all dogs aren't out to get him.

I know the stick sounds a little harsh but if you did simply place it right at the nose of a dog running towards you it does make it either stop, slow down or veer off in another direction. All the time just say 'good leave' to your dog in a calm manner.

Then smack the owner around the chops with it.

tricksterfiregod

i have had the exact same problem a few years ago with my rhodesian ridgeback -Xhosa, normally very friendly with other dogs he was randomly attacked by a Shetland Sheep dog which was off his lead-my dog was still on the lead..luckily i managed to give the Shettie a good kick in the head and it ran off,but unfortuneatly a few weeks later the same dog attacked him whilst my dad was walking him,the Shettie bit a big chunk in his leg which needed vets attention,and has left a nasty scar,lucky for the Shettie my Dad is a big man and was able to pull my dog off,because he had gone for the Shetties throat..same scenario now whenever my dog sees any kind of hairy type of dog be it Afghan hound or whatever,his hackles rise and he wants to rip them to peices,and believe me an angry fully grown adult ridgeback is a very strong animal,lucky for me i live at the coast in a rural place so i now keep to taking him on the beach very early and very late at night..
im sorry for what happened to your dog,and i wish you luck in solving it.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

I'd disagree about the lead issue. We've always had dogs not one of which has been a fight instigator and we have at an early age stuck a lead on when approaching other dogs.

It stops them running off and getting in trouble. If you do it in a scared way and act scared then yes, you will transfer that nervousness to the dog. If you do it because you are the boss and you are training your dog to ignore (usually stick with "leave it" until they get the message) then there is no problem. All dogs will have a look up at another one but having a well trained dog that you can command off the lead is important. While they are training, slip the lead on. No point standing there shouting like a muppet when the dog is off and you can't restrain it. Reward it for behaving and the problem goes away.

On a side note we had a Boxer that was absolutely nails but wanted to play with everyone so needed the lead a lot, similar to the problem above, very puppy mentality. We just collared him and walked on by, saved so many other dogs a pasting. Got attacked by a staffy once that caught his neck, crouched down and shook like he'd just left a river, smashed the thing into the floor several times and it let go and ran off.

5t.

p.s. you could just report her to the police for not having the animals under control. they should at least give her a talking to.

Spoon

Just had to share this particular video with you. Go here KELTIC KENNELS and click on Dogs in action (top), then on 'Seminar'. Turn up the sound too and enjoy.

Chip Sengravy

This butcher's dog you mention. Was it actually dead, dead fit ?