Holly is a 2 yr old Lab that we just adopted 2 months ago. She absolutely hates other dogs. When we walk on the side of the road she gets super excited and it's hard to hold her back, like she wants to go play. But when we get too close she will growl and lunge at the other dog. She just really doesn't like getting too close to them. She is absolutely perfect with people it's just the dogs. I'm scared to socialize her because of how she reacts. Is there anything I can do? Or is it just a phase in her life. She was just spayed and hasn't been introduced to another dog since her spay, so not sure if that will make a difference.
Lab hates other dogs
- Thread starter Holly's mom
- Start date
Sounds like she's Dog Aggressive (DA)...it's common in dogs that are under-socialized. The only thing you can really do is manage it, but you can try to distract her.
Find what is more appealing than barking/lunging at other dogs. Keep your distance from other dogs. Treat her when she does a good behavior (i.e. looking at you instead of freaking out at the other dog) and try to desensitize her. Some dogs can only be managed and kept away from others, but there is hope in training!
I'm sure someone more eloquent than I will chime in here and give more in depth suggestions.
Find what is more appealing than barking/lunging at other dogs. Keep your distance from other dogs. Treat her when she does a good behavior (i.e. looking at you instead of freaking out at the other dog) and try to desensitize her. Some dogs can only be managed and kept away from others, but there is hope in training!
I'm sure someone more eloquent than I will chime in here and give more in depth suggestions.
First, work on basic obedience - attention, sit, stay, etc. in a quiet place - in your home, then in your yard. Work on gradually adding distractions.
Also, the book Click to Calm should be helpful.
Also, the book Click to Calm should be helpful.
She will do anything for me when it is just the both of us. She will stay focused 100% on me. While walking, she is fine too. I've been practicing making her turn around me and sit at my side whenever I say "Holly Heel" and she learned VERY fast. She never pulls and stays by my side at all times, until she meets another dog. Some dogs she will tolerate when we go by, but others she will try to lunge at them. At her previous home there were no other dogs and she wasn't walked or socialized much. She is great with horses and respects my horse's space, and he absolutely loves her. But she hates cats, hyper dogs, squirrels, and any other small animal.
All of the dogs that she was introduced to in my presence were extremely hyper males, so I don't really blame her. My friend has a female golden that I will introduce to her once she is feeling better. I wonder if introducing her to a larger calmer dog would be a good first step? She is actually fine with my grandmother's shitzu because they always go walking together, but I don't let him get too close to her or let them snif. he is older and more mature, doesn't jump around or anything.
All of the dogs that she was introduced to in my presence were extremely hyper males, so I don't really blame her. My friend has a female golden that I will introduce to her once she is feeling better. I wonder if introducing her to a larger calmer dog would be a good first step? She is actually fine with my grandmother's shitzu because they always go walking together, but I don't let him get too close to her or let them snif. he is older and more mature, doesn't jump around or anything.
You can manage dog aggression (DA), but you cannot train it out of a dog. And I would suggest by first not making any excuses as to what might cause her to be that way (other dogs were hyper, etc.). If she got aggressive at every dog she met, then I'd venture to say that the problem is not with every other dog.
There's a lot of good info on managing DA and it's quite easy to live with a DA dog. DA does NOT equal human aggression (HA) nor will it ever lead to that. Those are two entirely different issues.
There's a lot of good info on managing DA and it's quite easy to live with a DA dog. DA does NOT equal human aggression (HA) nor will it ever lead to that. Those are two entirely different issues.
Well, after some doggy introductions, I have figure out that she does not mind calm dogs. I think excited dogs might make her more defensive of me. I found a cue word that no matter what when I say she has to look at me, and it helps a lot when we pass other dogs who are excited and pulling towards her. She barely pays attention to them if she is looking at me.