any dog experts out there?

[special_kala]

We have a labrador, Dex. hes a nutured 2 year old and the soppiest little thing ever and is very submissive when it comes to other dogs.

Our friend has a brown lab who is 18months old and is a much chunkier dog. We met up for a walk and their both pretty excited dogs so wanted to say hello and sniff but were jumping up at each others face kinda like a puppy would and there leads got tangled up and the brown lab started barking. we seperated them fine no snapping or anything.

How would be the best way of approaching this again? I would say just take them to this enclosed field with a gate and let them play of the lead but the other labs owner is nervous and doesnt want her dog hurting Dex but i think the onl reason he we barking before was because the leasd got tangled and they got stuck.

 

[Kess]

Generally, dogs get along better off-lead (somewhere safe, obviously), because they don't feel trapped, and are free to express themselves fully. Dogs use body language as their main means of communication.

What kind of barking was it?

Is Dex confident enough when it comes to other dogs, or does he get scared? What are his social skills like generally?

 

[special_kala]

he didnt look scared and was quite happy to go up to sniff after th barking. when we were walking them on the lead they just seemed curious about each other. i figure that if they were going to fight it would be just outright aggression all the time right?

ive never met a dog dex doesnt get on with. the problem could lie in the other dog not being very socialised so he was a bit heavy handed. but as i say Dex is very happy just to follow and is really easy going.

 

[special_kala]

the barking didnt seem aggressive really. my OH untangled their leads and the brown lab didnt snap or anything wile my oh was pulling him away so its not like he had gone into any sort of aggresive mood.

i would just let them have a run around together but dex is like 31kg and the other lab is near enough 40kg so if he chose to attack dex then he could do some real damage.

 

[anita123]

it was probably just barking out of excitement! they may have been looking to get off the lead! i wouldnt worry about it as long as it wasn't aggressive or they werent snapping at each other!!

 

[Kess]

It does sound like just excitement/frustration over the leads. I can't see any aggression there, though having not been there I can't say for sure. But they're both male, right? Or, yours is neutered, so not really male anymore, but what about the brown lab?

 

[special_kala]

The brown lab hasnt been neutered. that would make them more likely to get on right? as its a clearer hierarchy for them?

the brown lab's owner is very nervous as he got attacked by another dog.

If they did start to fight what would be the best way to seperate them?

 

[Kess]

The other owner needs to chill, seriously, because his nerves will be picked up on by his dog. I understand the nerves - both of my dogs have been attacked at one point or another and it's very scary, but to help the dog get over it the owner has to.

Generalisations for dog aggression:

The more similar two dogs are (same age, breed, sex, size) the more likely competitive tussles are.

Fights between two entire males are common, but normally mostly bluster and noise. It's fights between females you have to worry about - rarer, but when they happen they mean business!

Do not get inbetween two dogs fighting, you'll get bitten as they aren't thinking straight and they don't know it's you. Normally I'd pull apart from the back legs or hips, well away from the teeth, and it helps if both owners are doing the same to both dogs, otherwise the one not being removed might follow. Do NOT shout, it'll just wind up both dogs more as they'll interpret it as excited barking and you joining in!

Hope that helps.

 

[special_kala]

definatly agree about our friend, she gets very emotional when her dog misbehaves which i imagine makes it worse.

It seems to be a case of me being very trusting of my dog and her not being very trusting of hers so i dont want to push her into something she is comfortable with. I do think that it will benefit her dog though to have some fun and spend a bit of time playing with another dog.