romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
I'm beginning to see some leash aggression in Romeo when he sees other dogs while we're on walks. I think but cannot confirm as the angle is usually so I can't see Romeo's expression clearly. Still, his tail is high as a flag and his body goes all stiff and alert, ears up and he'll be directly facing the other dog. Then he starts barking. Sometimes it's a mid-pitch bark but I've heard mid-pitch growl-barks too. I don't hold the leash at all (I loop the leash through the strap of my waist pouch) so I'm not contributing to his arousal by pulling or being tense (coz I know to remain calm and steady). I'm wondering if it's because he's maturing - he's nearly 10 months now. Testosterone kicking in perhaps? Would neutering help if done at this stage?
Previously when he barked at dogs it was because he wanted to play coz he would shortly drop into a playbow. Then I started to train him to ignore and continue walking away from the dog, or if he starts to bark (usually when he's quite close to them already, or if it's a narrow road and the other dog is lunging) I would sit him and have him watch me (over and over coz his head will turn towards the dog). Very recently, he's now just barking even when the dog is some distance away. And he's been basically barking at any dog (even behind gates) he sees when we're on walks - even those he usually doesn't or which I can get him to ignore previously.
I was reading that socialising a dog during his adolescence is very important because that's when the most problems crop up and when his character/personality starts to mature, change and stabilise so his environment and exposure is important to ensure he doesn't end up fearful/aggressive and bad with other dogs or people. With people, I'm taking preventive measures by having every person he meets give him treats. But with dogs, how do you do it? Esp when you don't always know what the other dog is like?
I used to take him to the dog run every Sat and Sun but snakes (including a black cobra!) have been spotted there so I've stopped. Not to mention every time I'm there I have this fear that a dog might attack and I'm always alert and observing (it can get awfully tiring with a dog that doesn't have perfect recall). Romeo's been snapped at (mostly for rude adolescent behaviour) by 2 or 3 dogs before - one (ex-trainer's dog) left him with a little bald spot on his forehead, tho I didn't see any skin breaking. Another time, he and a year old female mini schnauzer were chasing each other, then the MS got tired and stopped but Romeo wanted more. Romeo does this thing where if a dog doesn't want to play with him, he'll incite the dog by barking at it and then going up to the face and barking or trying to nip the air around the face. That's probably the rude adolescent behaviour that I'm afraid will trigger a bite from a less tolerant dog. I've seen this a few times already. Romeo got into such an aroused state, salivating and all, he basically completely ignored me, any commands, etc. I had to herd him away from the dog. There's a fine line between arousal and aggression and I think it wouldn't have taken him long to cross that if I hadn't intervened. I know some of you don't take your dogs to dog runs - how do you socialise your dog to other dogs then?
This is the one thing that I'm horribly confused about. I've been equipping myself with how to read doggy body language and know the signs but it's impossible to TEACH that to Romeo! And I certainly can't tell the other dogs to 'please discipline my dog if he's naughty but do mind your bite inhibition'.
I'm not sure if I'm being very coherent coz I'm trying to understand the whole dog-dog socialisation thing in my head too. If anyone has comments or views on any of the above, I would truly appreciate it. I would like to nip this one in the bud before it escalates and becomes a really big problem!
Previously when he barked at dogs it was because he wanted to play coz he would shortly drop into a playbow. Then I started to train him to ignore and continue walking away from the dog, or if he starts to bark (usually when he's quite close to them already, or if it's a narrow road and the other dog is lunging) I would sit him and have him watch me (over and over coz his head will turn towards the dog). Very recently, he's now just barking even when the dog is some distance away. And he's been basically barking at any dog (even behind gates) he sees when we're on walks - even those he usually doesn't or which I can get him to ignore previously.
I was reading that socialising a dog during his adolescence is very important because that's when the most problems crop up and when his character/personality starts to mature, change and stabilise so his environment and exposure is important to ensure he doesn't end up fearful/aggressive and bad with other dogs or people. With people, I'm taking preventive measures by having every person he meets give him treats. But with dogs, how do you do it? Esp when you don't always know what the other dog is like?
I used to take him to the dog run every Sat and Sun but snakes (including a black cobra!) have been spotted there so I've stopped. Not to mention every time I'm there I have this fear that a dog might attack and I'm always alert and observing (it can get awfully tiring with a dog that doesn't have perfect recall). Romeo's been snapped at (mostly for rude adolescent behaviour) by 2 or 3 dogs before - one (ex-trainer's dog) left him with a little bald spot on his forehead, tho I didn't see any skin breaking. Another time, he and a year old female mini schnauzer were chasing each other, then the MS got tired and stopped but Romeo wanted more. Romeo does this thing where if a dog doesn't want to play with him, he'll incite the dog by barking at it and then going up to the face and barking or trying to nip the air around the face. That's probably the rude adolescent behaviour that I'm afraid will trigger a bite from a less tolerant dog. I've seen this a few times already. Romeo got into such an aroused state, salivating and all, he basically completely ignored me, any commands, etc. I had to herd him away from the dog. There's a fine line between arousal and aggression and I think it wouldn't have taken him long to cross that if I hadn't intervened. I know some of you don't take your dogs to dog runs - how do you socialise your dog to other dogs then?
This is the one thing that I'm horribly confused about. I've been equipping myself with how to read doggy body language and know the signs but it's impossible to TEACH that to Romeo! And I certainly can't tell the other dogs to 'please discipline my dog if he's naughty but do mind your bite inhibition'.
I'm not sure if I'm being very coherent coz I'm trying to understand the whole dog-dog socialisation thing in my head too. If anyone has comments or views on any of the above, I would truly appreciate it. I would like to nip this one in the bud before it escalates and becomes a really big problem!
