I have an intact 3 year old flatcoated retriever male, Charlie, who is the friendliest dog in the world. He is very friendly to people and other dogs.
Up until recently I never thought twice about letting him interact with other dogs or children for that matter. And we enjoy daily walks off-leash.
His recall is pretty good after a lot of work,  and I have up til now allowed him to approach other dogs in a calm way, provided the other dog is also
off-leash.
However in the last few weeks he has got into fights with other dogs.

He never attacks other dogs, he is actually attacked by them. The first attack was completely unprovoked. A nervous dog came at him from nowhere
and my Charlie fought back, in the process injuring the other dog (a small cut on the face).
Since then there have been other fights which he does not seem to initiate.
However I believe that he projects a high level of energy and I have noticed that when he is around another dog he keeps his head very high
and attempts to dominate. Males in particular seem to react very badly to this.

The only options I can see are either castration or avoiding other dogs, both of which I am not very keen on.
Can anyone advise me?

Thanks!

> attempts to dominate

Can you explain exactly what you mean by this please?

I think I know what you mean, his neck stretches, head held high, on tip toes almost and prancing? He will look very big all of a sudden and possibly his mane will rise and fill out giving him even more size.
They look a threat to other dogs in this mode and I too find that although they, the Flattie, has friendly intent other dogs see them in a different light.

I just make sure that they go on leads and under control if a dog approaches that they don't know. Problem is once they have been attacked they may want to 'get in there first' the next time so I always take precautions to stop this happening.

By 'attempts to dominate' I mean, that when he is contact with other dogs, he keeps his head held over them.
He approaches them in what I would describe as a macho way, head high, fur fluffed up.
And tries to show that he is the boss. Sometimes, if the other dog is submissive, he will lie down in front of my dog.
Charlie is not a barker, he never snarls or growls unless really provoked, but he seems to just want to be the boss.

Is he black, or brown? Pretty much all my dogs  dislikes black dogs.  Black dogs scares them, they can't read them properly, and I don't think that's uncommon. I've even toyed with the idea of getting one so that they can get more used to it LOL. None of them have really been used to seeing black dogs, not even at training classes. Same as my Papillons often get freaked out if they compete in the toy group and see a Pug, as they look so different and they don't normally see dogs with that face shape.

Yes, he's a lovely shiny black. Bigger than most other dogs in the neighbourhood too.
Never knew that could be an issue. Thanks!

This I see as a training issue, he needs to be distracted from making macho displays, as he is actually starting things.

This may be bluff, or he may actually think he is entitled to be cock of the walk, it's 'his' attitude that needs adjustment.

So get his attention on you when he spots another dog, if he is inclined to ignore you he needs putting on a long line.

All greetings to be short an sweet, a greeting normally starts with a mutual sniff, then goes onto the posturing, so remove him before eh gets to the displaying part.

Only allow him to play with bitches or dogs eh likes to play with, but not submissive ones, as interactions with those has allowed him to practice his 'power play'.

What has simply happened is he has either escalated his obnoxious posturing, or met some dogs with a bit more grit than he did before, who won't take his challenges lying down.

Thank you. That makes a lot of sense.
I will try to keep the interaction short and sweet from now on.

I have an intact 3 year old flatcoated retriever male, Charlie, who is the friendliest dog in the world. He is very friendly to people and other dogs.

It's probably what you call friendly thats provoking other dogs. 'Friendly' dogs are very often dogs which impose themselves on other dogs, their space and their own needs to be alone and get on without interacting with other dogs. Numerous dogs simply want to sniff & hunt their way around their exercise area, they may, or may not, enjoy some kind of play interaction with their owner but do not want any interaction with other dogs.
If quite large dogs (flatcoats) come bounding over insisting on interaction it certainly would cause problems with some dogs....
.

This I see as a training issue, he needs to be distracted from making macho displays, as he is actually starting things.

I agree.
.

Thank you. I see now that what we love about him is what dogs find annoying.
However I make him wait for other dogs to approach, I don't let him bound over.
But I will be keeping interactions short and sweet in the future.

I have a Flatcoat client and after speaking to some owners and a breeder this is quite common, they just want to be friends and often ignore body language and signals from.other dogs because they love the world and everything in it.
They aren't an easy breed at all, hopefully a few Flattie owners and breeders will give further advice too

Shirley Oxford is a flatcoat owner and is also a behavourist perhaps you might consider giving her a call her phone number is on the Flatcoated Retriever Society Website.

According to JoanK's flag, she resides in Switzerland..so a call may well not be cheap

Thank you! Yes, I do live in Switzerland but I think Charlie is worth the price of a phone call to the UK :-)
Does she accept unsolicited calls like that, do you think??

That is also a very useful tip about the Flatcoated Retriever Society Website. Didn't know it exists....

Go on to their website and you will see all sorts of contacts. Her number is available publically as a contact so I am sure she will be happy to chat. Flat coat people are a nice bunch !
I

Just to add on the subject of castration:  If his 'puffed up' 'super macho' behaviour is due to fear (as it started after that one nervous dog attacked him and he responded), then castration could make things worse:  Testosterone provides a dog with confidence and if that is removed, he can be left feeling more vulnerable and scared - and hence more prone to aggression to protect himself. 

If ever you do consider castration more, I'd suggest you try the implant Suprelorin before having surgery, so you can 'try it out' in a temporary way.

He doesn't seem in the least bit afraid. I would describe him as a bit cock of the walk.
He has always been a macho and one little scrap doesn't seem to have changed that. Not at all aggressive, just full of himself.
We always considered his cock of the walk attitude kind of lovable, but I think we have to change our tune...

Yes, I would go for chemical castration. It's just that my husband is resisting the idea so far.

Sometimes what behaviour looks like, is not what it actually 'is' or what's behind it. 

A very confident and comfortable-in-his-own-skin male dog usually doesn't need to walk around in the way you describe, or feel the need to intimidate other males.  He is secure in his role as an entire male. 

It is (IMO) often the dogs lacking confidence who feel the need to 'big themselves up' like this and attempt to intimidate other males - and usually there is a history of having been attacked by other males - leading to the lack of confidence and need to big themselves up. 

So just because it looks like super-confident behaviour, really doesn't mean that is the origin or cause of it, and it could still get a lot worse if castrated.

I've been told to call her too re a client after chatting with Chris on here and Polly. Still need to contact her but have loads of hints and tips from both ladies already to go in armed when I next walk him lol

I am trying to find a vet near me who offers the suprelorin.  One vet quoted £180 and said they need anaesthetic????  From what I've read it is similar to the micro chip process and should cost £30-50. I live in South Manchester so if any one knows a vet in the area please let me know.  Thanks

It definitely does not need an anaesthetic

It costs around £70 where I live. 

I think it lasts around 6 months, although it can wear off more slowly.

Superlorin retails around £55 so charging 3x that is a bit rich !!

Facebook Replies:

Jo Cartwright says: Contrary to popular belief there is no dominance in the dog world. You have confidence and rambunctious behaviour that is often perceived as "dominance" when in fact sometimes it can be quite the opposite. Neutering very rarely changes behaviour and can often make matters worse, reducing testosterone can make a dog more unsure and attractive to other dogs. Males in particular can and often do mount and pester neutered dogs. I would go back to basics with training and call in a behaviourist if necessary so they can really observe what is actually happening. Very often we can read it wrong with our dogs leading to unwise choices. Good luck.

Stephanie Presdee says: Flatcoat males can be quite full on, other dogs may feel they do not need him in their space. Work with a trainer who knows their stuff or a behaviourist to watch what is going on.

Polly King says: Shirley Oxford is a flatcoat owner and is also a behavourist perhaps you might consider giving her a call her phone number is on the Flatcoated Retriever Society Website.

I see now that what we love about him is what dogs find annoying.

If he comes across what humans call 'the wrong dog' he has a high probability of being very badly attacked, thought that worth a mention.
.

I have found another vet who will do it but saying I need to buy a pack of 2 and it will be about £240!!!!!  Do you know where I can buy it.

It's a POM(prescription only medicine) & you can't implant it unless you are a vet or under vet direction.

Even for 2 it is only £110 retail so again a vet making money or trying to go down castration route as a cheaper option.

It is available from most of the online veterinary pharmacies, but requires a prescription to buy it.

Perhaps see a vet & arm yourself with printed prices from the internet

What about tardak ? Similar usage .I don't know of its nit used anymore but might be worth discussing if you wa t a chemical castration but remember a lot of these drugs could have side effects and most likely it's training and management  that will help as in most cases castration doesn't change behaviour.

Tardak

The use of Tardak can lead to making the dog attractive to male dogs as it replicates the effects of progestogen the female hormone- not what the OP wants I think

Tardak would be a waste of time imo. Suprelorin is far superior.
Carobell, the price you've quoted, was it for the 6 or 12 month implant? The 6 month one costs approx £100 so I would say the two implants at £240 isn't atrocious. Frustrating that they want you to buy both. Lots of vets do it now though, it'd be worth phoning around.

The single implant for 6 months costs £55 not £100, you think a mark up of 100% is ok ?

Don't think I said that. Vets mark up a lot of things by a large percentage, which is a totally different discussion. Right or wrong, the price is what the price is and that's what I'm advising, but a lot of vets are using this now so you should be able to find one who won't ask you to buy both implants. If you can buy it online with a prescription and have a vet do it for a small charge then fine. But you'll have the prescription charge and two consultations minimum to add in to your costs.

I still think the op will be better looking at training and management as castration rarely changes behaviour. This dog is 3 and even if hormones are part of the problem learned behaviour will more likely to be the bigger component

Yes, training is always preferable