We have a 2 1/2 year old Border Terrier X which we recused from the RSPCA about four months ago. He has settled in really well despite a few probs (we posted a message couple of moths ago about him weeing on our bed - we only had one more occuance of that and he hasn't done it since). We have however had some aggression problems when we take him for a walk. In the house he is a very gentle dog, has no problems with strangers or small children and has even met my mothers two dogs at her house and had no problems at all - in fact they got on really well. The problem only occurs when we take him out on the lead. We don't let him off the lead as he is prone to run off so we have a 8m extender lead - maybe this is where the problem lies. As soon as he sees another dog he is very distracted and won't listen to commands, he adopts a very dominant stance and just stares at it. If he gets close to another dog he pulls on the lead to have a sniff but then snaps at it. Since this started we have tried to keep him away from other dogs but there is quite a narrow path on the way to the field that he goes on, where we are always bound to pass other dog owners.
Yesterday we saw a neighbour on the path with her dogs and stopped for a chat. Boris was pulling on the lead but we let him have a sniff as I think restraining him might make him worse. Unfortunatly he then attacked our neighbours dogs. He snapped at the first and then clamped his jaws down around the other dogs face and wouldn't let go! We had to pull him off and pick him up and he was whining. Thankfully he didn't draw blood, but he definatly wasn't play fighting, he was shaking the dog (much smaller than him) like a rag doll. He has never done anything so violant before and it was quite upsetting. Any suggestions about why him could have done this? Like I said, he has met other dogs off the lead and inside and been fine.

Also, another short question, he has recently started licking a cushion on the settee which creates a large wet patch as you can imagine. He only does it when we are out of the room but still in the house - he has never done it while we've been out...any suggestions?

bringing to top

DawnB or Lady Dazzle - any suggestions to offer?

That kinda sounds like the way Junior was with other dogs.
I would suggest obedience class and lots of obedience work. This way he learns to focus on u with a command ( I use watch me then treat him), if he is still intersted in a dog I get in front so he can't see the dog then tell him to watch me and also leave it, and go the other way. Now I put him in a down position (we practiced lots on this) when there is a dog near and he will stay there and all I say is watch me or leave it. I also used a corrective collar cause a normal collar never worked, now we r slowly going back to a normal buckle collar.

Good luck with ur little one

ttfn :)

I would take him to classes, both socialising and obedience. He needs to learn this is not acceptable. I think you are right to keep him on a lead, imagine what might of happened if he were loose. Unfortunately, there are dogs that will not tolerate other dogs, Boris may be one of these, however there are a couple of things I would try if I were you.
1. Have a Tardak injection (chemical castration) if he is not already neutered.
2. Get him a muzzle.
He may pick up on YOUR nervousness and act defensivley towards other dogs, a muzzle should make you relax knowing he can do no damage, and then he may do too.
Tardak may produce an effect that would mean castration is a good option, if it doesn't help there are no lasting effects and it wears off within 4-6 weeks.
Dawn.

Thanks for your suggestion but he has already been neutered, i think a muzzle may help so i'll give it a go and see if it helps. Thanks again!