Everyone has helped in the past - just a thought here. My dog is very territorial about his own house and garden which I can deal with. I just wondered, I take him to the same fields 3 times a day for his walks and when he's there, if there are other dogs reasonably near or even lots of young children running around he gets very excitable growls and barks, leaps about and tries to slip his lead. If no one's there or not that close, he's fine. The other day I drove him to a new walk and it was "dog city" but he didn't seem to care, it was as if all the new smells were more exciting than the other dogs.

My thought was, is it possible with going to my local fields every day that he has come to associate these as being "his fields" and that's why he gets hyper if he sees other dogs etc. because he thinks their on his territory. If this were the case I could just take him new places or different places every day and save myself a lot of hassle. He is also going to go to "dog therapy" in a few weeks but I want to do what I can to help in the meantime.

Maybe I'm just clutching at straws here but what does anyone else think?

CG

I think you're more than likely right there! If he was fine in a new place, then by all means don't let him get too familiar with places. Well done for being observant enough to notice this!
:)

Just bear in mind that territorial aggression is basically a fear thing, the dog has more confidence in places familiar to him so he's more likely to use aggression.
Although taking him to new places will reduce his behaviour, that's just because his responses are inhibited because he doesn't feel very brave in strange places!
Jo

Thanks JG and Jo and I agree, I don't know what his problem is but it probs is a fear thing and he is more aggressive on the "patch" he knows. But its weird because my neighbour can walk right up with her dog (which he can see through the fence, nose to nose every day of his life) and he is cool. And when he went to my mum's house when she had her dog, Copper did not particularly like the dog, he still didn't throw a fit when they were both together. He was actually doing normal behaviour. I'm pleased about that because it makes me think he has it in him to be reformed! In fact when I got him there were 3 other dogs he lived with who he mixed with all the time and he was totally fine with them. He is going to a dog behaviour therapist soon and I have my hopes that he will learn what he maybe should have learned a long time ago! Thanks again for your advice.

CG

how much do these guys cost and do they work? any opinions?.sandra

Sandra - I think we are talking about £70 a session - I'm going to do it, but hold off until I have and I'll tell you if it's worth it or not. I'll tell the truth! My vet says no other way. So I'm going to try!
CG