hiya

today while on our walk we meet up with a lady who has 3 dogs my 11 month old bitch plays lovely with her 8 month old bitch, she also has a very grumpy 11 year old cross bitch who snapped at mine as soon as she went near, well it was alright for a while then the lady's bitch snapped once again and my normally playful young bitch retalliated and began fighting her it was'nt very nice and i had to pull her off, my question is .. is she quite young at 11 months to retalliate in a fight and does it look as if she is going to be a fighter, the reason i ask is because my last dog was male and he always fought which was a reason for getting a female this time, is this quite common or am i going to have to walk her somewhere else i'm worried that now she's had one fight she'll do the same again'

j

hi, sorry may i ask what breed of dog you own?

shes a boxer
j

Well I think from what you have said your bitch was pushed and at 11 months she would be feeling her feet anyhow. You know your own dog best, odd my Sal was bitten by another dog when she was about your dogs age it hasn't affected her at all. She has never been in another scuffle.

But I do know they pick up on your nerves so try to be positive and not nervous or scared on your next walk.

Karen

i have never come across a fighting boxer do they sometimes have a tendancy to fight or retaliate? all the boxers my girl plays with are as a daft as a brush! sorry i can't offer you any advice.

A well bred Boxer with a sound temperament will very, very, rarely be the instigator of a fight. However, they are a guarding breed and will most definately defend themselves if another dog starts a brawl. It is said that "a Boxer will not start a fight, but will certainly finish one!".

the question what did you do when your dog retaliated? What breed is she?

Did you say 'no, good girl' or a growl 'no' and then shook her. If you said no good girl you told her she was a good girl for doing it.
I would have lifted her up by her neck given her a real good shake like her mother would and a growl 'no you don't'. Then the second she stopped praise. Then make her walk by your side and be very firm.

Why would you want to punish your dog?

Karen

hi

i pulled her off by her harness to be honest i can't remember what i said cos it all happened so quick, but deffernantly not good girl ,shes too big to lift and shake!

i am just praying that its not a sign of things to come as she is normally such a playful thing with other dogs, and normally around the older dogs she behaves herself and doesn't jump all over them (like she does the young ones) she kinda creeps round them if you know what i mean like she knows she has to behave but this one she fought so i'm confused!

j

this might sound really strange , but i think sometimes dogs can sense the temprement of another dog, she might just of thought i'll give you a chance but i am staright in there if u have a go at me, i know sounds stupid but i had a gsd cross sadly hes gone now, but when out walking (always on his lead) he would say hello quite polietly to most dogs but some he would have a go at? i don't know we could never work him out! i know it is not much fun for you when this happens, but she was only sticking up for herself. on the park where all the local dog walkers congrgate there is a lady with 2 jack russels, both stroppy little dogs, and a lady with a golden lab, every day these j.r's would snarl and have a go at the lab, she never once retaliated until this one day when she thought, enough is enough, she is so laid back usually.

yea i think your right dogs have a communication between themselves which we know nothing about my old male dog would spot another dog from the other side of the field and his body language would change he would start walking all slow and cocky then other dogs he would see from a distance he did'nt batter an eyelid to, he seemed to beable to spot a potential sparing partner from a mile off ,

do you think i should have given her a good telling off? i know its too late now but if it happened again what is the best way to deal with it?

j

Assuming there was no damage it's just dogs being dogs.  Obviously the old girl was worried about the exuberant pups.  Maybe she said "Oy you two - watch it" and your girl thought she said "Oy you're an ugly bitch"  Just a simple misunderstanding.  :D
It's always wise to learn to watch for the signs that dogs are uncomfortable with each other.  The best way to diffuse a situation before it starts is for the owners to walk off in opposite directions.  This also works after it has started but you need to know the dogs very well and have the confidence to do it.  As for punishing a dog for getting involved in a tiff with another dog - not very fair especially if the dog was just instictually defending itself.  You could make the dog terrified of other dogs by association with the punishment and consequently more aggressive.
Sally

sally that made me laugh!

MMm i thought the same about punishing it could make matters worse!

j

just looking back up page, i agree with what karen said, don't worry about it happening again, dogs sense nerves if you tighten her lead up when aproaching another dog she might think hold on a min, mums trying to hold me back, fromm what?also i think i added to my gsd's dog phobia by not having much trust in him after the first time he did it, i panicked and pulled him away,

thanks for all your input, tomorrow i shall take her out as normal but just keep a close eye on her, hopefully they'll be no more rumbles!

j

Couple of things come to mind, 1/ the older bitch would think it her job to put an interloper in their place and most bitches will do so with a pup even if it is not part of their family. 2/ Your bitch may well be coming into or have just been in season and to her she feels she is too mature to be put in her place anymore.

In future I would avoid possible contact between the 2 as it is likely your bitch will not forget and they may now never get on.