My terrier really goes mad when he sees one, he wants to have a good old fight everytime...I think that I know why, one did attack him and there is one who always tries to go for him at training class.

Do you think that they can tell the difference between breeds? The two he had most contact with were quite aggressive and now at show grounds if he sees one he goes mad - barking and trying to get it...even if it is walking past quite nicely - he spots them miles away!

Part of the problem is also that a lot (not all) of golden retriever owners have this attitude that there dog is too nice and never fights and they let them off the lead all the time - even at shows when all other dogs are on the lead...that is what happened when he had this fight (the golden really just went for him) No offence to any golden owners - it might just be in my area but the result is very problematic for me!

My SBT wants a fight with any dog when he's for a walk - he didn't mix when he was younger and the result is he has to be walked miles from any other dog and we have to be alert for any other dogs. It's a real shame as 'most' dogs only want to come and say 'Hello' but our SBT has learnt bad habits from our other SBT who is no longer with us. Next staffie goes to classes from the off.

I had a Golden Retreiver when I was growing up - she was asocial dog but I can see where your'e coming from.

Dogs do recognise different breeds, all of our Afghans always hated rough collies and GSD's I dont know why it must have been an affie thing because I know of other people whos Afghans are the same :rolleyes:

Dogs definitely know the difference.  My springer is happy with any of the gundog breeds he is used to mixing with in his working life but will run a mile if he catches sight of a GSD!  He did used to get a bit spooked by Rottie's until one came beating with us!

The golden retriever I had as a child hated all dogs and was quite aggressive after an attack by a pack of dogs on the beach as a pup.

My SBT likes most dogs but hates Westies after one attacked her when she was 3 months old.  Now whenever she sees one she goes mental!  She adores any miniature shnauzers, though, which has always struck me as strange.

Solution, get a golden retriever and have a lovely, happy sociable dog rather than a snappy, agressive little terrier.  !

I want to do a wink, yes wInk, but dont know how!

I take umbridge on behalf of all terrier owners!  ;)

Winking:  do a semi colon (;) then a bracket ( ) )

Wink away!  :)

Or, looking at my post, just do a semi colon!

I am smiling but I am yet to meet these lovely, happy sociable dogs that you describe! I would not swap my little terrier for anything - he might be on the aggressive side sometimes but he is not snappy!! Not like the golden at my training class...(wink wink!)

Obi isn't keen on Goldies either, we have a few adolescent bouncy (very friendly) males in our area and because obi isn't allowed off lead at the moment he gets a bit worried I think, not snappy just "get away"!  He also is scared of two Rough Collies that walk there too, no idea why, but now he barks at them until they come over, then he hides behind me!

Never met a lovely, happy, sociable terrier!!!!! Then you obviously haven't met a Dandie Dinmont, over the years of knowing many I have only ever met one that wasn't.

my rottie was bit at agility class by a sbt, but before that he would play with the other sbts in the class and i mean play rough the only dogs that he could play rough with and the owners where really ok with the way all the dogs used to play, then a new sbt joined the class and it took an instant dislike to my rottie, so whenever the sbt was running i was on my guard, one day walked into class when the dog was running it left the course and sunk its teeth into merlin, a fight did not break out  but merlin was on his guard everyweek we went to class, he would not even play with the others that he had played with every week from being young, and this has carried over into the breed ring if we are in the ring and he sees a sbt he needs to see where it is and if it is close enough you can feel him grumbling up through his leader, now it does not matter what colour sbt it is just the breed itself.
so from my experience yes i think that they can take a dislike to other dogs, just like us i suppose some people we can't stand and others we get on with.
Carol

My Gsd used to not only distinquish between breeds but also colour.He was attacked by a brindle boxer and after that was fine apart from with brindle boxers...would play with red/white!!
Archer

My old English Springer absolutely hated YELLOW Labs. Her best friend was a BLACK Labrador. So, yes they can distinguish breeds and colours. She had been attacked on 3 separate occasions by 3 different yellow labs, so I couldn't blame her :(

Because of this I was aware of any problems that could have occured when one of my Munsters was attacked by a Weimeraner when she was 10 months old. The same dog attacked her again 2 years later. Luckily I had a friend who bred Weims and she let me take my bitch to play with some nice ones. I dread to think what could have come of it.

Hi,

Its awful when this happens and do understand.

I have Golden Retrievers that are lovely laid back,love everyone and get on great with other dogs.

My young male has been attacked by 2 different breeds ,a dalmation and a rescue
Gsd which got put down.
My golden was walking at heel on a lead with me,when the GSD also lead oppsosite side of very wide track lunged at my Golden so hard the owner couldn't hold him ,he gripped his jaws around my Golden throat which made it pretty difficult for  my Golden to do anything to escape him, I was shaking trying to push his dog off.The owner grabbed his dog by the scruff got him off mine apologised ,my dog a little shaken
did not show any aggression or retaliation (sp) the owner had told me he had done it before and could not apolgise enough.However later on that week my vet had said someone had broUght their dog in (GSD RESCUE)to be PTS that was from the same area.

Lucklily for my dog he can still walk past a GSD no problem.A few months later a male dalmation with a muzzle on jumped on to back of my dog whos now only15 months old and the noise from the Dalmation you would think he was ripping my dog apart this time my boy was flattened to the floor again he demonstrated not a single ounce of aggression or growl and he was his lead.This time he weed the floor.The owner said the vet had told her to muzzle her dog.take him obedience and get him castrated the Dalamation is 6yrs.

Since thse 2 incidents Gundo appeared none the worse and at shows he can walk past all the breeds no problem,but it could have put of other dogs for life.

I have 4 Goldens with fantastic temperaments and are extremely proud that my young dog behaved so well without ounce nastiness in him even when hes being attacked.

Briony

How sad thought that the GSD was put to sleep, especially as he was a rescue, you would have thought the rescue place would have homed him to someone willing/able to train him, not just have him put down when he mis-behaved :(

Hi

I agree, I love GSDS has I was brought up with 2.I think because the dog had attacked like this before this owner wasn't taking anymore chances.
All I know was he said his dog was a rescue,
now was he brought from a good rescue centre or from a family,couple whatever ever who knows but either way its  very sad .

Briony