Echo is making great progress and can be let off lead with confidence now. When we see another dog he is recalled even if we know the dog so we can go and see together. As you know hes fine with pups, bitches and castrated males but can bristle up to entire males. Over the weekend hes been invited to play by young males, they sniff relax and start playing then suddenly theres a growling match, hackles are up and Im wading in to seperate. What am I missing? Im also slightly downheartened by our trainers view that since hes 2 there is a limit to what I can do for him through training and its up to me to keep him from feeling threatened and using force to end it. I agree its up to me to protect my dog, but does anyone disagree with this?

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As you know hes fine with pups, bitches and castrated males but can bristle up to entire males.

Davedee
Nothing unusual about that with some dominant dogs and others don't bother. The answer is to learn to recognise what is a non neutered dog and recall him so they do not make contact. My bitch is fine with dogs which don't try to outrank her but dominant dogs M/F I keep her well away as conflict will occur and if the other dog is prepared to get pushy or fight then so is mine, I just dont let her near dominant dogs.

My male will fight-period-so I recall him near other dogs, if another dog is coming I lead him.

The lesson is the same let them associate with dogs which themselves are not dominant. Aggression and threats in dogs anyway is a canine communication of immense social importance and value. In a non-controlled ( by us) state it would determine that only dogs with the highest possible chance of reproducing strong and capable offspring, capable of maintaining the survival of the species, would survive in that pack or within that territory.

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Over the weekend hes been invited to play by young males, they sniff relax and start playing then suddenly theres a growling match, hackles are up and Im wading in to seperate.

Davedee
Play is only what humans call it, play determines which dog will be top and very often includes potential aggression, males under two years produce between 9-15 times the normal testosterone levels and the scent triggers behaviours in other dogs.

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What am I missing?

Davedee
Your not missing anything, you probably never asked before, what's happening in the way you describe is perfectly normal canine interaction and communication for those particular dogs.

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. I agree its up to me to protect my dog, but does anyone disagree with this?

Davdee
What breed is this dog?

Hi thanks for the reply. Echo is a cross breed.