Hi Help needed please!
I have a 3 year old Welsh Springer who is a very friendly dog, well socialised from a puppy and who has walks off the lead every day and mixes well with all the dogs/people that we meet, always with a waggy tail!
This weekend he leaped our fence to attack our neighbours small dog (a Shiku) Sorry about the spelling. Our neighbour was standing on the pavement in full view of our garden looking into the drive. My dog got hold of her dog and luckily my husband was on hand and fairly easily managed to part the dogs without any damage being done, but we are now worried about why this happened and if it will happen again.
They did meet on the lead about 2 months ago when the other dog had a small go at my dog but nothing out of the ordinary. 
I have chatted to my dog walking friends and they all agree that it is totally out of character, although we do think that he is probably top dog in our small group of about 7/8 dogs. He has never shown any agression towards the other dogs but does do a lot of getting on top, literally, of the other dogs.
Just last week he also told off a one year old Lab, who occasionly walks with us, but not with any real aggression just a lot of noise.
Could he have thought that this dog was a cat - he has once chased a cat in a similar way??
Help please.

I am not sure what bred this other dog is,a nd in what situation.  Was it in the owners arms, running in the garden, or just appeared.

Also I would look at your fencing, as I wouldn't expect a Welsh springer to easily jump foot fence.  If he can then I would look at adding some trellis or make an overhang from weldmesh so he cannot get over.

I think they mean it's a Shih Tzu?

Hi Thanks your reply. The dog was on the lead being walked, but for some reason they stopped on the pavement and my dog was behind fencing in our garden about 15 foot away!. We will not now let him out in the garden until we make sure that he cannot get through or over but why would he do this??

My springer spaniel can clear a 6' fence with ease and although some of the Welsh springers I know are larger, the working ones I know are similar size to a springer and would certainly not be deterred by a fence!

It's possible that he was being territorial. Sounds like it.

I'd suggest ensuring he can't get over the fence, and being careful when dogs are near to the home if he's on lead on the pavement outside it.

If you are still worried, I'd get in a good trainer or behaviourist to use reward based training to get him to relax when other dogs are nearby.

Lindsay
x

Hi

I can't comment on the incident with your neighbour's dog, but the way you describe your Welshie when out on walks with other dogs sounds like a normal Welshie behaviour. 
They are a very boisterous breed and can be literally on top of other dogs.  Even with the age of three they play like a puppy.

I send you a pm as well

Agree with everyone else secure your fence with one of the many anti climb remedies and don't let him out if next doors dog is in full view.  He obviously has taken hinderance to this dog who is of absolutely no match against him.  I agree it does appear to be territorial in which case you need to protect your dog from causing harm to the Shitz.

The altercation with the lab is very understandable, adult dogs especially the more Alpha types tend to want to put adolescents in their place even if they do nothing wrong, keep an eye on that too as he may wish to assert himself with the lab, don't allow him to do this, lead him if necessary on occassional meetings if they lived together as a pack I would say let it be, but they don't and the lab owner is not going to be too happy if your boy starts bossing him around and maybe even becoming physical if allowed to continue, I know I wouldn't be happy and would expect that owner to control their dog.

Otherwise allow him to be the happy go lucky dog that he usually is, just take precautions don't allow him to do anything you wouldn't like another dog doing to yours. :-)

Many thanks for your comments. We will be sorting out the fence this weekend and keeping a closer eye on him around other dogs from now on. I keep forgetting that he is no longer a puppy and as an adult dog he might feel the need to put other younger dogs in their place !!

He's protecting his territory, and YOU...

He's already had one altercation with this uppity little dog (as he sees it), and don't forget they have probably had some verbal or non-verbal (eg scent-marking) communication since then. In spite of that, the pesky little critter was loitering on his patch, so he was probably just OUTRAGED!
Don't worry unless it escalates, it dosn't sound like it's anything too serious...