I am so upset about an incident today involving my dog. Please don't shout me down and critisise me. I have a westie who is usually well behaved and sociable. There is a black spaniel whom he has taken an instant dislike since the spaniel was a puppy, which he always barks at. Usually we are at a distance and pass by quickly. Today the owners were walking past my driveway as I drove home and Rory started barking. I waited until they had gone around the corner and then opened the back door to take Rory out of his car harness. Unfortunately he was straining so hard that the restraint snapped and he shot out of the car and after the spaniel. Once he caught up he just barked and barked at the poor dog as we tried to catch him. Eventually the man owner got hold of him and carried him away. I then got an angry speel about needing to do something about my aggressive dog. I don't blame him, I would have reacted the same had it been the other way around, and I am absolutely mortified that Rory should behave like this. I dont want him to get a reputation for being an aggressive dog - or is that what he is?  I have successfully got him through all the training classes, we go to social dog walks once a month, he does agility training, and he has never behaved this way before, usually he loves to be with other dogs. What can I do? Why does he react this way to that dog?

I've often read on this forum how some dogs just don't like black dogs it can make it difficult to read the signals and in particular to see their eyes, some dogs prefer to warn a bark before getting close enough to figure out whether friend or foe.

Your Westie sounds to me to be giving a typical Westie/terrier solution of bark and chase and trying to look big and brave, he didn't bite did he, just chased after the dog and barked?

If this behaviour is not typical, then I would just make sure your dog is kept away from the Spniel, I guess a behaviourist may suggest that it would be a good idea to help these two to meet and greet and for your Westie to get used to him and to make him sit and await the Spaniel to pass, praising if he does not bark with a treat, until he learns not to bark at it.

But, if I were you and the owner was very upset with me I don't think I would personally use this Spaniel to train my dog to be good with.

I personally when seeing this Spaniel would either go the other way, or pick up my dog to pass, the latter not being a good training method at all, but under the circumstances I think I would do it.

If he barks and chases other dogs aswell though, try the training method of sitting when these dogs pass and giving treats and good boys when not barking, and No's when he does. ;-)

If it is only this one dog that your westie shows a dislike for, then I wouldn't worry that you have an aggressive dog on your hands just yet.  He didn't actually attack the dog; just 'saw it off' in the typical terrier manner.

As Carrington says, it is relatively common for some dogs to be wary of black dogs as it can be more difficult for a dog to 'read' them.  One of my dogs is black and people often say to me that their dog doesn't like black dogs....some come around to him when they realise he is not a threat.  Others avoid him at all costs despite meeting him regularly without incident.

I would just make the effort to give this dog a wide berth.  Perhaps if Rory meets other black dogs and doesn't react to them, you could treat and praise as it may go some way to helping him associate black dogs with nice things :)  But unless he starts to react like this to a variety of dogs, I really wouldn't be terribly concerned.  After all, we don't like everyone we meet and there are probably loads of people we'd like to tell to 'clear off' if we could get away with it ;)

Thanks so much for your support. He did only bark, not bite. But it did shock me to the core and I feel scared to go out with him now. I usually do give the spaniel a wide berth but the spaniel was walking at the bottom of my driveway this time ( there is a footpath at the side of my house) It bothers me that the other owners think so badly of him, although I can understand their reaction. I dont think they will want to participate in any training somehow! I am relieved that you feel he is not aggressive from this incident, althgough I will be on the look out for any reactions to other dogs.

Don't stress luv. he's just being a dog. We(peps) don't like some people do we, but we would rather stab them in the back than tell them to their face as we should. He's honest an honest little Westie, he told him. I doubt very much that you've got an aggressive dog there at all and if the spaniel owners say anything else to you, you tell them.
"He's not aggressive, he just doesn't like YOUR dog, that's all".

Something very similar happened to me when I was about 17, our sweet lab x ran out of our driveway and barked crazily at the local borzoi who for some reason she hated (she got on well with all other dogs).

I was totally mortified, esp. as the owner was also the owner of our local shop so it wasn't that easy to avoid her as mum often sent me there for groceries!

It's probably territorial, dogs can get very worked up about the same dog going past their home every day.

I'd say carry on as before but totally manage the situation, ensure your dog is responsive generally to you, and continue to socialise him with other dogs.
If you don't have a gate consider installing one, or maybe just to make it double safe, shut the gate before getting your dog out.

I'm sure we've all been there at one time or another :)

He doesn't sound like an aggressive dog (as others said sometimes people and dogs take a dislike to others) but it does sound like you need to work on his self control. E.g. there is one person I don't trust at work, something creepy about him and I wish he would leave but I can't go around shouting and fighting with him.

You need to teach him that even in upsetting, distracting, situations he has to listen to you. You sound like you've done a lot with him so it is a matter of increasing what you already do (will he do obedience exercises while other dogs that he likes are doing agility or playing or does he ignore youy and want to join in, does he have good car manners and wait in the car when you arrive at an exciting walk/training class or does he leap out as soon as you undo the harness?).

Even the best behaved dogs can do naughty things when we least expect it so don't feel too upset about it :)

The biggest concern is the harness, if it can't hold a small dog pulling hard it probably won't hold him in an accident. Maybe try a better harness or buy a small travelling cage (also handy if he ever needs cage rest due to injury).

my dog watches every dog walk past our house without any noise or particular interest but theres one dog an akita which seems to terrify him(might be the raised tail) and if we pass him in the car he barks at it .
if i saw  this dog whilst out walking i would avoid it. dont worry too much, i know its upsetting but it happens.

Bramble hates, with a vengeance, a black, Giant Schnauzer that lives in the next road :) :) :) Definitely a black dog thing :) :) Tara hates boxers (any colour) :) :) So you are not alone :) :)

Daisy

June, I wouldn't worry, he is just being a dog, perfectly normal. My 2, male GSD & bossy little terrierX (don't laugh), were chased from a distance (thank God) by a chihuahua today. I was walking along a road on a small housing estate, when I heard a male voice calling this dog. The damn thing took absolutely no notice & chased us at a distance for quite a way. I daren't stop & let it catch up with my 2, because neither of them like dogs acting aggresively. He was a right little devil, had to smile though, I am sure his owner would not have liked it the other way round, would he? Don't worry, it wasn't your fault that his harness snapped, all's well that ends well. I got the impression today that this dog was loose on the owners front garden while he was at his car, very irresponsible. If the dog didn't obey simple commands, it should not have been loose.

I definately need to do some strict training - perhaps I relaxed a little. He is quite territorial, unfortunately we have a pathway alongside our house so there is lots of activity and he often barks when people pass by. When he gets worked up he doesnt listen, so this is something I need to work on somehow. I'm very comforted by your replies though so thanks very much. Trust me not to have a dog with a quiet compliant personality!:rolleyes:

> Trust me not to have a dog with a quiet compliant personality

LOL - mine don't either - but they have loads of personality which is far more interesting (although quiet and compliant would be nice sometimes :D :D ) :) :)

Daisy

i would take the harness back and complain- how safe is it if it snaps??

My Newfie does not get on with other male dogs and I now muzzle him. I hear alot about how soft they are but boy my lad has a temper behind him towards some dogs.
Now even though he is calm around most people and some dogs I can't take the risk where i live. Everyone lets their dogs off the leads and a high number let their dogs roam the fields which is all fine but it means I have to be careful.
I hate to muzzle him but I would rather walk him safely than see him hurt another dog.
Luckly I can hold him and I can correct him when he acts bad but it takes alot to keep him by my side as he is a strong boy. My vet told me he will never be a lap dog so I guess I will always have to be careful.