My 4yr old castrated Lab had a mild scuffle with a GR puppy of about 7-8 months a few weeks ago, but I managed to smooth it over with the very pleasant young lady owner, and we haven't seen her since - until today. My boy, Luke, is somewhat unpredictable with dogs he doesn't know - fine with dogs at training class - so I don't let him off lead if there are unknown dogs around. So, today, we were in the local park playing with his ball, and I was being very vigilant - no other dogs in sight. We were as far across the field as possible, away from the entrances. However, he suddenly took off and I could not recall, distract or catch him - and there, coming into the field was said GR puppy, on lead. Luke went like a rocket and launched himself at this poor dog, and the owner had to really pull him off. I arrived, apologised & leashed Luke - I asked if he had bitten and she said he had, although she couldn't actually see a bite - he has thick fur, fortunately. She was obviously upset, remembered of course that this was the second incident, and said that Luke should be muzzled. I have sent an E-mail message to the behavourist we saw about 15 months ago, but I have to say this has really shaken me up, I had thought we were making some progress with Luke's hyper behaviour, but now I don't feel I will ever be able to trust him again.:-(

Hi,

Sorry, this can't have been very nice for you and you must be feeling shaken - but it will have been even more unpleasant for the other lady and her puppy.  A puppy being attacked twice at that age can be enough to affect the way he sees and interacts with other dogs.  I have a dog that can be wary of dogs she doesn't know due to incidents like this - please, please for the sake of other people and their dogs keep him on a long line and keep him muzzled, to do other wise is unfair.  It's too difficult to advise with aggression over the web, the dog needs to be seen; so you are doing the right thing by getting a behaviourist to see him, just make sure it is a reputable behaviourist that uses reward based methods.  Goodluck.

I'm sumizing that this puppy is a male, if so it is understandable why your dog is going for him, pups of this age are giving off scents of their testosterone and many male dogs neutered or not see this as a free for all to put them in their place. :-(

If he is aggressive with other male (or even female) dogs of all ages then this is not the reason and to be honest he will need to be muzzled, but if he has only up to date in his 4 years of life only ever attacked this lab then the reason is the age of the pup.

You seem to be being responsible as much as you can, but you need to protect this lab pup from your dog, I have a suggestion, (If it is just this pup) and if the lady is agreeable, could you possibly ask this lady for her mobile number and perhaps you could call each other for walking times or to give warning of her being in the same place so that you can lead your dog, sight alone is not working as your dog scensed him long before you saw him, so this could be a good way to solve the problem, she sounds like a nice lady and it would help to protect her pup from your dog, so she may well be happy to do this.

If  not as suggested a long line is the only way to go.

Also as her pup becomes older the two dogs will probably be fine with each other afterwards, but that is something you will need to gage between you. :-)

If he is aggressive to other male pups though, he will just need to be kept on a long line.

Thanks, Carrington, I had wondered whether there were hormones involved. Luke was neutered 15 months ago, but there are still times when he seems to get very excited and I have suspected that a bitch in season has been walking round the area - do they ever lose these urges?? His mum is the first bitch we have ever owned and she is so much easier - a pure delight to own. I have to say, after this one and our previous rescue who was dog aggressive, I'd never, ever, ever have a male dog again. ;-)

>I'd never, ever, ever have a male dog again.

I have two males now, after many years of bitch ownership, and they'll be our last males as well! I hadn't realised just how different and how much harder they are than bitches.

My boy, Luke, is somewhat unpredictable with dogs he doesn't know

The above quote is from the original post, so that to me means it isn't just this puppy.  There is also a world of difference between a dog putting a rude youngster in its place and a dog charging across a park to tell a dog off and have it's teeth make contact with that dog.