My two year old crossbreed Alfie seems to be getting very intolerant around other dogs. 95% of the time he is fine...when the dogs he is with are just running round together there is not a problem...IF another dogs tries to bound up to him to play even slightly roughly he will not tolerate it at all and has a go at them...more noise than anything but its not just a 'go away' growl he will chase tham away in an aggressive way. I can see the signs straight away AS SOON as the other dog brings one paw around near his shoulders that is it...he will snap...I hate this behaviour in him, he is such a softie most of the time. I don't know why he has turned into such a grump around other dogs. With our own bitch he is fine they wrestle like maniacs and if anything he plays FAR too roughly with her and she never, ever tells HIM off. He really pulls at her neck (sometimes he will even make her wimper) but she has never and I doubt will ever tell him off (although she always wants to play she often initiates the play with him) I think this has made him far too big for his boots! Alfie will also have a go at another dog if they steal his tennis ball or stick...again our bitch lets him have whatever he wants and always has done since he was a puppy. I just feel if she had taught him some manners and not just let him get away with everything he would not be quite so intolerant of other dogs. Its not a massive problem as I can tell when any dog looks as if they will launch themselves on him to play I just call him to me (luckily he has a very good recall)...similarly if he has a toy/ball and another dogs comes by I just pick it up until we pass (although he has taken another dogs ball in the past and then had the cheek to have a go at them when they pick their own ball up!) I just wondered really if there is anything I could be doing to make him a little more at ease...he was socialised very well and this has only happened since he was castrated, I don't remember a single 'incident' before he had the chop, could that be related at all?

Hiya,

Honestly from what you say he doesn't sound like he's doing too much wrong, just sounds like he's telling dogs that go too far and are getting too much for him to back off.  Lots of dogs aren't comfortable with dogs they don't know very well getting too familiar too quickly and like to take their time to get to know there play mates before they are happy to get up close and personal.  As long as you can call him away and he's not taking it too far and once he's told them leaves it at that I really would say that he's within his rights. 

My girl really doesn't want more than a sniff and a move straight on with strange dogs and sometimes not even that, and if they ignore her turning to the side or trying to move away she will tell them to bog off more clearly. I often wish she would enjoy a play with strange dogs, but she doesn't like it and is great with dogs she has met a few times as long as they are polite - I take a while to get to know strangers myself so can't really hold it against her :-)

Like I say unless I'm not reading your post right I don't think you have too much to worry about.  I would just reamin as relaxed as you can as if he sees that you tense up he may pick up on it and just try and encourage play with silly voices.  But honestly if it's just dogs out and about that comes bounding up and he doesn't like it, I'd say he's just telling them as dogs do best to be a bit more polite :-)

I would agree, especially as another dog putting its paws or Head across your boys back and shoulders is a sign of the other dog trying to be dominant over him, so quite rightly he is telling them to pack it in.

If he is doing it to dogs that approach him and isn't seeking them out then I agree he is within his rights.

Thanks guys, I guess I am just worried that he actually goes a bit far...if it was just a growl I wouldn't be in the least bit concerned but he seems to go a bit over the top with his telling off...not long ago we were walking with my friend and her two dogs (dogs he knows well) and Alfie had a toy that has a rope hanging from it, he had it in his mouth and the other dog started to pull it, only in a playful way but Alfie flipped and really told her off...he was on top of her (although she did stand her ground aswell) I don't think it was too bad as far as dog fights could go (although Im not very experienced with dog/dog aggression) as I didn't think twice about pulling them apart to stop the nonsense, so I'm sure if had been a proper fight I wouldn't have wanted to put my hands in! She ended up with a little cut on her side. He has caught a newfie on the lip before which made it bleed, so it isn't just a back off growl...although this was a while a go as I would never let him off the lead with a 10 month old Newfie nowadays, it was far too much for him...poor newfie just wanted to play! However it just puts me on edge as I walk in a very popular dog walking area so Im constantly worrying that a dog will try and play roughly and he will flip...what if he tries to tell off a dog that wants to fight back? Although I don't suppose a dog like that would run up trying to play like a loony...it's these young bouncy labs you gotta watch!! I am just used to having a dog (our older bitch) that is as soft as custard with everyone and everything it puts me on edge having a dog that is so grumpy with playful dogs (and he is only 2...what will he ba like as an old man?!)

There is of course nothing wrong with you makeing sure he doesn't go too far.  Wtih this you need to forestall any issues so he doesn't feel the need to go too far.