I have 3 dogs a staffy, 5 year old dog (most amazingly friendly, loving dog) a greyhound 12 year old bitch, and a 4 year old lurcher, dog.  I took my staffy to puppy parties organised by my vets and feel I socialized him well.

My partner and I both used to walk the dogs together but due to working shifts,  I walk them by myself on a morning and he walks them by himself on an evening, when they are out with him they are fine but when I have them out the all get agressive when passing other dogs.  I have never encouraged this behaviour and try my best to discourage it, I do not avoid other dogs as I feel this would not help, but when they do start to get aggressive,  I stay calm and just ignore the behaviour, hoping that since they do not get a response from me they will give up.  Up to now it has not worked.

Can anyone tell me why they do this only with me, and how to stop it. 

Thanks
Sheli

> Can anyone tell me why they do this only with me, and how to stop it. 
>

There would be all sorts of theories for this but I would go with the fact they probably do not think you strong enough to stop them, try a VERY FIRM 'enough' and speed up as if very annoyed ignoring then as before apart from expressing your irritation by the one word 'enough'

How exactly do you behave when you see another dog?  How about your OH?

Apart from ignoring them (which may not work if their aggression is fear-based, as opposed to, say, frustration), what else have you tried? I found a headcollar was a godsend with my girl - she learned very quickly that with it on, she was phsyically unable to launch herself as she usually would.  That made her stop for a second, which gave me a tiny window of opportunity to get some treats in and work on the association with other dogs and good things happening to her.

Dogs are naturally 'pack' animals and will often get agressive and protective when together - I think they feel they need to protect you!  In this case, you need to re-assure your dogs, when approaching another dog, that you are fine - talk to them as you get closer.

> Can anyone tell me why they do this only with me

Hi Shel,

Bear in mind its not just your behaviour on the walk that will determine how your dogs have ranked you against your OH, but how you are at home with them too! They'll take in the whole picture.

As their behaviour is not geared to getting your attention (say as opposed to barking at doorbells) then your ignoring the behaviour doesnt have the same outcome as it would for attention seeking.
Bark at doorbell incessantly..get ignored = no reward
but
Bark at strangers to warn them off ... get ignored = condoning and being protected by us!
Does that make sense?
Better a confident firm and chipper "thank-you! thats enough! walk on!" = you have taken the lead, you direct the behaviour :)

Guessed there would be some different ideas when people decided what the problem was here and it is difficult to know when one can't see the situation. However I do still think that the dogs are behaving as they do because they think they can.

IMO talking quietly to them as you approach a dog may well be misinterpreted by your dogs a permission to behave badly, Likewise not too sure about describing this as a 'pack' matter, think it is more simple than that, dogs will do as they wish unless you stop them, so if you like you need to be higher up the pecking order so when you say, enough, stop, walk on or what have you they know you mean it and because they respect you or because they know you have control of food and home comforts they will not deliberately upset you or who knows you may bite.

Can you recognise any particular dog as the instigator of the behaviour? Does one react a bit before the others, in terms of body language, before the barking or lunging begins (assuming that's what they do)?

If you can separate one out I would do individual work with that dog, and try to desensitise it to other dogs when out, letting it know you are capable and in charge.  It's hard to advise without seeing the behaviour. But since they behave for your husband it shouldn't be too hard. What does your husband do to keep them all in line? Or do they never react to other dogs with him?

Until you have got them controlled in a training setting I would tend to try and avoid other dogs when out, because the more they practise that behaviour the more they will do it. By avoid I just mean look well ahead and try to cross the street early where you can. I'm afraid to say that I think dogs can quite enjoy getting themselves worked up into a pack tizzy, with the rewards of the adrenalin rush etc.., so if they can do it they will.

I have an entire male, which I think makes a lot of difference- you don't say if yours are entire or not. My lad is also very well socialised but has tried a bit of this reacting to to other dogs malarkey- his age I think. What worked for me was smartly turning round and walking in the opposite direction from the target dog and then back towards again, turning away again if any strutting or growling etc.. and so on. This stops some dogs getting too wound up and they eventually twig that you decide the direction and what is safe and okay, it also distracts them a bit because if you do quick , snappy turns, they are forced to concentrate more on you. Sorry, haven't explained that very well.

Three big dogs makes walking them is a pain if they behave like that. But I would bet one is taking the lead, however imperceptible, and that is the dog to concentrate on.

I have read this with interest as I have exactly the same issue with my boy. Within the home (and also outside, with the exception of this v specific area) there is no doubt that Ta-ri sees me as 'higher' in the pecking order than my OH. He is instantly obedient to me, his recall is excellent for me but he acts like a wilfull teenager when my husband calls. I have worked with him in local classes and he has passed KC Good Citizen Bronze and Silver, there is no doubt in my mind or my husbands that Tars sees me as chief cook and bottle washer.
It is more of an issue, I have noticed with younger, adoloscent male types who come charging over to say hi, however he is quite happy to join in a game of tag with these types when out with my OH.
Another reason I can not accept the theories related to hierarcy is that if all three of us walk together at the weekends, say, he remains protective and aggressive as if I were on my own. My OH can not get over the complete character change, a real Jeckyll and Hyde. FYI also I do approx. 80% of the walks.
I have always put it down to the fact that he believes that my husband is well able to look after himself (at 6ft 4 he is probably correct) rather than a hierarcy issue, but would still welcome any new ideas/suggestions!!!

Roughbaby, I am pleased I am not the only one.  I am top dog two at home, whenever my o/h tells them to do anything the selective hearing seems to be switched on, but I only need to say it once and they do it. 

Thanks for all the replys.

Right I will try to answer all questions and give a bit more background.  Both males are entire.  I have a harness on the staffy as he is strong, and a halti on the Lurcher, until a few moths back we used to walk them together, but when I had no choice but to walk them myself I would walk the staffy (dog and the Greyhound (bitch) together, and the Lurcher seperately, as the lurcher has always had issues with other dogs, which thanks  to the halti are rare now unless they all start.  But since I can control him better now I can take all 3 dogs out together.

The weird thing is it the greyhound who seems to be starting it, she never used to do it when it was just her and the staffy, she has always been protective of us (me and the staffy) on a few occasions other dogs have came up in a thretening manner and she has went for them.  So she is very protective, she is also 12 and should be getting laid back in her old age.

I still enjoy walking them, but would be nicer if we got this minor problem sorted.