Hi, I `ll give a quick  description of her behavour and hope someone may have the answer ! I have a 4 year old Border Terrier which we had from a rescue centre when she was 4 months. I feel bad having a moan about her really as she is a lovely dog and not even as a puppy has she ever chewed anything, she is very loving andadores all the grandchildren regardless of their age and very obedient in the house, likes to play and fetch and then sleeps ! On the lead is quite good although we still have a battle sometimes as to who is taking who for a walk but then get`s the message... she knows where she`s going and is eager to get there, the return journey is a dream and just plods along with me and has always sat at the kerb before crossing the road, she is of course always on a lead. We go to a park  every day  and she is off the lead through the woods, which then opens out ito a large green area  and at one time if she saw another dog she would tear after it but just to play, recognising the usual playmates. I have always had to keep an eye out for small white dogs after having a couple of frightening and embarressing encounters where she has turned and been been aggresive and I have had the wrath of the owners. I am always on the look out and if I spot them before she does and I say WAIT, she will stand still and I can re - lead her.

The problem I`m having now is that  she is now tearing off to any dog and is becoming very aggresive and even to the dogs she knows and no amount of calling will bring her back. I have just come back from the park in tears and  now I am not going to let her off ever again as she went for a small dog that she used to just play with . I don`t know what to do do as she really does need to have a good run every day but now she`ll just have to walk with me.  A part from that she is a very loving dog and no trouble at all. Please help.
Maggie J

Hi Maggie, Sorry to hear of your bad walk with your girl ending in tears. I'm only guessing but now your girl is 4 years old she is a mature grown up female and by the sounds of it likes to be rather bossy with dogs out and about. To retrain her I would invest in a retractable lead say 16 feet and only let her have some free time on that for now, if she wants to drag you over to another dog or gets excited at a dog correct her in her attitude if it is not nice.It has to be on your terms. Do not hold her tightly by straining on her lead, when she meets another dog let her sniff each other circle around like they do and see how her body language is, when this is going on it is always best not to say a word to her or the other dog- with my lad me butting in and saying anything would make him react badly in that situation. If you see her jumping up and looking like she is going to attack they get a fixated state lots of eye balling going on, at least you will be able to correct her of this instantly with her being on a lead and stop any trouble. She will need to know how cross you are for this behavior- tell her off and end the walk. If she is OK then give her a nice treat. She will soon realise you do not tolerate this bossy over the top girl and with time stop it. Do not let her off the lead until she is listening to you and being OK. Even ignoring other dogs is good just no growling or being in there face allowed.  Good luck x

I will wait for people more experienced with aggression problems to answer....but in the meantime you could use a flexi lead. You could then work on her recall from these situations having the backup of the lead. you could also try taking her to a good training classes where her interaction with other dogs could be supervised, and advice received from the trainer too.

Hi  Majica. Thank you for your help and a long training lead seems to be the answer. It is so frustrating that since a pup I have had  no problems with her and now it doesn`t seem to be the same dog when we are out !  So many people dog owners have got to know her since I started going to the park and have always thought her so cute, but I don`t think they do now ! It has really had me worried as to why she is being behaving lik this and now dread taking her out all certainly tryas people will be giving me a wide birth.  I  will definately put into practice all that you have suggested  and see if we can get back on course. I always take dog treats out with me as that is the way I have trained her to come when called and to do what is asked but now she would  sooner do what she wants to do and blow having a treat !   She darn well knows that she`s not behaved well to get one as she doesn`t even look up at me. She is not stupid and can work out when I am cross  and we walk back home when she has been scolded with her head hung down and then when we get home she will go straight to her bed.

Anyway, thanks for all your input , a new day tomorrow !
Maggie J

Hi Pinklilies.   Thank you also for replying, the long lead does seem to be the answer for this problem and I will try it out for a while and if this fails I will have to seek proffesional help. It is not fair on other dogs or their owners as I know how I would feel if the situation were reversed.   I didn`t know that their behaviour can change when they became an adult so to speak, this has only happened over the last week and I feel now that all the training and work  that was acheived since a puppy has gone out the window and I don`t want her to be a dog that everyone avoids as going out for walks will not be as enjoyable as it  should be....

Indoors she is still the same and hasn`t developed any behavour change. She has many toys that she has access to and will play and fetch balls and will stop when I say - enough. I can take her food bowls and bones from her with out her batting an eye, it`s just this other dog thing !

My little terrier is exactly the same. I put it down to her becoming an adult & often wonder if spaying has anything to do with her change in temperament? Is your girl spayed? My Tilly only likes a few (west highland whites) are her favourite, but can be a right little madam with some dogs. At least she doesn't go out of her way to go after them though, it's only if they approach her.

Before she was spayed she was a complete push-over, she loved all dogs & actually was a right little tart! Does this ring any bells with your little girl?

Hi there. Thank you for your reply, it`s heartening to know other Terriers are the same and I haven`t suddenly aquired a delinquent !

As you say and also others, it seems to be becoming an adult that makes the change and yes, she did act the tart before this  behavour started . Suzie has never had puppies  and I am wondering if there is hormone problem as  she has had 3 phantom pregnancies, the whining, taking all her toys to her bed and grooming a soft dog that she has. The vet said she would grow out of it so I can only hope as it is very tiring listening to her whining all day but on the other hand I feel sorry for her !

I had only just come across the site as I was getting desperate with her behavour and think it`s fantastic as you can learn such alot with other people offering help and advise.

Kind Regards
Maggie J

I have a Border Terrier X.  He is an absolute joy.  But I do have to keep a tight flexi lead grip on him when other dogs are about.  He isnt nasty, but he just wont come back!  If there is a dog a half a mile away .... gone!  If I catch him quick enough he will stop on command, but if I slip that extra second there is no stopping him(Sorry  Dad I cant hear you).  I usally take him where it is pretty dog free so he can have a real good run around chasing squirrels and rabbits.

> I am wondering if there is hormone problem as she has had 3 phantom pregnancies, the whining, taking all her toys to her bed and grooming a soft dog that she has. The vet said she would grow out of it so I can only hope as it is very tiring listening to her whining all day but on the other hand I feel sorry for her !
>

This rings warning bells with me. I don't think any bitch 'grows out' of phantom pregnancies, and I would certainly look to getting her spayed. Has she been in season recently? From this change of behaviour I would be a little concerned that maybe she is developing a pyometra. Terriers can be little so-and-sos for dog agression, but Borders are usually better than most, and if she has always been fairly reliable until now, I would have said that, at 4, she wasn't going to change so I would be looking for something that has caused this change of behaviour, rather than merely ecusing it as 'something terriers do'.

I wouldn't be in the slightest bit surprised if this is hormone related.  My bitch terrier went through exactly the same temperament change due to false pregnancy.  Unfortunately whilst having her spayed put a stop to the FP it didn't make any difference to the dog aggression, thankfully in her case she's not too interested in other dogs so does not seek them out.  She's actually very good with dogs that she knows well but does not tolerate playful advances.