I have a 6 year old golden retriever bitch and, like most goldies, she is a total softy. She has never attacked, bitten or snapped at anyone. Even when she used to 'pick-pocket' a biscuit out of my 2year old daughter's hand, she would take it extremely slowly and carefully.

However, she has recently become extremely aggressive to other dogs while on walks. She obviously thinks she is protecting us.
If she meets another dog when she's off the lead and 50 yards away then she's fine.
If she meets a friend's dog that comes to our house she's fine.

But if she is close to us on a walk (and esp. if on a lead) then she becomes "Mr Hyde" with aggressive barking/ growling and will often attack the other dog. Lately she has often taken to running straight over to the nearby dog and sinking her teeth into the other dog's back. She will usually come back when sternly commanded but I'm worried she is becoming a bit of a liability. Yesterday she went for a lovely black lab who's owner, a young teenager, couldn't hold her on the lead and the black lab went running off down the road to escape.

I don't want to necessarily blame other dogs but 9months ago we moved house 300 yards to another street. At the end of our new street there are two aggressive dogs (again protective) that bark loudly when anyone walks past. Even though they climb through a hole in the fence, the 2 dogs never leave their property and never attack. Just bark and growl loudly.

Could my goldie have picked up her behaviour from them?

I feel a muzzle would treat the symptons but not the cause. It might stop her from biting other dogs but wouldn't stop her aggression.

I'm at a loss as to what I can do to stop this behaviour.
Can anyone help?

Ýou might need a behaviourist's help here, because the first vital thing to find out is if she is truly aggressive and trying to guard you, or if it is FEAR. Many times it looks much the same. The things that made me think fear was the fact she bit the other dog's back, and that she has been barked at.I have a dog that is terrified of dogs she doesn't know, and her way of dealing with it was to attack first -and she did that by running at them from the back and biting their backside (she's little so can't reach higher!) -whereas dogs that want an actual fight tends to go head on and challenge the other dog. The approach to solving the problem would be entirely different if is is fear based, so it is important to find out. For instance, if she is told off for doing this and she does it out of fear it will only make things worse. I'd definitely seek qualified help if I was you, it was what I did and it helped my dog.

-whereas dogs that want an actual fight tends to go head on and challenge the other dog.

Excellently put MarianneB that is exactly how a dog would behave, in this case I agree this could well be fear aggression, whether that is for your safety or her own, a behavioursit will be able to sumize better.

Have you noticed which type of dogs she is going for, I know you mentioned when on lead she is worse, is she going for certain breeds, adolescents, bitches, dogs, or both, is she worse if unspayed when coming up to her season, or is this happening at any given time?  You mentioned the last problem with a black lab, have the other dogs been black too?

When calling in a behaviourist you'll be asked all of these questions as well as a behaviourist watching what happens on your walks, so collate as much information as possible.

For now you need to protect other dogs.

remember if it is fear based she will be worse on the lead because she doesnt have the option of flight

I am very concerned for the dogs she is attacking. The black labrador could have been killed on the road if he had kept on running.And they often do keep on running, so your responsibilty lays with the fear your dogs are instilling in other dogs too, and the long term effects it has on them, let alone the Vets bills that you should be paying, should they need treatment. And I absolutely agree with your thoughts of a muzzle, to protect the other dogs and a very long line to keep her under control on. Great idea and I wouldn't walk her again without the muzzle on.And certainly on a long loose lead so that she is 'under control in a public place'. As the law requires.

My other concern is, why at 6 has she suddenly started this? Is she speyed? entire? If she has just had a season I would get her down the Vets double quick to see if she is blowing a pyometra. She needs a thorough Veterinary check anyway, but make it very quick if she has finished a season in the last 8 weeks or so.

And you are right not to blame other peoples dogs, you can avoid walking past the aggressive dogs. That should not trigger this sort of behaviour, it is a bit extreme, as i am sure in 6 years she has met plenty of dogs out socialising?

Then a really good behaviourist, who definately would NOT want to see her attack another dog, but with a muzzle on might want to observe how you are walking and handling her. Let us know how it goes.  

You said >Lately she has often taken to running straight over to the nearby dog and sinking her teeth into the other dog's back. She will usually come back when sternly commanded but I'm worried she is becoming a bit<

Sorry just reread this again. 'She has often' means a lot more than once. I am surprised you haven't been reported to the Dog Warden, I would have reported you, as well as wiping the floor with you if she had attacked my dogs. I am not having a go, you are right to seek help, but you must get it now via the Vets.

If it is not Veterinary, he could refer you to a good behaviourist will be able to see what other problems she may have in the home, too and all this could be covered by the referall from your Vets on your Pet Insurance. Good luck. 

Just to add to Golden Lady's comments, I would be asking the vet for a blood panel as well as a thorough physical exam - and that panel should include a thorough (4 factor minimum) thyroid panel as well, especially if the aggression has started suddenly.

Have him check for well-hidden physical pain too - as I've said on here before, dogs hide pain VERY well, and my own older girl hid pain so well that it took her going for me in one particular set of circumstances in a particular way that tipped it off - and then it took a VERY thorough vet exam, focusing on where I thought the pain was, to pick it up.  It turned out to be spinal/pelvic problems and was sorted with a course of chiropractic treatment, but if that particular set of circumstances had not presented themselves I would never have realised - and this was 6 months after I took her on and began working on her aggression problems.

In the meantime your dog needs to be on a lead and muzzled for her and others safety - even if she is starting the fight, another dog may well turn round and end it.  I know my little dog would - she is very intolerant of dogs pushing their limits and will waste no time in retaliating.  Not to mention, as GL says, if your dog attacked mine you would be hearing about it from me!  I know how hard it is - the girl I mentioned above has given me 18 months of heartache, frustration, anger and tears - both of despair and utter joy as she's made progress, and we have had scrapes, but she never actually made physical contact (far too scared to do it).

Good luck with her, it can be done - not only my girl, but I have worked with another who when on lead would go absolutely ballistic at any other dog.  Last time I worked with her she was up to meeting some of them on-lead with only a few hackles and she (like my girl) had a long history of leash aggression, so there is always hope!

It may well be fear aggression, i have a fear aggressive bitch, a vet referral to a good behaviourist is a must as well as a health check.
She use to bark and lunge on the lead really bad though she was attacked on the lead twice, she never bit another dog off lead she just use to bully them away, by chasing them off barking in a aggressive manner, it didn't matter to roxi what sex they were big or small....anyway we found a fantastic behaviourist , who has helped us through her issues teaching me to be more assertive, we do to tend to tense up as we know whats coming, it's embarrassing!!! :) with loads of patience and hard work we can now walk past dogs now with no drama, i don't let her off lead with dogs she doesn't know as some dogs are too much for her.
Agree with others with keeping her on a lead and muzzled, as other dogs need to be safe.

Do feel for you, good luck with your girl :)

Really interesting reply from Nikita about her dogs pelvic condition and we know how stoic our dogs are and hide pain. I am really concerned that is appears to be a really sudden start at the age of 6 years old. Please tell us more about how this manifested itself.

Please tell the Vet about Nikitas reply as this needs to be very intense examination. So many Vets misdiagnose obvious conditions let alone well hidden ones. 

I agree that the first port of call with sudden onset of aggression in a dog of this age with no obvious reasons such as an attack to her and a previously sound temprement would be a full health check.  There can be alsorts of health reasons why a dogs behaviour will change, impaired eye sight, pain, thyroid problems, the list goes on.  A lot of good behaviourists will want a vet referal anyway to make sure the dog has been given a clean bill of health to rule that possibility out any way.

Thanks to most of you for your input. Some interesting and worthwhile suggestions.

In re-reading my original post, I see that I have exaggerated somewhat. She only bit a dog once with me (the black lab) and after intense interrogation of my partner I find that while my partner has witnessed our goldie being aggressive to other dogs, my partner has never witnessed her actually biting another dog. Just a lot of growling, teeth and the odd snap. I think I over-edited my original post and it lost some of its accuracy.

My goldie doesn't choose any particular size, age, colour or breed of dog although I can't comment about dogs or bitches since I didn't look at their undercarriage. She is not spayed and her aggressive nature has been over the last 6-9 months.

I'm taking her to the vets this afternoon but I would have thought it strange if it was medical since she's only aggressive when on the lead or close to me or the children - I'll maintain an open mind though during the vet visit. I have also discovered a local, well qualified behaviourist.

Finally, although I can't quite visualise what phrases like "wiping the floor with you" actually mean, I think I can guess and I find them rude and unnecessary. Also, suggestions such as "and you are right not to blame other peoples dogs, you can avoid walking past the aggressive dogs." are best withheld unless you are familiar with the aggressive dogs in question and the topology of the 'no through road' on which I live.

I'm sorry if I am not a perfect dog owner (unlike one member here) but I do realise the seriousness of the situation and am genuinely and actively trying to correct it. If I had a choice, I'd prefer advice rather than judgement.

Many thanks again

Hi i will offer some help i wont criticise as whats done is done im sure you have no time machine.

i think you should seek the help of a good behaviourist or trainer, seems like a pretty simple dog agression problem. Whilst you are walking her yourself maybe get her a good headcollar so you can control her head a little more, have her attention focused on you and you only, her not being able to have a face on confrontation with the other dog may help. A firm ''leave'' command when she starts (even a contsant stare at the other dog, when she grumbles before she lunges hopefully) or even a sit, you could distract her with a treat or her favourite toy. Make sure when you see another dog approaching you dont tense up too much as your dog can sense this and it may have escalated her problems (alot of dog agression problems stem from this, a nervous owner and the dogs reacts) you being nervous of another dog,  she feels like she may need to protect you or there must be some reason you are tense. I suggest the next thing only with help from your trainer behaviourist, a rattle bottle to reinforce the leave command, you may have seen them on tv a drinks bottle with pennys coins stones in etc. When she starts with another dog say leave 'shake' the bottle. This will startle her, she will hopefully leave and look at you ''leave'' again. then carry on walking. Dont overeggerate the leave, say it once or twice with a sharp tug of her headcollar to start off with, if you yell leave at her repeatedly it will lose its effect.

Hope this helps and you can make sense of it, easier said than done but keep on with it, hopefully be back to your regular happy walks. But keep her on a lead until the problem is 100% sorted out for the safety of your girl and other dogs.

Louise

> Please tell the Vet about Nikitas reply as this needs to be very intense examination. So many Vets misdiagnose obvious conditions let alone well hidden ones.

You've got that right - the vet diagnosed her as having arthritis, and gave me a leaflet about Cartrophen injections.  Thank god I called the chiropractor - she had no such thing, and I might have been putting her through pain (through lack of treatment) and then the discomfort of injections into her joints for no reason. :-(

> I'm taking her to the vets this afternoon but I would have thought it strange if it was medical since she's only aggressive when on the lead or close to me or the children - I'll maintain an open mind though during the vet visit. I have also discovered a local, well qualified behaviourist.

It does sound like fear aggression on leash - quite common - but it's always worth keeping an open mind, as sometimes behaviours can occur for strange reasons.  Soli used to be a lot worse if I walked her on a harness - took me a while to realise, until it twigged that her old owner used to walk her on one of those anti-pull harnesses, so every time she lunged at another dog she got extra pain under her armpits.  So she was that much more worried about being hurt by other dogs when she had a harness on (I use halti harnesses btw).  So it can be a little odd, or not obvious sometimes.

At 6 years old to start aggression from nowhere is unusual. There has to be a trigger point. I won't apologise for being blunt. You wrote your original email, not me. You are seeking help as we all need to when we cannot resolve a problem. Take it on board like we all do.

A good behaviourist will be blunt too.  And I suggested getting a referral from your Vet that you may find the cost (often 200 pounds) covered by your insurance company. No thanks required, don't worry.

When she starts with another dog say leave 'shake' the bottle. This will startle her, she will hopefully leave and look at you ''leave'' again.

Louise like I said if this is FEAR based (which the OP will need a behaviourist to determine, we can't tell just from messages), any form of punishment is likely to make it all a lot WORSE. Therefore, this is about the worst thing they ever could do....... and it could also make an aggressive dog more aggressive.

Right, a Golden Retriever should not be like this and up to now she hasn't been. So, firstly I would suggest and really full health check. I agree wholeheartedly to try a behaviourist though as they would be able to see triggers that you may not be able to pick up. Has she been attacked herself recently?. I have a bitch at the moment that has decided that as the oldest, leader of the pack in our brood is loosing the plot then she should really take over looking after the pack. Any dogs that previously have given us grief before, when we meet them I can physically see her brace herself to be ready in case they should start any trouble. Now I have never had this with her before and luckily I can see what she is up to and so I distract her. Luckily, she listens to me. I do believe that you may be right about the aggressive dogs that you have been encountering but you have to reinforce the fact that you are looking after her and it is not her job to look after you. Please do think about a behaviourist, they are trained to help you overcome these sort of issues. However, I most definitely wouldn't permit her off lead at present until you can sort this problem out.

> FEAR based (which the OP will need a behaviourist to determine, we can't tell just from messages), any form of punishment is likely to make it all a lot WORSE. Therefore, this is about the worst thing they ever could do....... and it could also make an aggressive dog more aggressive.

Yes we learnt the hard way, we tried the shake bottle before we contacted a behaviourist it really did make my girl worst.

Absolutely agree that if this is fear aggression, to try and treat it with the shock of a rattle bottle or similar tactics will undoubtedly make it worse.Lets hope the behaviourist knows, there is a lot that don't treat problems properly, as we know.

It would make sense that the bitch MAY take issue with the aggressive dogs at the top end of the road,if she got frightened of them, but why would she with every other dog she meets? Not at 6 yo and well socialised. I am still wondering if she having a problem with a brewing pyo or something similar which is making her uncomfortable.

You really shouldn't take it that people are judging you, noone is. We all need help with different dog problems. 

I have a 6 year old golden retriever bitch and, like most goldies, she is a total softy. She has never attacked, bitten or snapped at anyone. Even when she used to 'pick-pocket' a biscuit out of my 2year old daughter's hand, she would take it extremely slowly and carefully.


Just had a thought jEcle, is your wee daugther with you or hubby on these walks when this happens?  If she has never shown aggression of any type before, be it fear, or a form of guarding behaviour and nothing has happened to envoke this behaviour, (though I'd like you to really think about that, if something may have triggered it.) then she may well be taking on the roll of Alpha bitch protecting her 'pup'.

As a child one of my mum's Collies was extremely protective of me, it is just a thought with it being a new behaviour and also with you having a very young child. I've seen Alpha bitches who have never acted to protect other bitches they live with, suddenly chase off many a male dog when another bitch is pregnant.

This may well be a reason for her behaviour.

Though if you daugher is not there at the time, I guess we go back to square one. :-)

I totally agree Carrington although the "wee" daughter is not quite so wee now at 5 years and she has a brother at 3 years. Both are now too smart to let the dog "pick-pocket" their biscuits.

The goldie (9 months older than our daughter) has always been protective of them. If we left a baby in the garden to enjoy the fresh air, the dog would always sit by their side.  Ever since the kids have been toddling on walks the dog would firmly put herself between the toddlers and any approaching dog. She used to see them off with a quick bark but recently she has become more aggressive. This is why in my original post I mentioned I thought she is being aggressive to protect us.

And yes, the attack on the black lab did happen when my 3 year old son was with me.
We were standing outside a shop.
I was standing in front of a parked car.
My dog was on my right, on my left my son was watching the black lab approaching alongside the car.
My goldie couldn't see the dog approaching because of the car.
Then, when the lab was about 3 feet from my son, it came into my goldie's view.
I guess I can see it from my goldie's point of view. A big dog had suddenly appeared 3ft (or 91.4cm - don't know if my dog thinks in metric or imperial) away from my son.
She obviously saw the lab as a great threat and reacted instantly.

Had a long chat with the vet yesterday. He looked over her thoroughly and she appears to be in perfect health. The vet agreed that the problem is behavioural and perhaps could have been exasperated by the fierce dogs on our street. Especially if we are walking past them 4 or more times a day.

So, it's off to the therapist!
As long as I don't receive too many judgemental postings, I'll let you know what happens.
jEcle.

Good luck :) :)

You say it's strange that your dog is only aggressive when on a lead, but then earlier you say ...

'Lately she has often taken to running straight over to the nearby dog and sinking her teeth into the other dog's back. She will usually come back when sternly commanded but I'm worried she is becoming a bit of a liability. Yesterday she went for a lovely black lab who's owner, a young teenager, couldn't hold her on the lead and the black lab went running off down the road to escape.'

If that's the case, a) how did she manage to get near the black lab, let alone bite it, if you had her on a lead and b) surely you wouldn't need to recall her when she's on a lead and c) if it was an extremely long lead, maybe it's time to use a shorter one.

What you don't want is for your dog to be reported.  I have a pup with fear aggression so am taking no chances either until it's under control.

I guess I can see it from my goldie's point of view. A big dog had suddenly appeared 3ft (or 91.4cm - don't know if my dog thinks in metric or imperial) away from my son.

I'm sorry, this maybe an unpopular opinion, and it is not intended to cause upset, but I think too much consideration is taken from the dogs point of view.  Yes, it is useful to understand why this behaviour may occur, but should not be used as an excuse (I'm not saying you are in this instance). 

It may be a natural behaviour, but I do not allow my dogs to guard me or mine.  They are taught from early on that this is not acceptable.  If (as I often hear said proudly) a dog is allowed to become protective of an owner/children, then you are asking for trouble.  You may be lucky and never reach a point where the dog feels the need to display this behaviour (and this point will differ between dogs and situations), but IMO you are allowing the dog to make decisions that it should not have to. 
The problem, if allowed unchecked, can lead to exactly the sort of situation you find yourself in.

I would report the dogs at the end of the cul de sac as your child could be at risk if these aggressive dogs could come through the fence. They are a risk. Nothing will happen to the dogs but the owner would receive some advice on controlling them. You, more importantly your child, and your dog should not have to run the gauntlet every time you walk passed. That is irresponsible dog ownership on their part.

It is anonymous, and also the police could be informed if that doesn't do the trick, as they can get through the fence, whether they choose to or not is by the by, and your child is therefore at risk.

That would eliminate that problem. 

So, it's off to the therapist!
As long as I don't receive too many judgemental postings, I'll let you know what happens.
jEcle.

Why the continual attacks from the later posters here?????

The OP is seeking help, wanted advice and was advised a behavioursit, this is not a poster who does not care, this is a poster who has reached out for help, because her dog is acting out of character, she does not understand why or how to deal with it.

When her dog attacked the first time I dare say she was shocked and thought it a one off, the second time, she began to think a problem is here, the third she has come to a reputable site for help and mainly been given it, I have no time for those who ask for help and do not take it, but this owner is seeking a behaviourist, so why the continual attacks?

Not everyone knows how to re-train a dog when things change, they don't have the knowledge, I'm glad that she came on site for help and is taking it from those of us who offered.

Let us know how you get on jEcles. :-)

This is really intersting...sorry  jEcles I know it's hard work to deal with and it can be tough being so open on this board but your contribution is ever so helpful in considering how best to deal with different kinds of problems dogs can have who come to training class and any issues that could develop at any time inour own dogs. 

Do please let us knw how you get along. :)

Argree Tenaj, Yes please do let us know how you get on with your girl, best of luck :)

I don't think anyone has judged you and many have given some great advice. On an email or the written word is both expressionless and with no facial expression. Some sound blunter than others, but all meant in good faith. We can all only take what OP says, literally.

So behaviourist suggested, a good one.
Hopefully paid for on Insurance, so only excess to pay.
After thorough Vet check, looking for hidden causes.
Aggressive dogs down the road reported.
Suggestions on muzzling and protection of other people dogs safety.
Possibility that your Golden feels pack leader as possible guard for your child. Therefore the need to remove that worry for her.
Some emails may sound blunter than others, not meant, but maybe they have their own problems, but at least people cared enough to try to help.
I don't feel anything judgmental has been meant here, instead people taking the time and trouble to help someone who has asked for help to a quite detailed OP, which turned out to be not accurate.

I have asked for help before and all help was gratefully received, however it came across. I wish you and your Golden luck.I hope you overcome your problems as we all wish our problems are overcome.