My Leo(girl) is normally great with other dogs but there are 2 dogs in the neighbourhood she is very aggressive towards. One I have no problem avoiding now as she is on the lead near the road for walks and I cross over to avoid meeting it. The other I meet when we are in the woods and she actively seeks to chase this nervous dog and I have to say her behaviour each time has become worse resulting in the other dog's owner kicking her to stop her today.
Can anyone help, I have noticed she has thrown her weight about more recently with nervous dogs. I fear I am now going to have to muzzle and walk her on the lead with I takes the pleasure out of walking her.

Are you able to recall her if so no problem you call her back, if she will not come when called then either a lead or a muzzle would seem to be the answer.

When you say she's throwing her weight what do mean by this?
Is she chasing and then rolling these dogs, charging them?
The only need for a muzzle would be if she is biting them, otherwise i don't see how muzzling her would help.

Get her back on a lead for now and go back to training classes.
Is it all nervous dogs she goes after? Are they male or female?
Do these other dogs display any actions prior to your girl going in for the chase?

Maybe worth looking into a behaviourist to see her in motion and then they can put measures in place for you to work on.
Either way you need to protect her and keep her on a lead for the time being, hard as it is as we love for our dogs to run

The only need for a muzzle would be if she is biting them, otherwise i don't see how muzzling her would help.


It helps the owners of the dog being harassed. 

Sorry for late reply - dad duty.
The dogs she doesn't like she is running along side barking and growling at as far as I'm aware she has never bitten any dog but due to her size it obviously is very intimidating for the dog and the owner and she has been kicked a few times because of this. I'm also afraid to say when this happens she does not come on recall. The dog this morning is very nervous and this is the 4th time she has gone for it, it was worse this morning as it can usually run away diffusing the situation but the path was blocked. I have tried to notice if there is an indication why she does it but other nervous dogs she can be fine with making it very frustrating to know why she is doing it.
It has been mostly female but she charged at a male Doberman on a lead which was aggressively barking at her.
Unfortunately it's looking like a lead and muzzle and I'm aware she needs training reinforced. Will her age make a difference, she is 5?
Thanks for advice so far, I lost my nerve a bit this morning but on reflection see some of the problem areas are training.

Is this something she has recently just started doing? If so have you had her checked out at the vets, a full blood test to make sure she is ok in herself?
It may also be a recent change in something in her environment?

Her behaviour sounds like she has beomce a bully and with people kicking her, which you can understand why its not going to help, so I agree get her on a lead and keep her on one. Is she ok on a lead around other dogs, can you hold onto her if she wants to go?

There are Leo people on here and it maybe something that they can assist with on a breed side of things aside from looking at general training.

Thanks, she has become a bully and I think she needs her training reinforced so I will keep her on a lead until I am happy she is better. I can hold her, previously I think my nerves were making her worse but I have been a lot more confidant with her until these recent events.
There have been no environment changes and I this was something she did with the dog on the lead near us but I have managed to avoid that dog for a few years now. It would appear when she takes this dislike it really sticks. There are plenty of dogs she gets on really well with which makes it more frustrating. She is due her booster this month so I will mention it.

I am sorry you are having problems with your girl but you really do need to keep her on lead around dogs. The other dog being able to run away is beside the point. And as this is the fourth time your dog has charged this one nervous dog,having your pleasure on a walk spoilt is extremely selfish. What of other peoples pleasure? They have a right to walk their dogs without your very large and agressive dog charging at them.
A harness and a long line should be the order of the day along with recall training. You may do well to ask the advice of a good behaviorist and perhaps some one to one training. I have a large male who is quite happy just playing with me and his ball,he wants nothing to do with other dogs and thats fine but my worst nightmare would be an out of control dog charging at him as I know he would retaliate.

Kind Regards

Hi!
And welcome to the Forum :-)

> takes the pleasure out of walking her.

This really doesn't need to be the case, so take heart! A lot of leg work though and going back to basics with training.
Have a read of this:
'He just wants to say Hi' - By Suzanne Clothier (<- click on the link)

Hope it helps.
Back to basics with consistent training will get your girl back to a mannerly pleasure to be around :-)

Thanks for all the positive non-judgemental help gals :-)

I dont think anyone is being "judgemental" and I was certainly only pointing out to you that allowing your dog to be a nuisance to other dogs and/or their owners is not only unpleasant but could be dangerous. not to mention you run the risk of being reported for having a dangerous dog. I do not know if your dog is dangerous or not. However if the owners who's dogs have felt threatened by your dog enough to kick her to get her away from them feel afraid they are within their rights to report you. I can accept that a dog can take a dislike to a particular dog for whatever reason but once your dog has chased it once I would have thought it was common decency to make sure it did not happen again let alone another three times. I can only speak from my own point of view and quite frankly I would be furious if some dog kept charging,frightening and threatening my dog and would be demanding action taken against the offending owner.
Kind Regards

Hi Jul1912,

How are you getting on?
I didn't have much time to post previously, and remembered this article which I think will be nice (and reassuring) for you to read:
Turrid Rugaas (very respected Norwegian, International dog trainer) gives advice on handling the types of meetings your girl is having

The tips she gives at the end for what to do in these encounters will definitely give you something to work on to help.

I have two very independent breeds so you have my sympathy on the issue of unreliable recall, oooh I have been there, done that... and worn the mud splattered, tear stained T-shirt!! :-D
    So I can't emphasize enough how important it is for you to start ASAP working on training an 'emergency stop' for your girl. It's worth its weight in gold, and something I think all owners should do!
Good article here (from clickersolutions training articles):
training reliable recall - originally produced for Golden Retriever rescue

I promise you if I can get an emergency stop from my hard wired Husky anyone can do it!

Would you consider joining a training class? May be good camaraderie for you and give you a confidence boost and also good to have an educated eye give opinion/assessment/advice on your girl?
Association of Pet dog trainers ~ UK

Hope this helps :-)
Let us know how you're getting on won't you!

Just read the 'he just wants to say hi' paper, how interesting, and all so obvious when you actually sit back and think about it.

To the poster, I have 2 Leo boys and a GSD bitch.  My GSD is always walked on lead where there may be other dogs about, she's not very tolerant of strange dogs.  My Leos run free but I always put them back onlead (they're whistle trained) if I see another dog coming because many dogs (and their owners) are intimidated by their size.  If recall becomes a problem I work with them individually on a long line (prepared to be dragged round on your knees for a few hours!!) with really tasty treats.