My dog fights with other dogs

**Wendy300** · 09-03-2010, 02:49 PM

Hi fellow pet people.
I am rushing off to work but need some second opinions on a situation. I love my dog like she is my child. She is a smart, beautiful, wonderful mixed breed I got from a shelter when she was 6 months old. She is 4 now. She is wonderful w/us, really good with children, and generally seems just like a lazy, laid back dog. EXCEPT, when it comes to other dogs. There are only a few dogs she is good with, and it seems like with others she is always trying to fight. I'm very careful if I go anywhere with other dogs to have my dog on a leash. She is not so bad that she'll try to attack while walking by another dog, but it's when she starts playing with another dog it quickly leads to a fight. DUring a fight, my fluffy sweetheart looks like she wants to kill another dog, and it's very scary for me to see.
I live on a ranch, and this morning, I heard yelping, went outside, and my dog was on top of the neighbors dogs who had wandered outside of our house. I had to pull my dog off a little corgi! I immediately called the neighbor (who I don't like) so he could check his dogs to make sure they were okay, and since he didn't answer I sent my husband to check (after the fight they trotted back home). They were fine, but it has me very worried. I don't want to restrict my dog from being free outside because she is very good about not wandering. BUT I also don't want a similar situation to happen and lead to a worse outcome. I am also worried because the neighbor is nutty. What if he tried to do something to my dog?
Anyone have any insight into this situation? Does anyone have a dog that tries to fight?

**brendacs** · 09-03-2010, 04:07 PM

we have a new puppy, who hasnt been around other dogs much. she hears the neighbors dogs barking and just gets very quiet. im assuming shes scared? im very interested in seeing what others say because i may need to know myself in the future!

**Wendy300** · 09-04-2010, 03:58 AM

Thank goodness the dogs were all fine. my dog is very well behaved except for this aggression w/dogs problem. The only two dogs she is really good with are two male pits that she's known since she was a puppy. SHe is also shy with people she doesn't know IF we're not around. I've always suspected that she may have been abused before we got her. I just love her so much and got really worried when she was fighting this morning. She looked like she wanted to kill the other two dogs...seriously scary!

**angel** · 09-05-2010, 06:07 PM

Hi! The only advice I have for you is to introduce your dog more to other dogs.
I am not sure if you let your dog socialize with other dogs frequently (dog park, walking dog etc.) but some dogs who don't socialize are so focused onto their owners that they loose the ability to feel calm and secure. If you have friends who have dogs and they are willing (with supervision of course) to expose your dog more to a one-on-one with another dog then that would be great. You have to start slow with maybe 1-2 dogs and see how this training goes. If after a while he still shows agression the only thing I could recommend is to have a more closed of area at your ranch for his safety and the safety of other dogs if they should stray away from home. Some dogs cannot be socialized unfortunately, I'll hope that your dog will overcome it. If he had that behavior for 4 years it will take some time and patience to re-train him. Good luck!

**Wendy300** · 09-05-2010, 09:39 PM

Thanks Angel. That's a good idea. When my dog was a puppy I had her around other dogs, but eventually started doing that less and less as she showed more aggressive tendencies towards them. She is very focused on my husband and me. Maybe she is jealous/protective when other dogs come around. I will see if anyone has dogs she can hang out with supervised!
Thanks,
wendy

**azulsirena88** · 09-06-2010, 12:35 AM

I think Angel gave pretty good advice. I just want to add that you might want to start the socializing somewhere other than each of the dogs homes (unless the other dogs are not territorial). A neutral area is always best, since it takes away the territoriality element...
good luck!