Helping to socialise another dog

[babelfish]

Our chocolate lab, 3.5 years old, is one of the softest, most playful animals you could meet. He just wants to play with everyone.

If another dog growls at him he looks at them with a confused expression on his face and walks away.

We recently moved to a village and the chef of the local pub has an Akita/Staffordshire cross that is a rescue and hasn't been well socialised.

I suggested he brings it to our place and see how they got on. Initially the other dog was muzzled and after 5 minutes the muzzle was removed and they played fine. In and out of the river. Chasing sticks etc. But our lab would occasionally growl at him. Behaviour that is not like him at all. Tails wagging all the time.

They've met a few times since while out and about on leads. Seem happy to see each other, bit of play fighting with tails wagging. But our lab will still growl at him and show his teeth. Behaviour he has shown with no other dog before.

What is he picking up from the other dog?

Obviously I'm very careful to watch them but others won't let their dogs socialise with him as they are unsure if he can be trusted.

He did attack a jack russell a few months ago but I'm not sure as to how they met so can't comment on the incident but my dog plays fine with the jack russell involved.

[PositronicRay]

Growling and showing teeth means back off, as long as the other dog does then no problem.

Don't be deceived by tail wagging, look at the whole body language.

[W12GT]

In my experience a lot of Staffs and Akita’s have a tendency to dislike other dogs that they are not familiar with; most people overlook that both these breeds original purpose was for fighting.

Personally I wouldn’t be using my dogs to help socialise his dog that has issues - you are potentially putting your dog at risk of both behavioural change and getting hurt!

Our old Pointer was a fantastic dog, never ever lost his temper with other dogs, that is until he was about two years old and a chocolate lab bowled in one day and attacked him. From that point on he would always be very defensive when he encountered other chocolate labs up until he died at 13. The interesting thing is he never showed any aggression to any other breed of dog....EVER.

Get the owner to go and see a behavioural specialist as they will be best placed to assist him.

[babelfish]

Thanks for the replies.

PositronicRay said:

Growling and showing teeth means back off, as long as the other dog does then no problem.

He does back off, but why does my dog do it in the first place? He has done it with NO other dog and this one shows no outward signs (that I can see anyway).

W12GT said:

Personally I wouldn’t be using my dogs to help socialise his dog that has issues - you are potentially putting your dog at risk of both behavioural change and getting hurt!

After also speaking to others, if my dog doesn't trust him why should I and risk my dogs welfare.

Will speak to the owner and suggest a behaviourist.

BF

Edited by babelfish on Tuesday 18th June 00:27

[j_4m]

I have a very reactive rescue who will bark, growl and lunge at other dogs unless he's introduced to them very slowly. If dogs run straight at him face on he will nip them. Needless to say on walks he's kept well away from other dogs and on a lead at all times.

What has been invaluable to us in trying to adjust his behaviour is having someone understanding that will parallel walk on lead with us (currently our behaviourist) while we keep him calm and reward him for being near the dog and not reacting. If you're not comfortable with your dog being off lead with the Akita but are still interested in helping out maybe suggest some on lead co-walking?

[babelfish]

j_4m said:

If you're not comfortable with your dog being off lead with the Akita but are still interested in helping out maybe suggest some on lead co-walking?

As I said above they played fine off lead but my lab kept growling at him and when they meet now he will bare his teeth at him which he does to no other dog.