DA Roco

Well i only had 2 weeks at home last time but have noticed Roco's DA behaviour getting worse and its all to do with Lola and protecting her. I let Lola off to play in the parks and my friend was with us who was looking after another dog (Benson) as the owner had gone back to the UK in a hurry and was waiting for Benson's passport.

Anyway Lola and Benson had a right run around the park whilst i kept Roco on his lead and halti as i know he's not to be trusted with other dogs, after they finished playing and we were just stood about talking when Roco without any indication (usually growls when a dog gets close) just latched onto Benson's ear and wouldn't let go, there was a bit of too'ing and fro'ing but he let go after 10 seconds (felt like 10 hours) and luckily Roco chews on rocks/stones so his teeth aren't pointed anymore so no damage at all just a very shaken up Benson.

Roco's been very well socialised as a puppy meeting different dogs/ppl every day until he was 18 months old and then we got Lola and its been downhill ever since. He doesn't like other dogs sniffing around her or going near her at all. I've read everything on the net and here about DA to see if i'm doing or was doing anything wrong, i don't tense up near other dogs when they approach us and give him no indication of my apprehensiveness,

So what i am to do ?? Dog behaviorist or is it something i have to live with ??? He's great in every other way very well behaved whilst out (sometimes pulls on his halti though) great with ppl and kids just not other dogs except Lola

Tess was getting the same way if any dog goes anywhere near spike, dunno if she's as bad now as they haven't been out walking for ages with the way spikes leg has been and tess won't go out a walk without spike, it's a difficult one mitch, a dog behaviourist might work but then it might change the way roco is completely and he might not be the same well behave dog you had before, i really dunno what advice to give you mitch

I know what you mean Ali I'm a bit puzzled by it all tbh not sure what to do for the best, i will probably just live with it and alter his patterns to suit it best, you see lots of bull breed owners walking there dogs on a night here when its quiet so will have to muzzle/halti him whilst out, shame really as i can't even let him run on the beach now just in case another dog appears from nowhere.

How is Spike anyway ??? and does he suffer from interdigital cysts ???? Lola seems to get them now when we walk her in a certain areas, so we now soak foot in Epsom salts and then some MSM Cream between each toe and its gone in 4-5 days now.

Hi Mitch - could it not just be that hes at that age now and isnt keen on other dogs - it does seem to be common that some are dog aggressive - is it any dog that approaches or just certain ones - Kasha is fine when he sees other dogs wags tail isnt bothered in the slightest but if he sees a rottie or an akita/husky type dog then its a different story - i put this down to him being attacked as a pup by a rottie and milly was attacked last year on the beach by an akita -

Susan wrote:

Hi Mitch - could it not just be that hes at that age now and isnt keen on other dogs - it does seem to be common that some are dog aggressive - is it any dog that approaches or just certain ones - Kasha is fine when he sees other dogs wags tail isnt bothered in the slightest but if he sees a rottie or an akita/husky type dog then its a different story - i put this down to him being attacked as a pup by a rottie and milly was attacked last year on the beach by an akita -

Well he's 2.5 yrs old now so i was thinking the terrible 2's syndrome but he won't attack or try to attack only 2 dogs that i know, 1 been Lola and the other is my mates Boxer dog but he's known Buddy since he was 6 months old. I know Roco has a thing about Shar-peis as he was attacked whilst a pup but the other dogs he's scaring off are unknowns really so hasn't mixed with them a lot, Benson is quite new to our dog walking group, but he will front anything up but seems to have a major dislike to mongrel looking dogs as he's been attacked a few times whilst been friendly as a pup. I don't know if he's just had enough of been bitten by others and is now sticking up for himself.

On the waste ground we walk him he slipped his collar and made a charge at a dog that hangs around there, by good luck or fortune Browny (as we call him) was very quick on his legs so evaded Roco and after doing a loop around the waste ground to try him shake him off and not been successful, Browny run past me so i scooped Roco up that was about 10 ft behind him.

I don't want to change his behaviour in any other way and can live with him been like he is just wondered what everybody else thought on the matter.

mitch_stu wrote:

How is Spike anyway ??? and does he suffer from interdigital cysts ???? Lola seems to get them now when we walk her in a certain areas, so we now soak foot in Epsom salts and then some MSM Cream between each toe and its gone in 4-5 days now.

Spike's doing really well mitch, his operation went great and he's now starting to walk around with hardly any limp, i've put pics up in the health section of his leg.
He's never had any cysts tho but there again he's not been allowed out for a walk since about august/september, he's only been out in our back garden