I've just started a threat about my dog's aggression with certain dogs (police caution). The police were very understanding but did suggest a muzzle and my husband isn't keen for the same reasons some of the posters suggest about Harry not feeling like he could defend himself.

However, family members not getting onboard is hard - my oh persists on letting Harry off the lead and allowing him to get into scrapes with other dogs and my fear is it's only a matter of time before someone or some dog gets hurt and Harry is destroyed.

We've found a distinct lack of good assistance in the North East of Scotland and tried a behaviourist but we need someone to come to our house and see him in his own environment and not a large hall full of excitable dogs or in a vets surgery!

I have put Harry on dried food as he wasn't food motivated and now I can distract him a little outside with treats so I'm working on getting his attention before he goes ballastic and rewarding him when the dog passes.

I'm resigned to a life of Harry not ever being off the lead - some dogs just can't! But the OH - well, he'll take more convincing. I'd rather have a lead walked dog for 14 years than a dog running free for 2!