I have a 2 year old Patterdale Terrier, and when we come across other dogs in the park, he'll sniff their noses (but not their bums) and then bark in their face, at which point the other dog usually runs away can anyone tell me what this means? His body language doesn't seem aggressive, he pulls on the lead and stands still, but his hackles never seem to go up and he doesn't growl or snarl on seeing them, just seems to be very, very interested.

He used to live with another dog (a staffy, although I don't know how they got on with each other, or if indeed they did!) and now is an only dog. Is he just a little bit rusty on his socialisation skills, or does this mean something else?

I feel a bit lost because i'm studying animal behaviour at college, and although I do know a bit about dog behaviour, i'm just a little confused by his reaction to other dogs, which makes me feel unconfident about letting him interact with them, although I don't tend to pull him away from them any more, I just let him do his thing with them.

Any advice would be very much appreciated! Plus, if he is just a bit rusty, how do I teach him how to interact properly?

Thanks

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Normally dogs greet arse to face as I'm sure you know - assuming he is making eye contact he could be challanging the other dog!
Just an idea
regards
DT

That's a thought, he could be. When they go to sniff his bum, he usually won't let them, he's more bothered about being face to face with them, which is what made me think he wasn't trying to be friendly. Although, he has a very high play drive, and is very very over exciteable, so I wasn't sure if he was just very eager to play.

This might sound ridiculous and probably has nothing to do with it, but when he sees a dog on the TV (like the Husky on that Pedigree advert) he'll run up to the TV with a toy, and push the toy at them. It's hilarious to watch but I did wonder if that was him trying to play- probably isn't though

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Dogs use their amazing sense of smell in as many ways as possible. Did you know that a dog can tell if another dog is pregant by its smell. There have also been tests where a dog has smelled a particular kind of cancer in a human just by using his sense of smell.

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Taking away signature to avoid any further upset

That's very interesting

doesn't explain my dog's behaviour much though lol unless every dog he sees is pregnant

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

just read your post again - and have to admit it is rather confusing - pups. tend to greet face to face - but as I said above normally older dogs does greet arse to face.
Has your dog been castrated and if so at what age?

Yeah he was castrated last July, the week we got him. How could this make a difference? (Don't mean that to sound rude, i'm interested )

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

They say that if dogs are castrated before reaching maturity then they can remain immature - but last july he would have been what 18 mth??? and would have thought that he would have reached maturity by then - but having said that I have a friend who was convinced her male did not mature until he were four!!!!!????? and consequently she would did not have him castrated until he were four.

The behaviour you decribe could be an attempt to play. hopefully someone who has more knowledge will be able to answer this with more certainty.
regards
Dt

It could well be that he hasn't fully matured, he's very, very puppy-like both in looks and personality, even though he is 3 years old. It's just confusing behaviour, and once he barks at them, the other dog always seems to leave, so it never gives me a chance to see what would happen beyond that. It also makes me wonder like you said, if he's challenging or trying to intimidate the other dog, as they do always seem to run away from him.

It's a shame really, i'd love for him to be able to really get along with other dogs, because we would like another but obviously can't bring another one into the home if ours won't let it happen, it'd be unfair on both dogs.

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

As I said after re-reading it does not sound so much as he is challenging - as he is showing no signs of aggression - the barking could be that he is trying to incite play - i'e I bark - you run i'll chase you.
Hopefully someone more able to give a solid answer will come along
regards
Dt