Six months ago we got a lovely border collie (now 3 years old) from a rescue centre. He is very well behaved but is very jealous and shows aggression towards other dogs. The biggest problem is with my sister's labrador (8 months) who is a lively dog and wants to be friends - but Barney never stops growling in his presence, bares his teeth all the time and sometimes takes a snap. We have tried walking them together to get them used to each other and we are soon taking both dogs on a weeks holiday. Is there any action I can take to stop this habit? It is really upsetting.

Do you have the history of the dog, has he been socialised properly.
You need to speak to a behaviourist in your area and see if the problem can be sorted out.
We had dogs like that in the kennels where i worked and we muzzled them and walked them with the other dogs. We also let them run freely with the other dogs but muzzled under supervision. It was usually that the dog was suffering anxiety because it had not been socialised and did not know how to react to other dogs. Once it did not feel threatened by the other dogs it would settle down.
I am not saying that this will sort your dog problem as i have not met the dog but i hope this helps.

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Hi. Congratulations for getting a rescue, I am full of admiration for people like you!

To echo the previous post - the dog has prob not been socialised.

I have 3 rescue dogs, 2 are street dogs from Greece and I have suffered with the same problems x2!

I have worked with a gr8 behaviourist Dog Whisperer World | Home who specialises in dog aggression. He has a pack of approx 10 dogs and it has helped me immensley. He is based in Sutton. I am happy to give you tips on what I have done to sort out my rescue's, but I would defo recommend this guy.

Vicky x

hi welcome to the forum, so your dog is showing aggesstion towards other dogs, what is your dog like on the lead dose he pull or dose he walk to heal, if he pulls you to get to other dogs, i would try him on a dogmatic it is like a halti but more softer for the dog and will give you full control over his head.

i would also consider muzzel training more for saftey for yours and other peoples dogs, if your dog as not wore a muzzel before dont just stick it on and expect your dog to like it, you must train first and make it fun with treats, i would then get the other dog you want to make friends with and walk with your dog at the side of you and other dog at the other side so both humans are in the middle of them both and do this for as long as it take remember to stay calm relaxed he will not be able to hurt dog as he will be wearing the muzzel once you have that then you can take a step further.

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Dear Tina Marie
Thank you for replying to my thread and for the advice. This is actually the first dog hubby and I have ever had so we are 'greenhorns' in this area. I took Barney to training locally but it was more for puppies and after several weeks of 'sit' 'stand' 'lie down' etc. which our dog already knows, I decided not to pursue this. I expect you are right, he hasn't been socialised properly - he is OK with some dogs but not all dogs. he hates dogs 'in his face' and going up too close - that is when he starts showing his teeth and snarling (then snaps). As you suggest, he probably feels threatened and we don't really know his history, only that he had a brother who was bigger and stronger. Anyway, I have invested in a light muzzle (not the cage type ones like which make dogs look like Hannibal Lecter) but a soft nylon one. I will try what you suggest and see how it goes. I am also seeing a specialist in dog behaviour tommorrow. Thanks again. Barney'smummy.

Dear Vicky
Thank you for contacting me - we were not really aware what we were taking on when we got Barney, he did have a big, strong very boisterous brother who was probably the dominant dog. But Barney stole our hearts because he was the sweeter more submissive one. The biggest problem we have is with my sister's dog who is a sweetie and wants to make friends - but our dog doesn't like dogs who get to close and get 'in his face'. The younger dog hasn't quite learned dog etiquette yet, as when we first walked them together was not only in his face, but jumping all over him, putting his paws on him etc. until our dog snapped and he got a nip. He snarls and snaps now whenever this dog comes close! What a nightmare this is as we want them to be friends. Do you think this is possible? Thanks for putting me in touch with this guy in Sutton, I have looked at his site but I am going to see a local behaviourist tomorrow, but might give your chap a call as well if you reckon he could help.
Thanks again for your advice.

Dear Staflove
Thank you for your advice and yes, he does pull so we tend to put a halti on when we walk to two dogs together. I have now bought a muzzle as well, it is a soft nylon one not the cagey 'Hannibal Lecter' variety so we will probably give this a try next time we walk the two of them together. When Barney gets nasty towards the other dog, I feel embarassed and upset which the dog probably picks up on. I would dearly like them to be friends, but I will try what you suggest.
Thanks again.

Can I ask what you do when Barney shows aggression? Because if he's frightened, it sounds mean, but the last thing you should be doing is consoling him and basically confirming his 'belief' that there is something he should be scared out of his wits about. You need to find a way of breaking that cycle.

I've got an oldie rescue, collie/lab x, and the best thing that works for her is just to give her space on her own if she shows aggression around the home. She's a very submissive and insecure character, its taken her a long time to come out of her shell - she's rewarded for settling down and not worrying, never for the insecure behaviour. And by reward, I mean she gets a good lass, and just enough fuss, long slow stroke down the back to keep her calm and happy.

She doesn't often show aggression with other dogs out and about, she reacts to other dogs that try and sniff her, and because she's so submissive she's a target for bullies. Basically I always try and intervene with the other dog, then she can keep herself to herself, and is quite happy with that.

Dogs don't have the same thoughts and emotions that humans do, and its a mistake to burden them with that. It took a long time to explain to someone about chewing, Tau has been a phenomenal chewer in her time, but that's what some dogs do, and if I leave stuff out she can get to then its my fault, not hers. She will sense my disappointment with her, but she won't know that she has 'done wrong', she's reacting to me. She can as much write me a note saying she's sorry for chewing my designer leather jacket, as feel 'guilt' about it, and know that it was wrong. In fact she usually quite gleefully retrieves me whatever object it is that she's chewed

Seeing a good behaviouralist will help you step back, and see things from the dog's perspective, its a good eye opener and will hopefully help you no end.

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I was also a first time dog owner when I took on my first two rescue's. I knew nothing about dog psychology and I made so many problems worse becuase I did not know how to deal with it.

15 months later I have taken on a third rescue, but I do still have problems with the other two from time to time with other dogs. I am absolutley convinced that because of my lack of understanding at the beginning I am still paying the price.

The previous post has also echoed the need for seeing things from the dogs perspective i.e dog psychology. I cannot emphasise enough, the need to have an understanding of what your dog is telling you and how to deal with it correctly, this is so important with rescue's who have issues.

Please be careful seeing a behaviourist who is not recommended as you never know who they are.

The guy in Sutton charges 10GBP approx for a walk in Nonsuch park with his pack of dogs. Whilst on the walk you can discuss your issues and if you like his methods you can arrange a one to one. I still go once a week with my 3 dogs and meet him as my guys get so much out of the walk.

Hope it works out for you.
Vicky x

Finn is 14 months old border terrier. He has been well socialised and lives with Tangle a bt bitch (spayed). He was castrated at just over a year as he was jumping Tangle. His mother and father are fine with other dogs and his breeder can't believe his behaviour. As soon as he sees another dog he screams and pulls towards it. He then becomes really aggressive. This has only happened since he was castrated before this he ran up towards other dogs and was fine with them. We walk the dogs on the beach where it is safe to let them off. Just after he was castrated he ran up to a J. Russell and attacked it he did come away eventually when called, since then he has attempted to attack a border collie, so we only let him off the lead if there are no other dogs around. He even screams and pulls when he is walked past a house where a dog is sometimes in the garden even when the dog isn't there! I've taken him back to dog training, but he spends 10 minutes screaming at other dogs and we spend most of the class in the naughty corner, he does calm down eventually but it hasn't affected his behaviour afterwards. What can I do?