Sorry guys, I know this has been done a few times, but I couldn't find anything so specific as relating to an older dog.

Charlie is our 10yr old cesky terrier, he's been with us for 18 months, and prior to that was with my g/f's mum for 6 years.

He's been no trouble apart from incessant whining, and has always always got on well with other dogs, always happy to go up and have a sniff and a play and thats it.

about 2 months ago, he had a little scrap with a young (2yrs I think the owner said) labradoodle!, the owner of the dog went to split them up and ended up with a cut (from Charlie) on his hand. he dismissed it as an accident (which it was) and all was okay.
But I was never happy at why or what caused charlie to go for this other dog.

fast forward to yesterday morning, I took charlie out to play ball - I usually have his complete undivided attention. But yesterday a very very young (only a few months) chocolate lab came around the corner with it's owners (owners kids I suspect).
Anyway, Charlie ignored getting the ball and ran over to them, fine I thought, he'll have a sniff then go and fetch the ball...
Nope I saw the lab didn't move or do anything to upset charlie, and Chas just jumped on his back and bit the puppy on the neck. The lab rolled to the floor and started squealing like it was being murdered, I sprinted over, shouting at charlie to get off, and he paid no attention to me.
I got there, pushed charlie to one side, and apologised profusely to the owners who said it was 'okay' but I'm sure were just being polite.

It was honestly completely unprovoked, I was so disappointed, it put me in a bad mood all day.
I really can't have this behavior increasing, we live on a house which fronts onto the field where we walk him... I'm wondering if this 'new' dog was invading his territory?

Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved.

The first thing I'd be doing is getting a vet to check him out. Before going any further you need to make sure he isn't in any sort of pain - why does he whine incessantly?

he has always done his whining, even before we got him. He looks at you whilst doing it, so we put it down for attention.
That said, he does moan and groan when he sits down after a run, so his joints might be getting a little tough!

Then a vet check would be a very good idea.

If he's beginning to get hurt when he plays with others, that may be enough to start making him grumpy.

I would keep him on a lead for now so he doesn't get a chance to do things like this again

I agree, a vet check absolutely necessary.

Many people might not know that if a senior dog has arthritis, the dogs behaviour toward younger "bouncy" dogs can change. It could be that your dog is in some sort of pain and is simply defending himself.

In the meantime take brisk walks with him on-leash, he can still socialise with other dogs, but you decide who he can and cannot sniff. So try and become more aware of other dogs body language; do they look friendly and bouncy, or friendly but calm, or not friendly?

Lots of good books and DVD's out there covering canine body language.

Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide: Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog by Brenda Aloff

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Thanks guys, I'll get it sorted.

I've just been out this morning and we met up with 4 of his dog friends - they're all well-behaved agility dogs... and he took a swipe at two of them he got a mouthful of fur out of a german shepherd, and a chunk of flesh out of my hand

He's not been 'done' and he's 10 years old (which I think is quite old for a cesky).

Sometimes when you walk a dog day after day in the same place, they can become territorial, that combined with the fact that he is not neutered, could be the reason.

At his age, I would do as the previous post said and keep him on a lead. That way you are in control of his introductions.

If your dog was a lot younger I would be advising neutering and different places to walk, but due to his age, I would not bother.

Good luck x

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We took him out for a walk on the lead last night - different route, indeed out of the norm, he was good as gold.
This morning (on the field in front of our house) within 2 minutes he was off.
So it may well be a territorial thing.... he does wee on just about everything in the park! lol

It is a very good reason to neuter your dog early on. Dog aggression is far more common in entire males that any thing else x

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk