That is the question.......

I have just come home from taking dogs out for walk.

There is a lovely Spaniel pup (about 8 months) over the field who is very friendly. we see him out a lot and Buster always rocks on the spot and grunts and me and spaniels owner smile, wave and say hi and keep going (!).

I went into the field and saw a few people with dogs talking. I know one of those dogs and he keeps his distance from us!!!! But the spaniel was off his lead and came running over, i didnt see him coming, Buster was on his flexi lead and i let it out so he could go onto the grass for a pee - i had my back turned and was closing the gate.

The spaniel jumped on him and Buster went mental and ended up with the spaniels ear in his mouth, Buster got out of his headcollar (he could open his mouth further) and starting going for it and the spaniel was crying. His owner came running over and grabbed her dog, while i went off after Buster.

We had a chat afterwards and she was fine with it, the spaniels ear was fine, just a bit wet with slobber! His owner said she was glad it was Buster that did it and not some undesirable with the agressive dog and she was telling me about a dog who had attacked a collie in the park.

But it's got me thinking. I've always been resolute in not muzzling him because whenever Buster has had an altercation with another dog, it has been when the other dog has come running up to us, as Buster is ALWAYS on his head collar - albeit mostly a flexi lead (23 foot). Apart from tonight there has been at least 2/3 other incidents- 2 of which were jack russells - All off their leads and have approached us- i have always shouted "!GO AWAY!" and tried to shoo them. Their owners approaching us all smiles telling me that their dog is ok. Yeah thanks for that so glad your dog is ok, but MINE ISNT!!!

I am not making excuses for Buster at all, but want to give a bit of a back story. The only other dogs he had ever known were his mother and litter mates (when he was a baby) he was left in someones kitchen, never walked, never socialised. He needed entropian surgery and never got it, his eyes were almost closed when i got him. I got him September last year and he was too ill to have the operation, but he had the operation done about 3 months ago and can now see. I feel that i have been so busy making a very sick dog better that i have not paid attention to taking him to classes.

What baffles me is that he lives with another dog! The introduction to Che was not without problems and Buster kicked off big time with him. Myself and Che's previous owner walked around the park for hours and then stopped by a church and sat on the wall, a lorry came passed and hissed its brakes, Buster ran into Che as he was startled by the noise and after that they got on fine, as time as gone on Buster has become very affectionate towards him.

Buster loves children, all children, babies- ALL OF THEM! and people! so happy to see everyone.

He seems to be a very conflicted dog. I have worked so hard making him well again, he is approaching his 2nd birthday, but we still have so far to go.

Any help would be very much appreciated, and answers to my post question would be very helpful.

Oh dear what a situation to be in! I've never had to deal with anything like this so I can't really advise but I will suggest this; Have you tried training classes and/or seeing a behaviourist? They can work wonders

All avenues should be explored before you make the decision to muzzle him. Good luck! x

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Is the headcollar attached to his collar?

This is a hard one. If we lived in an ideal world, other owners would be responsible and keep their dogs away from yours, but sadly we dont. If he really is that bad and quick to attack, then it may be an idea to have him muzzled.

I would certainly seek out the advice of a behaviourist, as its an issue than can be worked with and worked on.

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

I've got a bit of a similar situation, with a foster dog of a similar background. He pulled off the lead and grabbed a terrier the other day and gave it a big shake like a play toy... bad times...

I've chosen to muzzle, as the incident was unprovoked i don't feel like i can trust the blighter until we can work on the issue. I guess in essence it comes down to whether your dog can be trusted not to do it - if my dog was to repeat the action and more damage was done, personally I'd feel like this was my screw up, and probably would be held liable as i hadn't taken measures to prevent future incidents.

Yes i have muzzled, but I haven't left it at just that, i plan to keep up training till we can get somewhere so he can become more trusted around other dogs. If i personally can't reach a level where i can remove the muzzle, he'll need to go to a behaviourist, or go back to his rescue where they are more trained to deal with these issues (god not saying you get rid, but i'm in a different situation!).

I've done a bit of reading about muzzles, and things i've read have had positive suggestions that it trains the dog not to just go straight in with the teeth (as it obviously can't), but it definately isn't a solution to the problem by itself - it gives you the confidence instead...

Anyway, good luck, if you have any break throughs with training to help your problem, please pm me with what you're doing!! As i said this is a new situation to me too

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Indy - Old Tyme Bulldog x Bull Terrier, born 26th August 08

thanks for the replies so far,

Nonnie- he wears a dogmatic, not connected to anything but his lead. I cant walk him in the collar because no matter how tight it is he can get it over his head. Also he came with the issue of not knowing how to walk properly on the lead, so the headcollar has solved it.

Thing is, i was a bit silly tonight because Che has started acting up when walked so he was wearing the dogmatic tonight while Buster had his old halti on.

Tomorrow Buster is having his dogmatic back on, while i'm sorting out (hopefully with your helps) what i'm doing with regards to muzzling.

One of the reasons i was anti muzzle was because there are undesirable people around here who have aggressive dogs who do attack other dogs and the owners do naff all. I never wanted Buster to not be able to defend himself.

If you do opt for a muzzle, you need to spend a good deal of time training Buster to wear it, it can take a few weeks for it to be OK for him... sticking a muzzle on without doing it with the right training can create way more problems (not saying you would, but it's worth reading up on it first). Secondly don't get a nylon sleeve one, they're hopeless and dogs can't pant in them - i've opted for a Baskerville which depending on size are £7-£15 ish.

I think muzzles have an awfully bad stigma attached to them, and in some situations i think rightfully they have a bad rep, however there are many good and valid reasons for using them. I wouldn't say you shouldn't use one just because you want your dog to be able to defend itself - because you don't want it to have to bite to defend in the first place - i guess that's quite a circular argument, but hopefully you get what i mean.

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Indy - Old Tyme Bulldog x Bull Terrier, born 26th August 08

Oh just to add too - my foster lives with my other dog, and their meeting wasn't smooth either, however they get on fantastically now, i guess it's more a family thing they get used to - strange dogs are a totally different ball game though

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Indy - Old Tyme Bulldog x Bull Terrier, born 26th August 08

if he gets out of a collar have you thought of a harness and a police style lead they have two clips one for the head collar and one for the actual neck collar or harness?

It gives you more control as you have two points to control the dog with, they are very good

I guess i would more then likely muzzle him while out but carry on training, do classes e.t.c not everyone likes that tho But i guess it depends on how you can deal and control if happened again but i feel the same about my dogs being able to defend themselfs so its hard!

Saying that tho alot of friendly dogs dont like being jumped on and would react in a "bugger off" way to the other dog, Zeb does something and hes a soft lomen with everyone But some times he has enough of being jumped on and tells the other dog

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

my mum wold agree this.her dog was a bit hard to take into places like pets at home because if a kid tried to touch him he would bark and then she would get worried and nervous.she bought a little muzzle and knew it would build her confidence in bringing him out amongst kids more.he needed to learn that people werent bad andnow she doesnt need it.it took a little time but now he can be around people and not be worried.

If he can take his head collar of that easy when in a siuation like that have you tried using a connecter so that you can attach the lead to the headcollar but it has a link that goes to his collar as well. They are now supplied with haltis and I think you can buy them seperately from the pet shops. That way even if he gets his head collar of he is still attached to his lead on his collar.

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Sammy you may be gone but your sprit will always live on in the sunbeams R I P Sammy

William- 6/11/03 - 24/3/10
Midge - 8/2/11 - 10-2-11