Hi Everyone

My dog is 9/10 years old, we got her from a rescue about 8 years ago.

Me and kids took her for a walk yesterday with another family and their dog. We have been for a walk together before and their dog did go for ours on that occasion but it was settled very quickly and the remaining 1 hour walk went ahead fine.

Any how, as soon as our dog got out of car she went straight over to the other dog got him by the scruff of the neck and started shaking him from side to side. I was absolutely horrified and just about managed to drag her off although I was shaking like a leaf - I have never seen her be that agressive! I thought this was a one off but then a little later on she went for him again!

I now don't know what to do about her. She is normally a really docile pleasant dog. She has shown agression before but these have always been at times when she has been afraid - at the vets on her own while they were trying to inject her and with the postman. Yesterday it appeared to be a totally unprovoked attack.

The thing is we have three children and although I would have said she wouldn't hurt a fly, now that I have seen her yesterday my confidence with her has really been shaken and I don't know if I should be trusting her around the kids.

Please give me your thoughts and opinions on this - we would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Firstly I'd like to say - dog-dog aggression is very different to dog-human aggression and it doesn't mean your children aren't safe.
As with any dog, friendly or not, you should not leave her unsupervised with the children anyway but as long as your children are aware how to treat a dog I wouldn't have said you had anything to worry about.
Be aware though that as she gets older your children will have to be aware of this and alter their behaviour towards her should she become arthritic and uncomfortable, hard of hearing or partially sighted etc.

Although you say the attack was unprovoked, it is easy for dogs to display signals between them that you don't pick up and if she has been attacked by this dog previously, she'd have been on high alert. The other dog need only have looked at her in a certain way to transfer a message none of the humans would have seen.

She probably did feel threatened in some way for her to react like that, nice dogs don't just turn for no reason so again, I'd have said it was a momentary signal from the other dog or even just that she felt threatened that it could happen again and wanted to get the first word in.

Alternatively if you were concerned about how the walk might go (although it sounds like you were taken by surprise) then she may have read your tension.

I would be careful when out walking and maybe restrict her to an extendy lead for a little while just to be sure it's not going to become common place, and if you are very worried consult a behaviourist (if you pm me I can send you some details of behaviourists).

Remember that as dogs get older they know they're not as strong and fit as they used to be and this can result in them being over defensive to make sure they don't get taken by surprise. It's a survival thing.

I've not seen her so can't tell you what to do/what to think, but I'd be aware but not tense (she'll read your tension!) of what could potentially happen but not worry too much, it's most likely a one off but you will need to work on her association with this particular dog and if it does happen again, or you think it might, seek help from a behaviourist.

Ps. A behaviourist will most likely require you see a vet first to make sure there's no physical or neurological condition causing the behaviour to occur so it may be worthwhile getting a full check over first anyway.

If the other dog has attcked her then she is bound to be on the defensive, it doesnt mean she is going to attack your chilldren. I wouldnt worry about the way she is going to behave around your children. Has she always been ok with your children before?

She has made the odd growl with the kids but in a very submissive way. She did go for vet and postman though and this has seemed to have happened in the last few years, as she has got older. I think it was just the way she appeared to 'flip' into this really aggressive dog that has bothered me.

There are all kinds of things that could have caused this, and the scenario Lotti has outlined was exactly what was happening between two dogs we were looking after. The Ridgeback Cross seemed to be randomly going for the Manchester Terrier (we knew this was likely to be the case so they were both constantly 'managed' with crates, leads and either muzzles or haltis to prevent any real incidents) but on day two we spotted that the terrier was giving 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' looks to her :rolleyes:

We have what could appear to be random aggression problems with our male Beagle - but basically they all coincide with my hormones. He decided as a pup that I was a bitch on heat who needed defending from any male in the vicinity, so basically once a month he needs firmer handling than usual

Dogs do some really strange pack orientated things which aren't immediately obvious. If any of your kids are reaching a hormonal age this could have kicked off the situation, particularly if the dog she attacked is male

If you're really worried about her, do as Lotti says and seek a more specific answer from a behaviourist

my dogs hate the postman and they have had a grumble at the kids but it doesnt concern me at all. this aggresion is probly becouse the dog has attacked her before. my dog is not dog aggressive but if another dog shows aggression towards her then she acts aggressive back but she lives with 3 dogs fine. i wouldnt worry unless she shows proper aggression towards your kids. what breed is your dog ?

Dogs do get grumpy and defensive as they get older. It's very important that you don't leave her unsupervised with the children, ensure there's no cause for her to feel defensive, as she gets older she'll be more achy, her eyes make worsen, her hearing may go - so she needs to be approached and treated with caution and care. There's no reason for her not to be around your children at all, just make sure they know how to be with her and they're not alone with her.

Dogs do 'flip' - it's not rare I'm afraid, especially when defensive or feeling threatened. I would think if this is a one off that focusing on it may make her worse but you must try to get over it because if you're tense, she'll be worse.

Vets and postmen are fair game to most dogs ;) She sounds perfectly normal to me!

There are all kinds of things that could have caused this, and the scenario Lotti has outlined was exactly what was happening between two dogs we were looking after. The Ridgeback Cross seemed to be randomly going for the Manchester Terrier (we knew this was likely to be the case so they were both constantly 'managed' with crates, leads and either muzzles or haltis to prevent any real incidents) but on day two we spotted that the terrier was giving 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' looks to her :rolleyes:

We have what could appear to be random aggression problems with our male Beagle - but basically they all coincide with my hormones. He decided as a pup that I was a bitch on heat who needed defending from any male in the vicinity, so basically once a month he needs firmer handling than usual

Dogs do some really strange pack orientated things which aren't immediately obvious. If any of your kids are reaching a hormonal age this could have kicked off the situation, particularly if the dog she attacked is male

If you're really worried about her, do as Lotti says and seek a more specific answer from a behaviourist

I think the reason for her dog attacking the other dog, is because it has shown aggression towards her dog before. Just like my brothers dog and my staffie cross. My staffy x is placid and still is with any other dog we meet/live with but as soon as we get near my brothers dog its a diffrent story.

Shes a heinz 57 - has a bit of german shepard/ alsation/collie / doberman etc etc !!

German shepard crosses are likely to be a little more hostile esp when they have been attacked before just as my rottie girl is. Honestly though I wouldn't worry unless she has shown unprovked aggression to other dogs and people before.