This morning I took Jaro and my grandson to the bus stop as usual. One of the other kids has a rotty-pit mix just under a year they have had for a couple months. Somehow it got out this morning and made a dash to the bus stop and went after Jaro who is 4 1/2 months. Good little Jaro did the submissive posture and the other dog's mom was there and we got him away and she took him home with some difficulty and I took Jaro inside (the bus stop is very close to our house) A week or so ago the other mom brought her dog to the bus stop on his leash and we kind of were introducing the two at a distance when across the stree another dog walker came by and the rotty-pit pulled away from the leash and ran after that dog and there was a fight. I don't know if what happened today was a fight or not but it was scarry. This mix is ok with people but not socialized with dogs. They are beginning training (tonight) ane what I think he needs is some big dominant dog to teach him manners, but I don't really know how to tell if he is aggressive or just unsocialized. The people are really good folks and trying to be good dog owners but my little guy could still get hurt. So what are the signs I should be looking for anytime I see him, or should I just make sure they never come near each other?

Well, no not really.

They have allowed their dog to get into one fight (that you know of) already. Now they've allowed it to get into a near fight with your puppy. These people need a reality check desperately. They have a responsibilty to maintain control of their dog, and they aren't doing it.

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"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy

I would not let them meet... I don't let my dog meet others when on leash... dogs are more likely to get into a disagreement when on leash. The leash prevents normal 'polite' greetings. Plus it's just NOT worth the risk. We also don't want a dog that gets super excited to see other dogs... it does not make for good polite walking!

The dog may be reactive and/or potentially dangerous. Or he could be frustrated and wanting to interact... until he gets right up to others and then doesn't know what to do. Either way, it's not good. Stay away. Get some sheildspray/direct stop citronella spray product and carry it just in case.

I don't know what to say... other than that happens when you have a breed with guard/dominant tendancies (like rotties) and they are not trained properly.

Any breed can become dog aggressive if they aren't socialized. But they are more likely to become dog aggressive if they already have that tendency wired into their heads. And they are even more likely to become dog aggressive if they've already gotten away with bearing down on other dogs and giving them the riot act.

So, I guess what I'm saying is - I really hope the owners get the dog into training and, more importantly, learn how to control their dog.

- As far as letting your dog meet others, make sure you read the other dog's body language before agreeing to let the dogs get within greeting distance. If the other dog is making himself look 'bigger', I would certainly not consent to the meeting. If the dog is expressing friendly or even submissive body language, then it is OK. And this includes dogs of bully breeds, who can be extremely nice and sweet dogs.

This past week we met up with some new neighbors and their black lab mix and basset hound mix. Based on the dogs' body language I saw absolutely no reason not to let my guy go in and greet them. It's good for him to be friendly and probably good for them.

Great question!

If they rescued the dog (which is what is sounds like) I commend them.

I see a lot of dogs at the shelter (esp. those breeds) who are okay with people and not good with dogs. It can point to not being socialized but it can also be something else. The fact that the dog ran after the other dog and attacked tells me that this might be a little more than fear but hard to say.

More importantly, the fact that the dog was able to get away from its owners means that the owners are not taking all the precautions they can and should and thus I wouldn't let my dog greet their dog. I do hope these were isolated incidents and that they're working with a professional. The dog needs to be seen and introduced to other dogs by a professional.

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Jacqueline

"I have just met you and I love you" - Dug (Up!)

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They've had the dog for a few months.
The dog pulled away from the owner once. Got into a fight.
Escaped from the house today. Charged for your dog.

I would keep Jaro completely away from this dog. Nothing else may ever happen but don't put Jaro at risk.

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Thanks, I will keep Jaro away. I think I will talk to her about alternate schedules to bring the dogs to the bus stop, but she probably won't be doing it until she is sure she can control him. Right now it is only the husband who takes him for walks. And yes he is rescued and they arranged for training with other dogs as soon as they could--the classes only start every few weeks. I even recommended this trainer. I hope after tonight they will know what exactly the issue is. If this trainer, I don't have personal eperience with him just he got good recommendations from others I trust, is any good he should be able to tell where this is coming from. There is another place, the boot camp kind, where you take the dog and leave it for the day, and maybe this is the way they will have to go. I know they are very upset by what has happened, thus her not taking him out by herself after he got away from her, and the dog he fought with was a little unsocialized bichon who was giving all the wrong signals. But I will keep Jaro away period unless things change a lot. And I will look for the spray, thanks for the heads up, Reddogs. It all happened so fast I could not really tell anything about body language, except Jaro's, good little guy that he is. Puppy kindergarten teacher said he was good middle of the road kind of guy, neithe shy for dominant. I know if they turn the dog back in it will be the end for him, and I think they know it too. Now my grandson wants nothing to do with the other dog, and their kids are some of his best playmates.

Definitely keep Jaro away from this dog. You can't ignore the fact that this dog is part pit, a breed/type of dog bred for dog aggression. Given the fact that this dog is a rescue, you have no idea what the dog's parents were like and given the fact that he is attacking other dogs when he is just a year old would cause me to keep my dog far away from him.

It is not a reflection on the dog's owners but it is a reality they will have to face.

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Carolyn (A.K.A. Aunt Care) and

Creekwood Tanglefoot Selchie CD, RN, AX, AXJ, CGC, CCA, (A.K.A. Selli-Belle) Golden

Valentine Byrd McDuff (A.K.A. Duffy) Golden/Sheltie

Tanglefoot Autumn Dexter CGC (My Heart Dog at the Bridge) Golden

I am super uber careful with dogs that I let Max approach in public. So much so that I think the other dog owners must think that Max is mean or something. For example, Max was playing off leash in my grandmothers yard when a neighbor brought out her unleashed dogs. I called for Max, put him on his leash and took him out front where he couldn't see the dogs and the dogs couldn't see them. The neighbor then took her dogs right back in.

I worry about the other dogs I do not know. I worry that he will take off to say HI A DOG OH WOW A DOG WOW LOOK MOM A DOG and possibly terrify, upset, or get bitten by the unknown dog.

If I saw another dog get into a fight my Max would never be around or introduced to that dog. Max hasn't been horrified or traumatized yet in his life from another dog or person attacking him and I would like that to be the case for his whole life. I just wouldn't personally risk it.

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"Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant."

~Jenn and Leif

oh and a ps it is against our school rules to have our dogs at the bus stop. You should check to see if your school has the same rules.