Will this have a lasting effect on him?

meoklmrk91

Was at the pet expo in cork today, my fella was having a ball, loving all the attention, meeting the other dogs etc.

We were walking around and a woman walked past with a yorkie, my fella turned around to sniff, we were still walking, and the yorkie just went mental, not just the warning snap, but full on lets go, of course I got the dirty look because I have the big dog.

Now my fella never displayed aggression in his life to anyone or anything, but after this when dogs went past or came up to us it was almost like he was trying to get the first throw in so to speak, bounding at other dogs and he even growled at one, I was shocked and needless to say we left.

I am kind of freaked out now, which I know is going to do no good next time we are in a situation like this, he is a Boxer and does have tendency to go straight up to another dog and try and play with them immediately barely even giving anyone a chance to sniff, but he actually didn't even touch this dog, he just turned his head as we passed. Any tips on what I should do with this one, we are starting obedience classes next week, I think it will be a great experience for both of us but am now worried this will be an issue.

tk123

I would see how he is over the weekend with other dogs before you panic too much. How old is he? I had a small terrier snap at my GR when he was about 3 months old and unfortunately yes it did have an effect on him - he became really shy towards other dogs - especially small ones. The problem just got worse and worse but we're lucky enough to be close enough to a brilliant day care centre so I started taking him and within maybe 4 visits his confidence shot up. He was left in to play with loads of smaller dogs and then he tried to make friends with them all in the park lol!

meoklmrk91

tk123 wrote: »

I would see how he is over the weekend with other dogs before you panic too much. How old is he? I had a small terrier snap at my GR when he was about 3 months old and unfortunately yes it did have an effect on him - he became really shy towards other dogs - especially small ones. The problem just got worse and worse but we're lucky enough to be close enough to a brilliant day care centre so I started taking him and within maybe 4 visits his confidence shot up. He was left in to play with loads of smaller dogs and then he tried to make friends with them all in the park lol!

He is almost two, so pretty much past the main socialisation phase, although if you ask me he's just a 30+kg puppy .

He came every where with me when he was a pup so he had plenty of socialisation, obedience classes start next week so I am hoping that spending time there with other dogs will help some.

tk123

Head along to the class and explain what happened. If the trainers are any good they'll be able to see if there's a problem and advise on what to do. My guy is 3 in a couple of weeks and would be the same as your guy - a 30kg puppy lol! I don't get people going to Pet Expo if they don't want their dogs to be in ANY contact with other dogs - the Dublin one was the same last year with dogs snapping - not surprising as it was way too crowded and cramped.

meoklmrk91

Thanks very much for advice, I will take him as I enjoy bringing him to events like this and he seems to enjoy it for the most part.

The Expo in Dublin was crazy last year, it was my first year and I had decided it would be my last because of it, I didn't bring the dog but still, it was packed and absolutely roasting in there, I for one am glad they are moving it to Kildare.

I just hope it doesn't change his happy go lucky demeanour when it comes to other dogs, other dogs on a couple occasions have given him the warning snap of get out of my space which is fine by me if I don't get there to correct him on time. But this yorkie just went hell for leather, if a larger dog behaved like that people would loose their minds and obviously rightly so but that doesn't mean that small dogs can do something like that. God forbid had my fella reacted and bitten then he could have seriously injured it.