I have a 6-year-old pit terrier shepherd mix named Winnie, and a nearly 2-year-old dog that’s a similar mix. Neither of them are great around other dogs. Yesterday, my parents brought their chihuahua mix, which my dogs get along with, but also my sister’s dog, which was new to them. After about 8 minutes of socializing on leashes with zap collars, my 6-year-old went after my sister’s dog. We had to separate them, and my 6-year-old bit my sister’s dog pretty good. Now, my mom is terrified to visit with my dogs, even though she’s been taking care of them for years with her chihuahua. I’m unsure of what to do next or if there’s a risk to me or others. This isn’t the first time Winnie has been aggressive towards other pets, so I usually limit her interactions. Any advice on how to move forward?
Oh wow, that sounds tough. I’ve had issues with my dog getting aggressive too, especially with new dogs. Have you tried training her in situations like that or is she only aggressive when you’re socializing?
If you’ve done training before, it might be worth revisiting some commands or seeking professional help. Sometimes dogs just need that extra guidance to feel comfortable around other pets.
I can relate to this! My dog got super territorial when new dogs came around too. We worked on short, controlled meetups where we gave treats for calm behavior. It’s been a slow process, but it’s helped a lot.
What about doing a behavior assessment with a professional trainer? They might be able to help figure out what’s triggering the aggression and work on a plan for Winnie.
It’s tough when dogs aren’t great with other pets, especially when they’ve had incidents. Have you considered seeing a canine behaviorist to get some advice specific to Winnie’s needs?