Aggression-or new found confidence?

[pastafreak]

Sally has always been quite bouncy and excitable when meeting new dogs...as this is a daily occurrence in our park,she has gradually become calmer-responding immediately to my calm commands that she be nice. Which she usually is.
But the past few days she has been a little madam-pulling,tugging and lunging.She seems to have regressed. What's worse and worrying to me is that she has shown what I call aggression to several new dogs that have been 'in her face'...she's barking,growling and nippy....not like her.

Fellow dog walkers have said that she is finally showing her confidence-telling certain dogs to step back. Another dog owner suggested that though she is spayed (in June)-she may still have instincts connected with being in season. I should mention that all the dogs she has 'told off' seem to have been male. Also-she is on lead,while most of the other dogs are not.
Any thoughts on this?...I really hate to see this side of her.

[RATTER15]

I think you really need to let her know who is pack leader, I don't know if you ever watch Dog Whisperer with Ceaser Milan, he covers this subject often, look him up on YouTube or NatGeo.

Leads will often cause a normally calm dog to be aggressive toward other dogs, you will probably find that if you let your dog off the lead it will be far more calm (situation permitting of course).

[RATTER15]

What make of dog is she?

[pastafreak]

She is a lurcher RATTER-I was told she was a whippetX...tho she may have saluki in her......she was very timid when I got her inn late June....she has had to learn about the big wide world-including other dogs.
The park I go to is too near roads-so that is a worry. I am getting a long training lead for her-and a harness.

[RATTER15]

Does she ever get to run off the lead, she is a running dog, she wont be stable and happy if she cant run off lead, she needs to run off lead most days if not every day.

[anneasquith]

hi pasta. i agree with ratter. i fortunately have a large safe park near me and my dog loves the freedom to run off his lead, i understand your concern re the traffic. would it be worth trying to find a quieter spot for her,?

[pastafreak]

Not yet RATTER....but I am looking for a secure location to do so. As I said-this is only in the past few days-til now she has been fine.
I will see if things change or improve over the next few days.

[pastafreak]

I have been told that some locals use the tennis courts as a last resort.....it means risking a hefty fine. Ridiculous that there are so few safe areas.

[RATTER15]

If she has Saluki in her, that could add to the problem, they can be demanding dogs and even more essential that she is able to run free off lead.

[anneasquith]

do you drive pasta. always a good idea to ask other dog owners if they know of safer places for dogs to run.

[RATTER15]

We are so fortunate in living 5 mins from a massive beach with no risk of running onto the road :-)

[pastafreak]

There are a few lurcher/whippet owners who I see very occasionally....I will have to see if they know of anything.

[RATTER15]

Pasta, I hate to be harsh but if you cannot let your lurcher run off lead very regularly it really isn't the dog for you.

Its an out and out running dog, it really needs to stretch its legs or will become increasingly unhappy, I've had lurchers in the past and I know them well, amazing dogs, I love them!!

[woofgang]

sadly i have to agree with ratter (not sad that ratter and I agree lol) As she is getting more confident, that need to run will be surfacing and this could be what is changing her temperament. Can you say which county you live in? someone on here might be able to suggest somewhere safe to go even if its not every day

[pastafreak]

I have not said that she will never be let off lead...only that at this time I think I would rather find a safe,enclosed space to use until both she and I are confident.

[woofgang]

its a bit of a vicious circle...I suspect she will be ? stressed ? excitable while she needs to run and you won't let her run while she is stressed and excitable.........

[carmalee]

being restricted on a lead in company with dogs running free is very threatening to Sally - she may well have hormone probs which makes her feel vulnerable. Interesting that it's mainly male dogs. Any chance of taking her with a friendly (to her) dog and letting her run free somewhere - even if it's a slightly restricted area like a big back garden?

[barb1314]

Just a thought,in your local park,do you have enclosed tennis courts? A lot of dog owners in our village use our tennis courts for their pups or older dogs to practice and perfect recall.The dogs are safe but off lead. I am a dog walker and did this for the first few weeks when I started walking a new chocolate lab who was a bit unreliable. It worked a treat but of course,depends on whether you have them where you are.Good luck with Sally. It's fight or flight when on the lead.I have one lab who is adorable but when he meets un neutered male dogs and he is on the lead he has a good growl.

[slinkycat]

Hi Pasta how old is Sally? Sounds like you are having similar problems to me, Geoff is male though, he is a sweetheart if he is on a long lead and can greet other dogs, but if I keep him on a short lead and he can't say hi he sometimes goes manic!
Like you, haven't let him off the lead yet, and as other posters have said, I think that is the problem.
Hope you find somewhere safe to let her off the lead, hubby has suggested we try it tomorrow, wish me luck!

[pastafreak]

carmalee...I agree completely,and I am desperate to see her running free-she'd have a blast. It's just finding the right place to make the first step.Others have also mentioned the possibility of it being her hormones.

barb-the tennis court idea is one I am considering...but the ones in the park are plastered with warning signs from the council with threats of a £1,000 fine.....but I've heard that others have used it...so I may take the gamble when half term is over and the park is quieter.

slinkycat...Sally is just 2-she was a rescue,and I had to start from scratch with her-housetraining,the lot.You may be interested in this site...it's full of lovely people with lots of advice for lurcher owners.

http://www.lurcherlin...8670a07f67c968ac330e3