Docile dog becomes randomly aggressive

Hello people of Pet Talk,

We have been having incidents with our two-year-old dog where she becomes randomly and (seemingly) inexplicably aggressive. We have had her for around a year and a half, and she is usually the sweetest dog ever. She is a mutt and we adopted her form our local Humane Society. They said she was part Labrador and Australian Shepherd, but she looks like she may have some Pit Bull and maybe something else as well. In any case, this dog is beyond-tolerant. You can put your hand in her mouth while she's eating and she won't bite. You can roll her around on her back and she'll lick your face. You can hold her mouth closed and she won't resist. You can pull her ears, tail, legs, and she's fine. She is also very loving and wants to meet EVERYONE. she loves people, she loves dogs, she DOES go crazy over cats and squirrels, but she is a dog after all.

Four times, though, she has attacked another dog, seemingly out of the blue. Once in the forest when we went hiking. Twice at the dog park. Once at the Saturday farmers market.

It is so bizarre. She is happy, wagging her tail, sniffing butts, running around playing, and suddenly she and the other dog are on top of each other, bare toothed, growling, yelping and tearing at each other's necks.

I don't want to keep her form having fun with other dogs, but I don't know what to do to keep her form attacking.

What could be causing this erratic behaviour? Or is it normal for dogs to get into squabbles sometimes?
Is there a way to train her not to attack other dogs?
How do I punish her (well, deal with her) when she does get into a fight?

It sounds like she may have some issue probably stemming from puppyhood, and she never learned how to play properly with other dogs, so gets confused and it turns to aggression. This can be a serious issue, for her safety, as well as that of other dogs. Have you done any obedience training with her? Can you tell what precipitates the episodes? I would definitely give her a very long walk before you get to the dog park, so she is tired when she gets there, and for now, not let her off leash while you are there, so you can be instantly aware of any untoward actions.

Is she seeming to protect you when the attacks happen? Or resource guarding? What commands does she know? Sorry so many questions!

You definitely do not need to "punish" her when she gets into fights, as that will have no good effect, and even can up having bad effect. And afterwards, when things are calm again, she won't know why, anyway. If you keep her on leash at all time, removing her from the situation and leaving the park, then have her sit, down, stay, do whatever commands she knows to get her calm again and focused on you.

This may very well be something you need an experience trainer to work with, approach and interaction with her and other dogs carefully for now, okay?

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Originally Posted by Karen

It sounds like she may have some issue probably stemming from puppyhood, and she never learned how to play properly with other dogs, so gets confused and it turns to aggression. This can be a serious issue, for her safety, as well as that of other dogs. Have you done any obedience training with her? Can you tell what precipitates the episodes? I would definitely give her a very long walk before you get to the dog park, so she is tired when she gets there, and for now, not let her off leash while you are there, so you can be instantly aware of any untoward actions.

Is she seeming to protect you when the attacks happen? Or resource guarding? What commands does she know? Sorry so many questions!

You definitely do not need to "punish" her when she gets into fights, as that will have no good effect, and even can up having bad effect. And afterwards, when things are calm again, she won't know why, anyway. If you keep her on leash at all time, removing her from the situation and leaving the park, then have her sit, down, stay, do whatever commands she knows to get her calm again and focused on you.

This may very well be something you need an experience trainer to work with, approach and interaction with her and other dogs carefully for now, okay?

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Well, we take her to the dog park at least four times a week, nearly every day in the summer, and she's usually very good and gentile while playing with other dogs. She never barks at them, and she's good at matching their aggressiveness. I've seen her hold her own against a giant Mastiff and then turn around and start chasing a puppy with extreme sensitivity. That is why it confuses me so much that she would have an aggression problem. There doesn't seem to be any warning signs that I have noticed. She's not protective of me :P. Once there was food involved, but the other three times there wasn't.
She knows sit, down, stay, come and a few tricks like weave and holding treats on her nose. We have been to obedience school as well.

Do you know of any behavior specialists or where to find one? Would her Vet be helpful?


Oh, also, three of the times the dogs were female old black labs. the fourth was just a random little dog who wasn't black at all, but it's curious that the first three were all very similar.

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Originally Posted by Nadie

Well, we take her to the dog park at least four times a week, nearly every day in the summer, and she's usually very good and gentile while playing with other dogs. She never barks at them, and she's good at matching their aggressiveness. I've seen her hold her own against a giant Mastiff and then turn around and start chasing a puppy with extreme sensitivity. That is why it confuses me so much that she would have an aggression problem. There doesn't seem to be any warning signs that I have noticed. She's not protective of me :P. Once there was food involved, but the other three times there wasn't.
She knows sit, down, stay, come and a few tricks like weave and holding treats on her nose. We have been to obedience school as well.

Do you know of any behavior specialists or where to find one? Would her Vet be helpful?

Oh, also, three of the times the dogs were female old black labs. the fourth was just a random little dog who wasn't black at all, but it's curious that the first three were all very similar.

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Sure, where are you located? You vet probably would not be very helpful, as they are trained to look for medical, not behavioral issues. Did the incidents happen close together, or are they sporadic? When she gets into it with another dog, can you distract her or call her to you successfully? Sounds like a coincidence 3 were older black Labs, after all - they are the most popular breed in America! Knowing where you are would help us (Pet Talk people) find a good behaviorist for you!

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Originally Posted by Karen

Sure, where are you located? You vet probably would not be very helpful, as they are trained to look for medical, not behavioral issues. Did the incidents happen close together, or are they sporadic? When she gets into it with another dog, can you distract her or call her to you successfully? Sounds like a coincidence 3 were older black Labs, after all - they are the most popular breed in America! Knowing where you are would help us (Pet Talk people) find a good behaviorist for you!

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The outskirts of Portland Oregon. I would be very grateful if you knew of any behaviorists in the area.

The first incident and the second were almost a year apart, then the next one happened about a month later, and the latest one was only about a week and a half after that (it happened yesterday). And she becomes very concentrated on the other dog and doesn't listen. She seems to have sense enough not to bite people though, when they are pulled apart. The first time she wouldn't let go of the other dog's collar so I stuck my hand in her mouth and she immediately let go. (I know sticking your hands into a dogfight isn't very smart, but in the situation I knew it was safe.) As soon as they are pulled apart and she is distracted she goes back to a tail-wagging happy dog almost immediately.

And I was not aware that black labs were so popular! I guess I never noticed, but now that I reflect I do see them everywhere. :P

Thank you very much :D

Could just possibly be that your dog, she is phsycic. She can read their minds and knows when one needs a right royal arse kicking! :D;)

You're welcome - let me reach out to our West-Coast Pet Talkers!

I'm somewhat local (in Eugene) and I have heard good things about this place http://www.canineclassroom.com

Edited to add: Here is another place that seems highly recommended. http://animalbehaviorclinic.net

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Originally Posted by DJFyrewolf36

I'm somewhat local (in Eugene) and I have heard good things about this place http://www.canineclassroom.com

Edited to add: Here is another place that seems highly recommended. http://animalbehaviorclinic.net

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Thank you so much!:D:D

Please keep in mind, you do need professional training, but there is a difference between self-proclaimed "behaviorists" and board certified and licensed veterinary behaviorists. I would start out with a professional trainer first (and it will cost a lot of money, but that's the price you'll pay for results) before going to a veterinary behaviorist.