Breed specific aggression

**ton70out** · 12-30-2006, 03:09 PM

Hi,

My dog is super-friendly with almost every dog he encounters, but completely looses his mind when he sees an Airdale Terrior. He growls, snarls, and seems like he really wants to hurt the other dog.

Has anyone experienced similar behavior, and does anyone have any suggested solutions?

Thanks...

**Taz_Zoee** · 12-30-2006, 03:47 PM

Welcome to PT.

Can you give us some more background on your dog? How old is he? How long have you had him? What breed is he?

**GreyhoundGirl** · 12-30-2006, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Taz_Zoee

Welcome to PT.

Can you give us some more background on your dog? How old is he? How long have you had him? What breed is he?

I agree, that would be helpful.

Jenny doesn't like shih tzus. *shrugs* I just avoid them. shame.

**cali** · 12-30-2006, 08:39 PM

yup its actually pretty common. Happy hates Schnauzers, Pionters, and Shiba Inu's. she is fear aggressive of starnge dogs in genral but with those 3 breeds she show real dominance type aggression. similarly she is no problem at all with Goldens or Labs, not even fear agression with them lol

Misty does not have a breed aggression so much a a colour one. she is aggressive towards large red dogs. for example a black and tan Dobie she has no problem with but a red Dobie will set her off. same with Pitties she has met, she is fine with any colour but red. for her is is only rich dark red, NOT orange like a golden or Toller or "fox red" lab.

**ton70out** · 12-30-2006, 08:53 PM

I adopted him a year ago.
He's a rescue, so no papers, but he's about 2.5 - 3 best guess.
He wasn't neutered until about a month before I got him.
I first encountered the behavior when someone with two Airdales (1 adult & 1 juvenile) brought his to the field where we were. His younger dog stood still and stared at my dog. He stared back for a minute, and then went nuts. Fortunately, there was a fence between them.
He saw that same dog a couple more times, and immediately got aggressive, and now any Airdale he sees causes a reaction.

**Tollers-n-Dobes** · 12-30-2006, 10:28 PM

He may just associate all Airedales as being just like the dog he had a problem with. That's what I'd guess anyway, since he did have a not-so-good encounter with the breed. I'm not sure what you can do about it though, sorry.

Breed specific aggression seems to be pretty common. Tango hates all brindle coloured dogs, Boxers, Schnauzers, Pointers. I don't know why, as she's never had a bad experience with any of these breeds. She tends only to get along very well with sporting breeds (except pointers) and herding breeds. She likes other breeds too (except for the few mentioned above), but prefers the sporting and herding.