Snapping @ other dogs

[Tamara & Giada]

My Giada growled and snapped at another dog on our walk today :(  Good thing she was on a leash! I had to pull her away and the lady was not happy!  she has NEVER done this before.......does anyone have insight on this?  She is usually very jolly and good with people and other dogs.  With our extended family she is around 7 other dogs on a regular basis!

[Adina P]

Hmm...you know if she's NEVER done that before and you don't see it again, I wouldn't worry about it.
Does she pass other dogs on walks often? Has she ever passed THIS dog before? Did the other dog do ANYTHING besides just walk by its owner calmly?

[Tamara & Giada]

Both dogs stopped and walked toward eachother and we let them sniff, like I always do and then it happened. I didn't notice that the other dog had done anything!

[Tamara & Giada]

Oh, to answer the other questions...........No she does not usually pass other dogs on our walks and no we have never seen this particular dog.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

They taught us in training class to keep on leash meet and greets very short, like maybe 3-5 seconds, no more than 7 I think it was. It can even be something as simple as the look the other dog gives, etc. I know I posted a while back about a similar issue with Sophie but hers is more about getting too excited and if I don't let her go greet she sounds mad, but is just wanting to get to the other dog to play. There was lots of conversation in there about "Leash Aggression".

[Tamara & Giada]

I'd say this all happened in 5 seconds! Giada has made that noise if excited, but never snapped!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I hate having my dogs meet other dogs when they're leashed. I don't think they're comfortable, and there may have been some negative body language from the other dog that you didn't notice. If Giada is not aggressive, I'm guessing that she felt threatened and reacted.

[Tamara & Giada]

Thanks! I agree about the leashing!

[Meridith and Lola]

I live in NYC so we constantly pass other dogs. Lola was always incredible submissive with the other dogs....lying down sometimes as much as a half a block away and rolling over immediately. She still does that almost all the time, however, as she got a little older at around 14 - 15 months (she is now 19 months), there would be an occasional dog that would set her off (barking, lunging) for what seems like no particular reason. One time she did it, the owner was very understanding and I asked her if we could try to get them together because it was so out of character. It took a little bit but they did start to sniff and were fine. She also reacts that way to some people - sometimes it seems like it might be people she is protecting me but it actually seems like it is happening a little more often and starting to concern me so I'm open to hearing opinions as well. I don't think it is related particularly to being on a leash and she is the majority of our time out in the city.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't let Jack approach strange dogs any more when he's leashed. We've had too many confrontations.
I have learned that if you watch the other dog's body language, you can sometimes see what they're doing that sets your dog off. Most of the time when Jack is reactive to a strange dog, that dog is making inappropriate eye contact.

[Tamara & Giada]

I agree and I too am going to adopt this rule! Thanks!

[Adina P]

I agree with Karen and I also don't let Rosco meet and greet strange dogs. I see no reason for it. Any more than if I was on a walk with my kids and passed some other kids. Plus the 'other' person's dog may be 'nice' but not that way to MY dog ... So why chance it? What is there to gain? Unless it is a doodle and then *I* want to stop to meet doodle & owner :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The reason this was an issue for me, and why I needed to work on it is because as you know it is one of the areas they test you on in the Therapy Testing! I'm really not sure why it is one of the areas, but unfortunately it is.