[JKlatsky]

Reactivity is NOT the same as aggression. Reactivity has a lot to do with nerve strength and IME (generalization) females are a good deal more reactive than males. Females I've known are more likely to react to a stimulus than males who are more likely to be doofy. What we're talking about is actually more like over-reactivity. The dog reacts to a stimulus in a pronounced and inappropriate way. On one end a dog that is frightened by a loud/unexpected noise may panic and run or cower tail tucked at the other end you get the dog that goes full force aggression. Both dogs are reactive just one chooses flight and the other chooses fight (which is where aggression comes in)

In regards to early neutering...I look at litter mates Cade (intact) and Beau (neutered at 5-6 months). Neither one is reactive towards other dogs, both generally like other dogs...but Beau still acts like a giant puppy. He doesn't act like a 2 year old dog, he's goofy, he still bounds like a puppy. He hasn't matured and I believe that's what early neutering gets you. I think early neutering does reduce dominance aggression...however...it won't have any impact on aggression resulting from fear, discomfort, etc. Those kinds of aggression are not hormonally influenced IMO.

 

[Daisy]

Yes! But there is no rhyme or reason to it. We can walk and pass other dogs with no problems. Or she can see one she dislikes and go on alert. At ScH training, she wants to "eat" every one of them if any of them get near her. Recently, we were in the car and stopped at a gas station. She ignored the people passing by my car. We arrived at our destination and there was a dog walking in the middle of the street. She jumped up barking and hackling, and would have gone through the window if she could have. A few weeks ago, she met some strange dogs up close, and bared her teeth and fussed, but after she got to know them, she was fine and could hang out with them, although remained aloof. Strange with people too. Come into my home, she's like a lab and welcomes you. Out of the house, she *might* greet you with a sniff, then you become invisible.

 

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

I was reading the posts,should have joined when Daisy was 2 9She's 11 now. Daisy reacted to females,she was altered i rthink she became more aggressive but then i didn't socialize enough (1st shepherd)daisy loves male dogs can play with any male till she has enough and will leave or when yolunger use her chest to push them back.A friend of mine who trained in the prison dog program said one day when i was upset daisy didn't like other females,"you wnt a lab get a lab You have a shepherd who are meant to work one on one or in a pair. If I would have been a member here I would have asked questions and maybe not made some dumb mistakes.

 

[rebelsgirl]

I have a reactive GSD who is 17 months old. She took 3 sessions of obedience and we tried an agility class that didn't work out. She also had several private classes. She is worked and exercised at home. She will bark and lunge at other dogs, in class, on walks anywhere there is another dog she can react to. She stays home now and is a very good house dog.

I was told it was genetic. We didn't get her from the best breeder. hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Heagler870]

Riley is extremely reactive to dogs. It's not an aggressive reaction although at training one day another shepherd, a 7 mo old puppy, ran up to him and I and he tried to bite her. Luckily I was able to choke up quick enough and turn him around. This dog reactivity he has is the main problem I have with Riley. His behavior is great except in this department. All focus on me or a high value toy or treat is gone when he sees another dog. We can be in a total calm state and he sees a dog and his breathing gets very heavy, panting heavily, starts to low huffing growl and whining and then barking. I usually say "no" and if he continues which he ALWAYS does I choke up until he stops and this is when he will finally shut up and then I praise him after he is calm and watching the dog. I have noticed when I get him calm he shows a lot of interest towards the dog and wants to play with it. I just cannot for the life of me get him to be calm when he sees another dog without the physical correction

 

[2manyqs]

My Riley (a female) is fixed but I have no clue when as she was a surrender at the shelter and came to them that way. She's not dominant and edges towards aggression (with some dogs) and is definitely reactive to other dogs (initially on leash and now it's starting up with just seeing other dogs when she can't get to them - she's in the car and they are not, she's on my deck and they are walking by.) As with the other Riley, this is really her only negative trait - great with people, children, cars, etc even when on leash.

We're working the positive reinforcement route learning self-control and to increase her frustration level. The first private trainer was into negative reinforcement so we're moving on to some who goes the positive route. If we get in a situation that I completely lose all of her focus, all I can do is get her out of the situation (generally by pulling her along). And while we're working on the desensitization, I try to only walk her when I know there won't be many dogs out and about ready to pop around the next corner or behind the next fence.

 

[Carryingon]

I'm encountering this with my five month old boy.
He gets all attentive when he sees another dog in the distance. I try to redirect and it usually works, until the dog is close. Then - like today - he hackles, whines, barks, and eventually screeches while lunging and I cannot get his focus. Meanwhile, the other dog owner and his/her geriatric poodle or friendly lab are horrified that this 55-lb, doesn't-look -like-a-puppy but does, perhaps, look like a wolf to an average joe, is behaving this way toward them, and I don't blame them.

My previous dog was very reactive dog aggressive, but it was a direct result from a serious attack from another dog when he was about six months old (a neighbor's pit bull dug under my fence and set about trying to kill my dog the first day they moved in.) He, however, ignored other dogs completely unless they came within a few inches of him; then he snapped and that was only to get them to go away. Then he was fine again. Before that attack happened, he could be pushy and puppy-obnoxious with other dogs, but not aggressive.

So, this is our main challenge, and I think it's a great big pain! :help:

 

[King&Skylar]

Skylar was reactive from 4-7 months. She was fear reactive towards other dogs. I socialized the heck out of her, and she is "all better" now- she is the "walking buddy" with the dogs at my mom's boarding kennel, and we compete in rally and go to dog events with no issue, so she wasn't really too reactive, i just didn't know how to deal with it right away.

 

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

Sasha really likes other dogs, but does not appreciate dogs with bad doggy manners. She's very much a lets sniff each other first then we can play kinda girl. She's not a huge fan when dogs just jump on her right off the bat. She doesn't bite, but she won't play with dogs that act like that; she walks away.

 

[SamTheDog]

My pup is 18 weeks old. I have another dog, 4 year old american bulldog, who he loves. I have been socializing him alot, and even though he doesn't dislike other dogs, he always spends 15 minutes of barking at them and showing sort of dominance when he meets them.. then get gets on to playing.

 

[JoannahK]

My 18 month old female has gone to the dog park every day since she was 3 months old. We use to spend so much time there while she played with every other dog that came, and there were many. We still go everyday but there are only a few dogs I can let her off leash with. When we see another dog I have to put her on leash right away or she attacks. Like I said she has always been around other dogs. We still go to obideance classes every week, she is well socialized. We have done nothing to make her like this, I guess it is just her. I am still hoping she might grow out of it. lol. We will see.

Did she ever grow out of it?

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

Did she ever grow out of it?

This thread is from 2011. That person hasn’t been around for over 3 years and is unlikely to see your question.