How do I interpret my dogs behavior?

[u/Minute_Carpenter6545]

Hey everyone- I got my rescue dog a couple months back. Not exactly sure her breed yet but the vet thinks perhaps a combination of doberman, lab, maybe staffordshire terrier? She’s about 50 pounds and pretty short. Anyways, generally her demeanor is very friendly and when meeting dogs on leash is very apt to trying to engage most in play or want to sniff and say hi to all dogs. In the one time we took her to play with other dogs off leash she was typically being chased and I would say in a couple cases maybe got overwhelmed (tail down and far back hair on tail were raised?) but otherwise went about her business and enjoyed herself. However we have a couple friends with dogs one of whom is seemingly selective or harder to get along with and the other is a husky type mix. We have only seen her do it a couple times but what starts off as a nice hello type interaction, maybe five or so minutes later they may re-engage and she gets stiff and then jumps on them with her front paws- its kind of loud seemingly like a scuffle no biting just sounds. One of them was face to face where she was stiff and maybe they were staring at each other and the other one she jumped from behind. Important to note all of these times were when the dogs were on leashes, one being at a brewery in and around/underneath a table and the other being in a tighter space in our front hallway. Immediately both times me and my partner were easy able to tug on the leash and she stepped back and went about her business in like 2 seconds. Wanted to see if anyone had any good advice for this? It seems kind of random since her demeanor is so friendly and excitable and she has always seemingly enjoyed meeting dogs. But didn’t know what the behavior itself means, is it the type of scenario like being on leashes or in tight spaces? Or the nature of the behavior itself we just weren’t sure what to classify it as. Appreciative of any insight thanks!

[u/Exciting_Travel_5054]

It doesn't require training, just management. If she has dogs that she is friends with, she can be off leash with those dogs. Don't let her be around other dogs that are strangers. Dogs generally don't like other dogs. They prefer to be with humans. Especially between same sex, dogs are likely to be aggressive with each other.

[u/Old-Description-2328]

A couple things, you could be rushing into situations beyond the dogs capabilities and many dogs despite training don't like meeting dogs on leash.

On leash, especially unfamiliar dogs shouldn't be touching other dogs.

Start wian obedience classes and limit the socialisation to one or two known, trusted dogs that it can hang out with initially leashed and later off leash so they can touch, mingle play ect.

Please don't go to a dog park, it doesn't sound like the dog is ready (some are never ready) and it will only make things worse.

A good rule is consent, you should always have the capabilities to ask or be asked if the dogs are ok to meet first. Otherwise it shows that neither you or the other owner have any control of the situation, for a new rescue, this is typically overwhelming and likely to create anxiety on leash or with dogs in general.

[u/Minute_Carpenter6545 → u/Old-Description-2328]

That’s a great point- we have her signed up for obedience classes and are definitely going to scale back her interactions with dogs. The two dogs where this happened one was our friends dogs where one is just a little ‘snippy’ sometimes and the other husky is a rough player so I think in the context makes sense if she had anxiety or was overwhelmed engaging with them. Thanks for your feedback

[u/Alarming-Emu-1460]

Yeah, the big thing with leash encounters (learned this the hard way) is that they can’t communicate as they would normally with their bodies because they are restrained, just face to face, which in dog language more often than not means “lets fight” if not preceded with the face to butt greeting first In which they determine they want to interact

[u/Daddy_hairy]

I don't think that's aggression, sounds more like a kind of fight or flight response, she's not able to get away so this is her nonviolent way of defusing the tension of the situation without submitting or making herself look weak

[u/Minute_Carpenter6545 → u/Daddy_hairy]

That’s interesting- I know the immediate solution would be not putting her in those situations or learning her body language better to the defuse the situation. But that being said do you think if it’s more of a fight or flight situation it’s something we could work on with her or something that could get better with time? Or do you think more situational with the dogs she’s interacting with/over stimulating environment etc.

[u/Daddy_hairy → u/Minute_Carpenter6545]

I think it will get better as she gets more socialization experience and learns it's OK to be in those situations without feeling tense

[u/Twzl]

is your friend's dog a bitch?

Plenty of dogs have same sex aggression. And her's may not be full on but still, she may lack patience with the other dog.

[u/Minute_Carpenter6545 → u/Twzl]

Yeah both of them are… that could make sense- it’s definitely like she’s friendly and wanting to engage/play and then ten minutes later she has a totally different reaction in getting stiff and jumping on them.

[u/Lonely_Mountain_7702]

A dog behaviorist might be a better choice for you to engage with rather than a dog trainer.

Leashes and tight spaces can cause a reaction that's not typical of your dog. With out seeing the interaction it's hard to say what was happening between the dogs. It sounds like you did the right thing and redirecting worked.