First signs of agression

Question
QUESTION: Hi Delores,

Our 2 year old male English Cocker Spaniel has showed signs of aggression in varying ways since we adopted him.

We rehomed him when he was 1 year old. Since having him he has had a degree of separation anxiety, which has now pretty much been resolved and he is happy to be left for an hour or two by himself. He also showed aggression towards my boyfriend (we live together) including growling when he came near to me and once attempted to bite him, but didn't quite follow it through, this all used to happen when my boyfriend tried to sit next to me. We have taken control of this and  have really showed him (in the kindest way we can) that we are in charge and he is not to do that. He has stopped acting this way towards my boyfriend now and hasn't growled at him for at least 3 months. However, he is now starting to get aggressive with other male dogs, usually in tact males, and will sometimes try to start a fight with a dog three times his size! On the whole he is really friendly with all other dogs and people comment on his lovely friendly nature, however, there are times, which seem to be getting more frequent now, nearly almost every walk we go on, that he starts growling and barking at another dog. We took him to the beach the other day and another male dog came up to where we were sitting and our dog totally lost it, (our dog was on the lead) I couldn't even get through to him to make him stop barking and growling, eyes rolling back and teeth fully out. It was worrying.  I know he may feel less in control if he is on the lead in this situation, however, he does do this sometimes off lead at other males as well.
He got attacked by a large Boxer about 6 months ago, not badly,no injuries, but was pinned down by this dog and I had to pull this dog off mine, I am wondering whether this may be a factor, as well as him getting to an age where he has more hormones surging through him. We are planning on getting him neutered this month.

Do you think having him neutered will have a positive effect? and are there any other ways we can stop this behaviour ourselves? He is adequatley socialised with other dogs, at his previous home he lived with 5 other Cockers and I take him to agility and training classes and we have lots of friends with dogs and he gets on fine with them. Its just other males he really seems to have a problem with now. Its a shame as he has always been seen by people on walks as such a friendly dog and over the last 3-4 months we have had some people make nasty comments about his behaviour towards their dog - he wouldn't ever try to bite another dog, it just seems like he is trying to assert himself as top dog with all males and I am worried one day he will choose the wrong dog to do this to!

Look forward to your reply,
Many thanks,

Sarah

ANSWER: Yes, I think neutering will help.  And do NOT ever let this dog off leash until this is under control.  You're playing Russian Roulette if you do.

Now..what to do?  Intact males can do the "who's top dog" routine but I'd like to know if this reaction is only with strange males?  How is he with males he knows?
And is it always intact males?

I'd also like to know exactly what you do when this happens?

Look at him as if he's a teenage boy - because that's about the stage he's at.  And I'd like to know exactly how you handled it when he was growling at your boyfriend?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Our friends dogs are mainly female or males who are all neutered, and he is fine with them, however,one of our friends has male dog who is not neutered and they both react badly with each other, they have never had a full on fight but clearly dislike each other, my dog has done the whole chin over the neck thing and they both mount each other in a dominant way. We don't let them mix together now. He seems fine with the other neutered males, however, I feel that this maybe after he has sussed out they aren't interested in the top dog game and will happily play with them in a nice way. He is fine with all females.

Otherwise with strange dogs it usually kicks off with intact males, my dog just bowls over to them and isn't very polite with his interaction any more, its too full on I think and this causes the problem.
Having said that he recently met a Boxer who has been neutered recently ( a friends dog) and got funny with him. Mounting and placing his paws on his back, this dog wasn't bothered and carried on doing his own thing. We got our dog back on the lead straight away, with much protest from him, barking out of control. So although its usually intact males, this is not always the case. I have also noticed some breeds he just looks at them from across the park and will start barking and growling, usually at Staffys and Boxers, Bull Terriers or Rotties. Always, dogs who if they wanted to could do him a lot of damage.

He also had a run in with a Staffy about 6 months ago which nearly resulted in a fight and we both separated our dogs, our dog was as much to blame with building things up towards a fight.

When this happens I walk straight up to him and get him back on the lead, I don't shout as I feel this might wind it up even more. I put him back on the lead and walk in the opposite direction, whilst he is barking his head off. I tell him 'no' and try to get him to sit and calm down when we are a way away from the other dog. However this is difficult sometimes as he is seeing red and takes him a while to calm down.

When he was growling at my boyfriend, I would tell him to move away from us and also didn't allow him to sit by me around this time, as it was like he was guarding me almost. ( I don't allow him to sit on the sofa with me or sit on my lap, he always did it when sitting on the floor by me) I also would tell him very firmly 'no' and ask him to move away from us and sit and stay until we let him anywhere near us. However, he doesn't seem to do this any more, although sometimes he jumps up certain male friends who come into the house and growls lightly at them, we tell him to get down and get away from them. Some male friends he is fine with others not. With female friends he welcomes them very well.  

Answer
Get him neutered asap.  And, as I said, he doesn't EVER get off leash unless it's a totally safe situation.  Stop taking him to dog parks - this is what happens there.  Personally I'd put a soft muzzle on him when in public.  He can pant, even drink, but can't do anything else.

You could be looking at huge vet bills if your dog really does any damage to another dog..or another dog to him.  Not to mention a lawsuit..big "who needs it".

Dogs often do the "mounting etc" thing with each other.  One of mine does it to his brother...who ignores it.  Big difference between that and starting a fight.

So be responsible and don't let it happen.  Get him neutered and see how much of a difference that makes.  He should have been done a year ago anyway.

You handled the growling issue very well.  The message to the dog was "I own this space, not you".  If he ever "jumps" on a friend - herd him back with your legs and make him STAY.  He doesn't approach anyone without permission.  People should come in and totally ignore him - no chat, no petting, no eye contact.  This tells him that you are the pack leader and YOU will decide on any interaction.

And, just in case you're feeling hesitant about neutering, I'd point out you're saving him from two types of common cancers later in life.
And no, neutered males do not get "fat and lazy".  Just a myth.
He'll go in the morning and be home and fine by dinner time.
Get it done!  For males it's a minor surgery.
Delores