Hi everyone, Neels is an Australian Shepherd who is now 10 months old. Everything was going really well from the moment we got him (at 8 weeks old from a breeder); Neels saw quite a few dogs, but unfortunately mostly young ones (who weren't necessarily well-socialised), so I think he picked up some slightly rough habits. He’s never been mean, though—just a real bundle of energy.
This carried on until he was about 7 or 8 months old, when an unneutered male Boxer who wasn't part of his usual playgroup tried to mount him and a scrap broke out. The fight wasn't anything major; we stepped in pretty quickly and I thought that was the end of it. However, it seems that since that day, Neels picks fights with entire males (except for one, his childhood friend). I've sought advice here and there and we decided to bring forward the date for him to be neutered (we’d already decided to have him "done" eventually). So, Neels was neutered 10 days ago.
I'm not pinning all my hopes on the operation; I'm also seeing a behaviourist at the same time to work on the aggression issues towards other males.
I'm posting today partly to hear from people who have been through something similar (targeted male aggression and the effects of neutering). I've looked everywhere and the subject comes up often, but without any real conclusion on how things turned out. I also wanted to share my own story and try to keep a bit of a diary to help any future owners facing the same problem by showing how mine progresses, if that’s of interest.
In any case, if you have any feedback or experiences to share, I'd love to hear them as this situation is making me quite sad. Off-lead walks are more complicated now, so for the time being, we're 100% on a long line.
Thanks for reading and I hope to get some replies.
Translated from French
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Do Huskies really have such a bad reputation? The ones I’ve come across are, at worst, just a bit aloof with other dogs. I find them very level-headed. I wanted one myself, but my lifestyle just wasn't the right fit. On the other hand, I’ve noticed quite a few "reactive" shepherds, likely down to their sensitive nature. I’m hoping I can manage to avoid those sorts of issues.
Where I live, Huskies are actually pretty popular... they’re one of the most common breeds in my neck of the woods (a little coastal corner of the country). We have very few problems with them getting on with other dogs, but owners do often talk about their unexpected escapes and their predatory streaks. We’ve only had a single incident involving a small goat in the six years I’ve been part of this "dog community". A pair that got out and attacked.
But aside from that, people manage them well, so there haven't been any other incidents to report.
Do Huskies really have such a bad reputation? The ones I know are aloof with other dogs at worst. I find them very level-headed. I wanted one myself, but my lifestyle just wasn't right for it.
On the other hand, I’ve noticed quite a few 'reactive' shepherds, which is probably down to their sensitivity. I’m hoping I can manage to avoid those sorts of issues.
@Willko, it’s always going to be distressing to witness your dog get into a fight, but the most important thing is knowing Neels well enough so you can anticipate and manage things as best as possible.
In this case, it sounds like it was a really unfortunate accident where your dog went into "retaliation" mode against another dog he’s likely had it in for for a while. Sometimes certain dogs just have a long-standing feud for whatever reason.
I’ve known a handful of dogs that genuinely wanted to kill each other; usually, it was because their owners had let them provoke one another endlessly through garden fences... naturally, the resentment built up and the moment they had the chance, they went for each other.
You should also be mindful of the level of frustration you’re putting on him. An Australian Shepherd at a training club is in "work mode," and the tension can ramp up very quickly if he sees other dogs as a distraction from his job, for instance. Excitement levels in agility are also sky-high, and all of that can definitely play a part.
Personally, with my shepherd, I have two main modes: times when he’s just doing his own thing out in the countryside and around other dogs—in which case I avoid giving him a task or bringing out a ball, for example, because I want him to stay relaxed. Then there are times when we’re "working" together; that’s when it’s time to focus and I make sure there aren't too many distractions around.
you’re really debunking the 'vicious' reputation of Huskies that some people love to go on about.
A friendly Shepherd attacking a Husky—that really is the world turned upside down.
As for your dog, I think you should ease off a bit on the socialising. It’s better to have two or three meetings a week that go well and that you can manage, rather than ten a day that end badly.
He’s getting his stitches out tomorrow, so the cone will finally be coming off! We’ll be starting our long walks in the woods again, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of challenges when we meet other dogs. I’ve also signed up for some positive reinforcement walking groups, but we haven't actually been on any yet...
Hi,
@Flip-Cockwood You're right, I haven't really given many examples of his reactivity, so here's the most recent one:
During our agility class, Neels had to go over the dog walk, which is an obstacle he's quite wary of. Because of that, I was staying close to him and holding him by his collar, but he backed away so suddenly that he managed to slip right out of it. It took him about two seconds to realise he was free, and then he bolted straight for the only entire male in the group (a 2-3 year old Husky) and went for his throat. It definitely wasn't just rough play; it was a clear act of aggression. The Husky's owner had to kick Neels in the groin to get him off, and I had to grab him by the scruff to pull him away from his 'prey'. It was a really distressing experience. Luckily, the owner didn't hold it against me, and the instructor stepped in straight away to help both me and my dog calm down.
Since then, I've been using a long lead as a safety measure to avoid any accidents and to ensure this behaviour doesn't become ingrained. That being said, I am still purposely going near other dogs (with the lead as a safety net) to work on desensitising Neels. However, I’m not sure if my "No, leave it" method is actually working.
Hi there.
My Aussie was neutered at exactly 6 months old. It’s resulted in a dog that's really easy-going and has a lovely temperament. He’s never been attacked in his life and has never shown any aggression towards anyone; it’s honestly so stress-free (for him as well as for us owners).
(Mind you, it doesn’t mean he’s ‘incapable’, as until she was 9 or 10, my unspayed female would put him to work for 3 days every 6 months when she was in season. They were proper matings—though sterile, of course!)
Hi Willko,
A dog is ultimately a product of what you teach it, but you haven't given any examples of the situations where you find him reactive.
If he’s currently on a long lead 100% of the time, you won't be able to distinguish between genuine reactivity and frustration caused by a lack of freedom.
Anyway, you can always teach your dog what you expect of him by monitoring him during tricky interactions and intervening at the right moment. This applies to pestering other dogs too. It’s up to you to step in when the other dog isn't being clear or isn't being respected. This way, you can teach him to back off and choose other options, breaking his hyper-focus in the moment.
Thanks for your replies.
I was already aware that his testosterone levels would take some time to drop. This is usually the point where forum discussions tend to trail off. I’m going to try and share Neels’ progress to potentially help others and to gather more advice and hear about other people’s experiences.
I know some people might judge me for my choices, but I’m doing my absolute best to weigh up the pros and cons of my actions for the well-being of the 'pack'.
