Like so many of you, I have repeatedly had issues with off leash dogs running up to us while we are walking. At least half the time, Kitty ends up getting attacked. I've maced, kicked, and punched dogs off of her, but sometimes she still ends up with a bite (the worst attacks happened before I carried mace). She always thought the dogs running up to us wanted to play, and if the other dog attacked she would never fight back. But I think she has finally had enough. We had a black lab break through a chain link gate today while we were walking. Kitty, who usually wants to play, had a very different response. She was ready to KILL that other dog! Its like she finally said "enough is enough, I'm sick of getting attacked!" Thankfully, this dog was nice, and Luka and the dog just tried to play until the owner came and got it. But the entire time I had to hold crazy snarling Kitty back. I had a feeling that her attitude towards strange dogs was changing, her body language towards other dogs when we walk by yards with dogs has been different, and she no longer would play-bow at them. This confirmed my fears.

I'm just so sad! My sweet little Kitty that use to love other dogs wants to beat them up! It upsets me that so many bad experiences have changed her behavior so much. I know that I can work with her to make her feel comfortable around dogs again, but I feel like its pointless. Strange dogs are going to continue to run up to us, some nice, some not so nice. I'm just conflicted, I want the old "I love every dog" Kitty back, but at the same time, I'm glad that she is at least willing to defend herself now. Unfortunatly, she apparently thinks every dog is a threat.

Ok, end rant. Thanks for listening!

i have seen this change in Sierra and Jack as well i just always try my best to keep them safe and knock on wood we have been lucky the last few months but they do challenge fenced dogs now or jack with start with a wine sound now if there is a dog on the other side of the fence.
they are still their playful selves in the dog park though so im thankful for that. how is kitty at the dog park?

She's probably developed a leash aggression with offleash dogs, I know a lot of dogs who have these issues. I'm so sorry. Sucks when idiots having bad manners influence your dog.

Is she raising fur on just her butt and neck when she gets aggressive or is the fur down her ENTIRE back?

Dogs that puff up along their entire spine are acting out of fear and not anger. Not sure if that helps any but thought I'd point that out.

When I had stupid dogs coming around acting aggressive or attacking my dogs I just carried I nice hard stick and gave them a damn hard WACK. (I've also lead my dogs with a chain instead of a leash and used it as a whip, I've made big bully dogs cry like a baby and they deserved it too.)

It really sucks when aggressive mutts attack, but if you attack them first and keep them off your dog then she'll start to feel secure again, she needs to know YOU have her back and that she doesn't need to defend herself.

There isn't a dog in my neighbor hood that dares screw around with me. My dogs? Yes. With me? Hell no.

I can sympathize as well. Saber gets aggressive with any off leash dogs now. I carry pepper spray but I haven't had to use it yet. I don't worry so much about the smaller dogs, he grabs them and pins them down while I'm trying to pull him off. That's usually enough for the dog to get up and run away. I think it's more of a warning as the worst he's done is pull out some fur on another dog. I worry more about the bigger dogs and I've had to get between him and other dogs before. I stamp my foot at the other dog and yell "get". Probably not the smartest thing to do but it's worked so far. I'll do anything to protect my boy!

Thankfully she is fine at the dog park or other similar situations. I would agree that its definitly leash aggression. Hopefully it will not get worse. She probably just doesn't feel safe on leash where she can't get away if another dog comes at her.

My friend had a German Shepherd that got that way, he was attacked while on leash a few times so now he's really edgy around other big dogs when he's on the leash or when someone is holding onto his collar.

Honestly a few times when my dog got attacked I just let go and let him defend himself and helped him beat off the other dog. Partly because I'm not big or strong enough to hold my 85 lb dog back and kick off the other dog at the same time. But if you just pull your own dog back and let the other dog bite then it seems like you'll actually do more harm to your own dog. You know?

And once I realized how well that worked I now do that even with my smaller pups because it keeps them from getting bullied and insecure and it teaches the other dogs to back off because its not a dog on dog fight, they're fighting with ME too.

Hope that makes sense lol.