Anyone’s dog reactive to a specific breed?

[kathleenloveschrist]

My dog (Australian cattle) hates German Shepards, which sucks because they’re so common?? For awhile he was reactive to all dogs bigger than him but I’ve really worked with him using BAT 2.0 training and he’s pretty chill now. Like yesterday we saw 2 st Bernard’s, a poodle mix, some other longer hair colliesc, etc. all good. Then we saw a GSD and he’s barking again?? I have no idea why they upset him and don’t know what to do about it. It’s especially annoying in the car. He won’t stop even after the GSD is out of eyesight, long after we’ve driven away.

He has no history of being attacked or mistreated by a GSD, which is why I’m so confused??

 

[antoinel]

@kathleenloveschrist breeds like shepherds and husky’s can often elicit that kind of reaction just because of the pointy ears and high up/curly tail. it can look impolite to another dog!

 

[myautumn]

@antoinel My dog only hates GSDs and husky’s and I’ve never known why. This makes so much sense! Thank you

 

[bbgg]

@myautumn Mine too! I assumed it was because he had a couple of run ins with pushy shepherds and huskies, but those incidents were minor and he doesn’t have the same visceral reaction to pit bulls, even being bitten repeatedly by one.

 

[birdyyyy]

@antoinel My dog reacts to German shepherds and huskies, and he's a German shepherd himself. Lol

 

[margaretjankowski]

@antoinel This! My dog can’t stand Akitas.

 

[armann]

@antoinel My Shiba pisses off other people’s dogs just by looking at them

 

[kristih]

@antoinel German shepherds eyeball other dogs, same with malinois

 

[johngthomas]

@kathleenloveschrist I have a French/bully mix and a lot of doodles have beef with her

 

[rathimu]

@johngthomas My bulldog mix HATES doodles haha. It doesn’t help that almost every one we’ve ever met has been a poorly trained chaos goblin..

 

[bea_lovesjesus]

@kathleenloveschrist Fluffy white dog haters club over here

 

[kathleenloveschrist]

@bea_lovesjesus He’s been bitten by two fluffy whites but my guy still has no issues with them lol

 

[christopherb]

@kathleenloveschrist I know lots of dogs who are extra reactive to a specific breed or look. The most common seem to be:

• huskies, spitz types, etc. This can extend to all large prick-eared dogs
• brachycephalic breeds, I guess because of the sounds
• herding breeds, I think they give off subtle vibes with their staring and posture

My dog has always been more reactive to herding breeds. Last year he got attacked by a husky and now all huskies are what my trainer calls "enemy dogs".

 

[morio123]

@christopherb My dog is reactive with all three of these groups! And strangely golden retrievers

 

[babooshka]

@kathleenloveschrist Mine doesn't like very well-behaved dogs...the dogs on walks that aren't interested in sniffing, they're in a perfect heel, and are focused on their owners (I think he thinks they're sellouts)

Also doesn't like shortmuzzled breeds or confident puppies

 

[lifetime77]

@kathleenloveschrist My GSD is terrified of other German shepherds. Our trainer said it's probably cause German shepherds look scary, they are big with pointy ears and bark a lot. They also tend to stare which can be triggering for some dogs.

 

[gordonhooker]

@kathleenloveschrist My GSD hates standard poodles

 

[titusyoder]

@kathleenloveschrist My border collie does NOT like frenchies.

 

[zakknight]

@kathleenloveschrist Yep lol my dog hates Australian Shepherds and Sharpeis

 

[goodwithoutgod]

@kathleenloveschrist Dogs def have vibes about breeds! My non reactive dog is obsessed with pugs. She just wants every pug to love her, kiss her, play with her, it’s very funny. And she is not a pug herself. She doesn’t act this way about any other dog breed lol