There could be a lot of reasons your dog does not like certain breeds of dog. It could be that they had a bad experience with a dog of that same breed when they were younger. It could also be a breed of dog that resembles the dog he had a bad experience with, so the dog isn’t taking any chances.
It could also be for no particular reason. Sometimes, dogs like some dogs better than others, just as people do. Most of the time when a dog is aggressive towards other dogs, it is because they feel threatened in some way.
Why does my dog not like specific breeds of dogs?
Dogs have a good memory, and they remember who has hurt them in the past. Maybe a certain breed hurt them a long time ago or just looks like the same dog. Your dog is not going to take any chances and will go on the defensive immediately when seeing such a dog. Dogs that remind them of one that hurt them will put your dog on the defensive.
It may or may not be the actual breed your dog does not like. It could be the smell. Dogs’ sense of smell is much greater than ours, and they learn a lot from other dogs and people by the scent. It could also be the size of the dog, how the dog acts, or how the dog is relative to other dogs.
The other dog may be too high energy, too aggressive, or too submissive, so your dog does not want to deal with them. Dogs tend to make a quick judgment on another individual dog, and they don’t usually change their mind.
The gender of the dog could also be a contributing factor. An alpha dog, for example, would prefer to hang out with females and might be hostile to other males he might see as competitors.
Another reason might just be simply that they are not interested. Dogs may have friends as we do, and that is who they want to hang out with. That might be reason enough for a dog to not want to hang out with another dog.
It may be best to keep your dog away from types of dogs that your dog does not like. Your dog does not have to like all other dogs. There is a balance between letting the dog have some choices and taking care of the well-being of your dog. If you have a larger dog that hates toy poodles, for example, it will be very hard to teach that dog to change his feelings. It is best in that situation to keep your dog away from them.
Dogs know their own kind, or breed, and tend to like dogs that are like them. Your dog could be neutral towards some breeds because he has no experience with them. If he is well-socialized and used to being around other dogs, there may not be an issue.
The issue is not necessarily the breed. The issue is that the dog they don’t like reminds them of something in their past that was painful.
Size can also be an issue. If you have a small dog and they suddenly see a very big dog, they may freak out a little. They may not even know whether it is a dog or some other kind of animal.
There are a lot of reasons your dog might not like some other dogs. Dogs are aggressive when they are afraid or feel threatened. The more your dog is socialized, the less aggressive he will be towards other dogs. He may still not like certain dogs, but he won’t be aggressive as a natural stance when he sees a dog.
Why does my dog not like pugs?
Pugs are generally friendly dogs. Maybe your dog thinks they are too friendly. Dogs may have the idea of personal space just like people do. Pugs are naturally affectionate, so they may try to be affectionate before your dog is ready. There is likely something about the personality of a pug that your dog finds objectionable.
Pugs can be loud as they are known as barkers. They could bark too much and that aggravates your dog.
Pugs are relaxed, happy-go-lucky dogs with a laid-back attitude. That may not fit well with more intense breeds. Beagles and Labrador Retrievers have similar personalities, so they may naturally get along better.
Why does my dog not like French Bulldogs?
French Bulldogs tend to have flat faces and a scrunched-up nose. They do not have the same sense of smell that other dogs have, but it is still better than a human’s sense of smell.
Dogs normally greet each other with a sniff or two. French Bulldogs, and other flat-faced dogs, may not do this because their sense of smell is not as fine-tuned. This could lead other dogs to think the bulldog is not being friendly. Your dog may even think it rude, or bad manners, to not offer the standard dog greeting.
Your dog might even think the French Bulldog is being aggressive by not doing the normal sniff greeting. Your dog would naturally be aggressive too in the face of what he perceives as aggression.
Why does my dog not like one specific dog?
Again, there could be a lot of reasons for your dog not liking one specific dog. That dog may remind her of another dog that was mean to her when she was young.
Your dog isn’t going to take any chances. If it looks like the same dog, your dog will naturally go on the defense. Anything could trigger a bad memory in your dog, and maybe that one dog did something that was a trigger.
Sometimes, dogs just don’t like each other because their personalities are so different. Some small dogs have the small-dog syndrome, similar to the short-man syndrome in humans.
The other dog could be too aggressive or too submissive and it is something your dog does not want to deal with. Your dog may not like a dog that barks a lot. Dogs may have personal preferences just like humans do.
Why does my dog not like small dogs?
Some small dogs have what could be called small dog syndrome. It is like short man syndrome in humans. The small dog feels he has to prove himself to be just as tough as the big dogs are. The large dog may not want to deal with such nonsense and prefer to just get away from the small dog.
Small dogs are also barkers, and appear aggressive even if they are not aggressive. Small dogs may bark to get noticed and to be given some personal space. The larger dog may just be given the space the small dog wants to have.
Why is my dog aggressive towards certain dogs?
If your dog is male, he could be defending his territory, or fighting off what he sees as competition for a female dog. This is especially true if there is a female dog in heat anywhere in the area. Your dog could just be fighting off what he sees as a threat to his territory. Dogs are very territorial.
Dogs can also be hostile towards dogs they do not know. It is fear, defensiveness, and poor communication between dogs. Dogs don’t have a lot of gray areas when it comes to other animals. They are either friend or foe, and your dog has to make a snap judgment.
That was good when they were in the wild and had to do that for survival. Defending territory would have been important as well. In the current culture where they often live in houses with their humans, such skills are seen as a nuisance instead of the basic survival skills that they are.
Fear and anxiety are major causes of dog aggression. There can be a lot of reasons for such emotions, such as a history of abuse. It can also be a result of poor training and conditioning.
Dogs tend to be either alpha or submissive. It is their nature to be one or the other. They will react differently when they are nervous about new surroundings or dogs they are not familiar with.
The aggressive alpha dog symptoms include:
- Growling
- Biting,
- Showing their teeth
- Snapping or threatening
- Lunging
The more submissive dog will react to the same situation differently. The more passive dog will:
- Have submissive body postures
- Crouching
- Rolling over
- Tail tucked
- Licking lips
- Backing up
How to get my dog to be friendly with other dogs?
Socialization and training are the keys to getting your dog to be friendly – or at least tolerant – of other dogs. You can socialize dogs when they are young by letting them play with other dogs the same age. There is a difference, however, between a dog just not being interested in another dog, and a dog being aggressive toward other dogs.
If your dog is simply not interested in another dog, there is no reason to try to make the dog be more friendly. The dog has preferences just as people do, so if it is just preference, it is better to leave it alone.
Aggression is another matter entirely. What we see as aggression may well be defensive measures to the dog. Often, aggression is a result of fear or nervousness.
If your dog is not used to being around other dogs, he may experience nervousness or fear and respond to that with aggressive behavior. As your dog grows, continue socialization. Get them used to other dogs around. This will keep them from being anxious or afraid when they are around other dogs.
This can be more difficult for an adult dog, so it is good to start them as pups. Even so, it can be done with an adult dog. You might have to use a muzzle in extreme cases to be safe.
The more your dog is around other dogs, and the more that goes well, the easier it will be for your dog to get along with others.
Dogs should be trained to relax and sit on command. They should learn to always be paying attention to you, and that will help them hear the command. You need to do this quickly when any situation comes up. The more excited the dog gets, the less they will hear you. Using small food treats can be helpful in teaching your dog to always pay attention to you and to hear your commands.
Keeping your dog under control is essential for the safety of your dog, and for other dogs. Even peaceful dogs can get provoked to the point of fighting. We may never know why they are hostile towards each other.