OK, so she's about 2 1/2, and she's a mutt. I think she's Pitbull, Greyhound and German Sheppard (just going by her physical traits) and she's not mine, but a friend's.

She's not really crazy, and in fact is one of the most playful and loving dogs I know. She's just great with us, BUT (there's always a but) she seems a little too wired. Now, obviously, she's in the city...born and raised. I know, I know, but it's not my dog to comment and that's not the point. She's about 45lbs and there are a TON of places to run her though.

She is just TERRIBLE with other dogs. It's not like she only sees one once a month or so either, but when someone brings another dog up, even when it's friendly, just sniffing, and wagging, she goes wild. It never looks like she wants to play, just eat. She doesn't do this to people thankfully, but still, this is a very dog friendly neighborhood, and she may as well be doing it to the owner. It's almost as if she carries a reputation now. Even when you hold on tight, she'll get as far as sniffing, then something just flips a switch in her, and she wants all over the other dog, even when the other just stands down. Heck, even this weekend, someone came by with a dog, and I don't know what it was, but when she left, she said, "wow...I found the ONLY dog that mine is afriad of." I don't know what it was, but it was big, male, and scared out of its fur of her.

What's the deal here and is there anything that you can do about it?

 

Christ - I'm trying to imagine the build she has...

Gotta be big, but wirey.

And a pit temper...

I have no idea what to tell you...

45 pounds ain't much. But backed with enough attitude you got trouble.

She's a dead end puppy. I hate to say it, but in your neighborhood she is.

What you have is a watchdog.

It ain't a killer, it's a protector. It will let you know if stuff is happenning and that's about the end of it.

It will get itself killed giving you a way out.

The pit instinct is pure in it - it will not tolerate another dog

 

OK...that's kind of what I was worried about, but my friend (the owner...best-friend) swears up and down that she's not a Pit. She's not really built like one (more like a thin lab / thick greyhound) or even looks much like it, but it just seems like every once in a while, she'll make a face or stand a certain way to make you think it. When she's with us, she's a puppy in every sense of the word...sweet, friendly, fall asleep next to you, nudge your hand to pet her...she's even pretty good with strangers who follow the typical dog rules (don't act funny around strange dogs, pet them certain ways, etc.). I've never even seen a dog wage its tail this much.

He knows the woman he got her from and knows that she's mostly sheppard (I think...I know nothing was mentioned about pit, but like I said, certain things just make it seem that way, and we have to guess anyways...maybe it's on the dad's side? We don't know that either) and that it wasn't the kind of place that would promote this behavior in a dog. It's really strange, and kind of sad...she's such a sweet puppy, unless you happen to be on four legs.

 

Some dog breeds just don't tolerate other dogs. The best way to curb this behaviour is to socialize the pup at a very early age, with other dogs. But even then, this does no always work either. At 2 1/2, I'm not sure if anything can be done. I had two mini-schnauzers that hated other dogs, and I was never able to ease this out of them. They passed away as old grumpy dogs.

 

Too Much Sugar in the diet

The last think I am is a Canine Physcologist but,
It sounds like this dog didn't get any social conditioning when it was a pup.
When it comes upon any, it wants to play.

Our pups get to meet everyone & every dog they come upon.
We're hoping they will be socially sound when mature.

Does this dog get out for a run all the time ?

 

Sounds like the dog didnt get socialized enough when it was a pup. Have you tried having the owner teaching the dog the command, "enough" (telling the dog, "I know, I know. Chill out.")
Perhaps the dog is just bored and when it sees anothert dog its so happy and wants to play and just gets really excited.
Octane