I just joined this forum and hope to get some input on an issue I'm having with my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Quinn. Quinn is 2 1/2, unneutered, well-behaved and very driven to retrieve. He's very calm in the house and not a hyper dog, but is very active and pretty confident. He just got his CD in obedience earlier this year and has 3 basic retriever field titles (WC, JH and SHR). I've shown him a fair bit but not since the spring. I just got back from a big dog show in Calgary - his first time flying. At the show, he was very grumbly around all the boys and even started grumbling at girls. I've never seen him like that before, although out on walks he will often grumble at dogs his size or bigger. At the show I was giving him leash corrections to discourage the behaviour - I am generally a positive trainer, but thought I needed to get a firm hand with this behaviour. He was a lot better on the last day and didn't grumble at all. I'm questioning whether my corrections are the right approach.
Quinn has had lots of socialization, especially during his 1st year and generally plays nicely with other dogs, is not bossy, never rushes up to other dogs or displays any rude behaviour and is a very gentle dog. But, as I mentioned, in the past several months, has often been grumbly with dogs bigger than him. I tend to expect intact boys not to get along very well with other intact boys and I think part of the issue at the Calgary show was that he isn't around other intact boys much.
I'd love to get any suggestions on how to handle this. I just read the section on dominance and leadership and agree with all of it. I think I have pretty good leadership with Quinn, but probably need to do better and perhaps establish more house rules.
Thanks for any input
Shelagh