Some dogs show aggression when they’re off-leash and another dog comes marching straight into their space. In this video I break down why that happens—social tension, fear, unpredictability, pain, territorial behaviour, health issues… there are loads of possible motivators. The big takeaway is this: understanding what’s driving your dog’s discomfort changes what you do next, because you stop treating it like “bad behaviour” and start treating it like information. If your dog is aggressive with other dogs off-leash, it’s your responsibility not to let them off-leash in places where other dogs might be present. Repeatedly throwing them into triggering situations won’t help them “get over it”—it usually makes the reaction stronger. Instead, I recommend working with a qualified force-free professional on a desensitisation and counter-conditioning plan, and managing the environment so your dog can actually feel safe. I also talk about why I don’t recommend dog parks (they can be like fight club), how to use distance and controlled setups instead, and which simple games help in the moment—hand targeting and treat scatters are great. Finally, I go through key body language signals (stiffness, hard staring, growling, lip lifting, piloerection, lunging) and why you should never punish a growl: you’re just removing the warning label.