Aggression at dog park

CathyT · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:50 am Post subject: Aggression at dog park

We have been taking Jake to the dog park for about 2 weeks. He has been submissive to other dogs, always backs down from any confrontation and runs around by himself exploring. Basically he doesn't know how to play with other dogs. We have been hoping he would learn by watching. Well yesterday was pretty much the same until a sheltie came up to him and wanted to play. Jake suddenly became the aggressor. He was baring his teeth, growling, hair up on his back and was trying to bite the sheltie. This was definately a viciousness we have not seen in the month that we have had him. We were shocked that this was happening and my husband grabbed him and we left. I am so upset that he went from submissiveness to aggression without even learning how to play in between. Now I'm afraid to take him to the park because I don't want him to hurt another dog or be known as the vicious weim. Has anyone had to deal with an aggressive weim with other dogs?

luana80it · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:03 am Post subject:

yup, i do. with tommy. we are working with him a lot. he is fear aggressive. he grwled one time when he got scared and now he learned to do that everytime he is scared. he is scared of strangers and new dogs (he wasn't like that before). we are working with a trainer but in the meantime, we socialize him, taking him to public places with a muzzle on.. i hate it, i hate the looks too, but i can't risk him to hurt somebody

nicwithcandy · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:27 am Post subject:

Don't base his behavior by what happens at the dog park, we have found the dog park to be a bad place to get exercise for your dog. There are too many dogs in one spot and it only takes one bad move for trouble to start. We used to go and found that Luca would just play way too rough and its not worth the aggrevation.

weim2mom · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:31 am Post subject:

Chevy is like that too. She was bit a few months back, so anytime she hears a growl (playful or not) she runs over and bares her teeth, and starts nipping. She's fine if there is a big group, but if it's just my two and another weim, I can't take her in.

Hemi also plays really rough, no signs of aggression, he's just huge compared to most dogs in there. I had one lady yell, "BUT MY DOG IS ONLY 10 MONTHS OLD!" I said, "Yeah, Hemi is 9 months."

It also have a lot to do with the owners too. They give off all the bad energy to the dogs. We don't go there too often anymore.

I agree with nicwithcandy, it's not the best place to judge from.

CathyT · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

I'll give you a little bit of Jake's history. With his last family he was left outside by himself all day while they were at work and school. When he came in the house he was put in a crate for a few hours and then let outside again until 9:30 at night when he was again put in his cage. If he was let out of his cage he went crazy jumping and biting and running around. (this is understandable if he was crated all the time). I am assuming he was never socialized as he was alone all the time. With us it is totally different. He has the run of the house, lays on the couch has tons of toys and is only crated if we leave (which is not often as I am home all day). He is like a different dog since we got him. Oh he does have his days where he drives me crazy. Jake has no idea how to play, either with human or dog. If we try to play with him he just bites. I wonder if he will ever learn to play. We have been taking him to the dog park because that is the only place he can be off leash and run and socialize with other dogs. We have so much snow and Ice, walking or playing in the yard are just not an option. He also will run off if he is not fenced in or leashed. He is very skittish with humans and ducks his head if a stranger (especially men) tries to pet him. When we picked him up the dad of the family was grabbing his snout and twisting and staring him down until he calmed down. I think he is afraid of men because of this. He is almost 10 months old and I am hoping that with love and attention we give him, he will be able to learn to play and be comfortable around people and other dogs. This is why the aggression he showed at the dog park upset me so much. I was upset that he was being submissive and afraid and now he has turned to aggression.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:33 am Post subject:

I think expecting a crazy environment like a dog park to socialize a dog with his background for you, is a mistake, and isn't fair to him or other dog owners who take their dogs there. Dogs who are already properly socialized are the only ones that should be in a park like that, otherwise you're asking for trouble.

I'm not trying to be a jerk; I'd just hate to see you banned from your dog park, or worse.

I would suggest intimate, very closely supervised playdates with one or two dogs you know for now, so that he may become properly socialized (slowly) without having to feel he has to overcompensate for his insecurities by being aggressive. If you go meet with one of your friends' dogs in a fenced back yard for example as well, you'll be closer quarters to him, and in a better position to reprimand him for unacceptable behavior, and praise him like crazy for acting as you want him to.

To be honest, in my opinion, the dog park is sensory overload for a young dog with his background.

You could also enroll him in obedience school; that way he's getting the benefit of being around other dogs, in a very controlled environment.

CathyT · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:44 am Post subject:

youhavenoidea · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:49 am Post subject:

Anytime.

Let me know how he pogresses - little man just needs to learn how to act; I'm sure he'll come around.

nicwithcandy · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:14 am Post subject:

weimdogmom · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:03 am Post subject:

I agree with what others have said....

One thing I would add -- if this (the sheltie) is the only dog that Jake has reacted this way, it could be there was a bad past experience with a similar looking dog and he just does not like them. Our dog, for the most part, loves other dogs. There are a very few though that she just does not tolerate well.

Poor Jake. He had a rough time before he came to you. It sounds like you're doing a great job with him and giving him a wonderful life.

CathyT · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:14 am Post subject: