I need help with "aggressive play" Dog Parks
I am trying to introduce her to dog parks (which I am not 100% sure I like them. Are they safe?) She goes to places in the car etc. a whole lot and I try to introduce her to many things. I am walking her more with a gentle leader. She has been to a puppy class and just started a beginner class. How do I control this obnoxious behavior? She has always been like this with my older dog. So I do not let them out together much. The park was beautiful....it had a pond she ran into and out (and drank out of...is that safe?) A lady there said it was a form of "aggressive play." Then I had some say they were so glad that we came because their dogs were finally getting some running in to tire them. So with all this rambling I am doing, I have two concerns....are dog parks safe and how do I handle this behavior? Thanks! |
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| Could you please describe what you mean by aggressive play? |
| Yes. She never leaves the others alone . High energy! Kinda jumping and pawing their shoulder and necks. Nipping at their necks every once in a while. Hip butting the others for her space. etc....
She never is the submissive one. Is this just bad puppy behavior or something more?  |
| Might I say the "Hip Butting" with that big ol' rear can slam a small one on their backs.LOL
(What can I say? She's got a big butt and she cannot lie!!) lol |
| Our dog is 5 years old and he is still way too hyper around other dogs. He just wants to play so much! After he greets them on leash, he does calm down in under a minute if the other dog doesn't engage.
We do have 1 offleash park that has a little pond and he runs and runs and runs with them unless they stop, at which point he wants to wrestle. The other owners haven't seemed to mind, so we're a little less worried about it now. There is no way he is under our control at that time. |
| Your dog doesn't sound aggressive. It sounds like your dog wants to engage in play, and rough house. Our 3 OES (2 2 year olds and 1 almost 9 year old) do this with each other. The younger male is now physically stronger than the 9 year old male who avoids a full frontal body attck by the younger guy. This is what I saw in my yard today, from the window: Sherman (2 yrs) wanting to get Archie (almost 9) to chase him, so he'd bump into him, put his paw on him, etc. Archie didn't really want to run around just then and was trying to ignore Sherman. Sophie, also 2 and Sherman's littermate, hates not to be the center of attention. She wanted Sherman to pay attention to her, so she kept grabbing his hair on his hips and butt and trying to pull at him, to get him to play with her. That didn't work, so like all smart girls, she did what she knew would get both boys' attention: she grabbed a toy and ran in front of them with it. It worked: they both chased her around the yard until Archie made her drop it and give it to him.
Some dogs will be fine with that level of energy and rough house and some will not. Same with owners: I've seen some people who were convinced that any dog around would hurt their poor precious 85 lb mix who really just wanted to be allowed to play. If the 'aggression' you are describing is just pushing into other dogs, that's an attempt to get the others to play and even roughhouse. As long as no dog is getting hurt, there is no growling/ or teeth baring, no yelping, no one dog always down on the bottom, things are probably fine. Do the other humans seem ok with your dog? Some people are very protective of their animals and won't like anything that seems like real activity. Some animals are very submissive or are more fragile because they are older or very young. Those are cases when you want to make sure your dog is calmer so no one gets hurt (or upset). |
| I am NOT a dog professional but it sounds like just an excited pup that needs
to be matched up with dogs that play in a similar manner. (Bring her on over to my house  )
Have you tried wearing her out/down a bit before she goes to the dog park? A good game of fetch or a nice loooong walk maybe? Maybe this would tone down her excitement/energy level by the time she gets to the dog park... As for safety at dog parks, I would think a lot would depend on the owners that frequent the park and how they control their dogs. We don't have any where I live so mine don't get out much to interact. I'd try to keep her out of the pond water if possible... is there any farm ground near by? I guess I'd worry about pollutants or just normal pond "gunk". |
| Thanks guys! I am only concerned when others are I guess. I don't want them to think "Oh Gosh...here they come again!" every time I go to the park.lol
I left that park with the pond and decided to "test" another park with different people and dogs. I arrived with the leash on and was leary to take it off and one girl said "first time for this?" I laughed. She said "Let her go! It is ok!! Let them figure it out. " Well, I let her go and she STILL had the energy and acted the same and everyone thought nothing about it I think. Maybe I will try it again and give her a chance to settle and adapt. Then again like Ron said....she just might not, and will play "hard" for years? I also want to add that MAN these parks are muddy...always!! I know it is that time of year..I remember checking out other parks last year on dry spells and they all had mud everywhere. What a mess to bring that home after a swim and mud!!  |
| I will try the walk thing before hand to settle her. Good idea.
We had such a fun car ride with her and in and out to antique shop yesterday. She is a real gem to take anywhere else. I am sure though that didnt help her energy as we got to the parks at the end of the day. Hubby just bathed them both so, once again clean for......a day? |
AddieLuv wrote: Thanks guys! I am only concerned when others are I guess. I don't want them to think "Oh Gosh...here they come again!" every time I go to the park.lol
Oh they probably will! If the dogs are well amtched in age it seems to help. I had yet another trainer tell me today she didn't like dog parks. I am beginnning to think they say that because they don't want me to feel bad about not being able to comfortably take my guys together. |
| There are several parks around me...and after testing each one several times we narrowed them down to only a couple, that we would go too. We actually haven't gone, now, for a long time, but when the pups were 1 and 2 years old they were a god-send.
The first couple times is different for the dog, so she may go a bit crazy...She should settle down once it becomes the norm...What I would do in your shoes is watch for dogs who accept her rudeness and that she can run and play with. If she is intimidating a dog you should call her off and go find another one. And if a dog tells her off..barking and yelling at her, and possibly pinning her, she will learn to behave...Just call her away and move on. People tend to go to thse places around the same time so try to schedule your visits when you know that appropriate dogs will be there. |
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