It doesn't sound like anything is wrong with your dog. It sounds like he's being a dog. You're expecting him to not respond to bullish behavior? Than I would suggest not taking him to a dog park, where doggie temperaments can be unpredictable, and socialize him only with known dogs.
Growling at other dogs
I just adopted this 1 1/2 year old Lab/corgi mix a few weeks ago. He's always been extremely friendly to everyone. He has some weird obsession with other dogs- whenever he sees a dog, he starts pulling and crying, wanting desperately to play. I've been taking him to the dog park up until a couple of weeks ago when he was neutered. He absolutely loved it and would run around for hours playing with all the other dogs.
Well now that his surgery has healed, I took him back to the park. Everything was fine until some huge dog started being very dominant, roughly chasing him around and biting at his scruff. My dog looked scared, so I leashed him and started leaving. Another dog come up and started sniffing him on the way out. My dog looked uncomfortable and then one of them growled, not sure which. The owner took him and started leaving, and as they walked by, my dog growled at his dog.
I shrugged it off and took him back today. Not long after, some poodle walked up and started trying to mount him. My dog started growling, which I don't blame him, but he never used to mind it and then shortly afterwards, he started growling and chasing a nice unrelated dog.
What is going on?? How do I stop this? I'm terrified he'll try to bite someone's dog if I bring him back again. Could he be nervous and traumatized because of the dog yesterday trying to dominate him? This is completely out of character for him! He's not snarling or anything, it's more of a low guttural growl, but a growl nonetheless. :/
Well now that his surgery has healed, I took him back to the park. Everything was fine until some huge dog started being very dominant, roughly chasing him around and biting at his scruff. My dog looked scared, so I leashed him and started leaving. Another dog come up and started sniffing him on the way out. My dog looked uncomfortable and then one of them growled, not sure which. The owner took him and started leaving, and as they walked by, my dog growled at his dog.
I shrugged it off and took him back today. Not long after, some poodle walked up and started trying to mount him. My dog started growling, which I don't blame him, but he never used to mind it and then shortly afterwards, he started growling and chasing a nice unrelated dog.
What is going on?? How do I stop this? I'm terrified he'll try to bite someone's dog if I bring him back again. Could he be nervous and traumatized because of the dog yesterday trying to dominate him? This is completely out of character for him! He's not snarling or anything, it's more of a low guttural growl, but a growl nonetheless. :/
1 - 3 of 7 Posts
It doesn't matter if it never happened before, your dog's behavior is predictable. It sounds as though you want less of the behavior? If so, my suggestion would achieve that, both in the short and long term. You need to control the dogs around your dog (dog parks are not the best place for this), not your dog. And I'm sorry, but any dog that humps other dogs shouldn't be at a dog park for the very reason you're concerned.
No, I'm saying a dog who growls at a social loon, or after being agitated by a social loon, is normal, and of course you should be concerned...in not exposing your dog to social loons.
He definitely has a reason to growl, you either haven't acknowledged it or want him to tolerate it. Both of those aren't solutions.
He definitely has a reason to growl, you either haven't acknowledged it or want him to tolerate it. Both of those aren't solutions.
1 - 3 of 7 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Puppy Forum and Dog Forums
Come join a community dedicated to the discussion of grooming, food reviews, training tips, rescue groups, and dog pictures. All dog breeds and dog breeders welcome
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
DaySleepers
52 Replies
3GSD4IPO
44 Replies
Little Louie
23 Replies
Recommended Communities
