Ali Too Submissive?

[nysteel]

I started taking Ali ( who is 8 months) to a dog park 2 weeks ago and he loves it. He's great with other dogs, plays well, but is very submissive. It doesn't matter if the other dog is big or small, he has no issues with submitting. I have no problem because I don't want to raise a mean or vicious dog. However, once in a while he comes across older dogs who don't want to play and they start snapping at him. The other day one bit him and he did nothing. Although I don't want him to be a mean dog, I also don't want him to be taken advantage and abused by other dogs. Do boxers grow out of this? Or do I have a dog that is so friendly that he will allow dogs to bite him all the time without protecting himself? I keep and eye on him, but things happen so fast at the park that it is impossible to see everything. In fact, I missed the actual biting because it happened so fast.

 

[gmacleod]

I don't think it's "too submissive". Rather, it sounds perfectly normal for a puppy (which he is, in canine social terms) to offer appeasing behaviour toward adults. You'd worry far more about one that didn't!

It may not sound terribly nice, but in canine social hierarchy development, once a puppy passes the baby-puppy-licence-to-get-away-with-murder stage, they then enter the puppy/adolescent phase where they're ritualistically hounded by older adults until they learn their place - that is, until they learn to offer appeasement and other social niceties. Your guy is doing what he should be doing, given his age and relative status. If he wasn't, he'd be the canine social equivalent of a delinquent 10-12 year old that nobody likes and who often ends up the neighbourhood bully (or outcast).

He'll grow up, of course, and his status will grow with it. It's not needed to be trying to rival adult status when he's not one

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Abby was so much like that when she was young. She is still so kind hearted but I remember worrying she was going to be walked on by other dogs. She is now 4 and a little aggressive to other dogs besides her own. She seemed to switch over night. I think as they mature they gain confidence. Abby is definately not as sweet to other dogs as when she was young. I wish she still was.