We have been going to this dog park near by for nearly a year now.
All of a sudden Rush has been having MAJOR issues with new dogs that come to the park. Anytime there is a new dog he almost decides whether or not he likes the dog and if he doesn't he just CONTINUOUSLY barks at the dog. Then the new dog gets irritated and will growl and he starts to bark meanly . . . then a fight breaks out. We end up making him sit for a little bit until he calms down and we let him go to see if he will relax but he doesn't.
He SPRINTS striaght up to the new dog again and starts his CONTINUOS annoying bark. Then the fight will break out. So we end up taking him and leaving early, and apologizing for his strang behavior.
We have been thinking of all the changes that may/ may not have been going on in our lives and trying to figure out what could cause the strange behavior.
1. Territorial Issues
- The park is like a second home to him, and the dogs he knows go there on a regular basis are like his pack, and it's their territory and he doesn't want new comers... !?
2. Not Enough Walks
- We have not been taking him out on just general walks nearly as much. We used to take him out almost every single night on a walk or to the beach. He would go 6-7 nights a week. Now we go 1-2 times a week on walks.
3. New Puppy
- We got the new puppy in August. He was EXSTATIC when we brought her home so we couldn't see it being her. Unless he doesn't want any new dogs around her as if he is protecting her. Because he loves her, but could it be her?
It also is not EVERY new dog. It is generally the large breed dogs that are considered "scary" breeds to some people the ones that many people might say "oh he looks mean" like pit bulls, rottweilers etc.
My boyfriend says that the second he sees one of those types of dogs coming he gets an uneasy feeling as if he KNOWS Rush is going to get into trouble.
4. Could Rush sense these feelings and could that be the cause of his behavior?!
All of a sudden Rush has been having MAJOR issues with new dogs that come to the park. Anytime there is a new dog he almost decides whether or not he likes the dog and if he doesn't he just CONTINUOUSLY barks at the dog. Then the new dog gets irritated and will growl and he starts to bark meanly . . . then a fight breaks out. We end up making him sit for a little bit until he calms down and we let him go to see if he will relax but he doesn't.
He SPRINTS striaght up to the new dog again and starts his CONTINUOS annoying bark. Then the fight will break out. So we end up taking him and leaving early, and apologizing for his strang behavior.
We have been thinking of all the changes that may/ may not have been going on in our lives and trying to figure out what could cause the strange behavior.
1. Territorial Issues
- The park is like a second home to him, and the dogs he knows go there on a regular basis are like his pack, and it's their territory and he doesn't want new comers... !?
2. Not Enough Walks
- We have not been taking him out on just general walks nearly as much. We used to take him out almost every single night on a walk or to the beach. He would go 6-7 nights a week. Now we go 1-2 times a week on walks.
3. New Puppy
- We got the new puppy in August. He was EXSTATIC when we brought her home so we couldn't see it being her. Unless he doesn't want any new dogs around her as if he is protecting her. Because he loves her, but could it be her?
It also is not EVERY new dog. It is generally the large breed dogs that are considered "scary" breeds to some people the ones that many people might say "oh he looks mean" like pit bulls, rottweilers etc.
My boyfriend says that the second he sees one of those types of dogs coming he gets an uneasy feeling as if he KNOWS Rush is going to get into trouble.
4. Could Rush sense these feelings and could that be the cause of his behavior?!
