MrsBeeks
Boxer Booster
I have this little nagging thought that keeps bugging me, so I thought I would throw it out there and see what you all think.
As I have posted before, I have been taking Dutch to a local dog park in the mornings after I get the kiddo's on the bus for school, and Dutch and I LOVE to do it because it is such a great way of tiring Dutch out, and also socializing him with all sorts of different doggies and people. I will only take him to this park in the am, because it is basically the same group of people there all the time, and so I am fairly confident that there will be nothing but lots of fun, balls out play. However....lately, this one dog that is there has been constantly picking on Dutch, as I had brought up in a previous post, he pins Dutch and then stands on top of him snarling. I, and/or other friends at the park can usually get on the situation immediately and stop it before he gets Dutch pinned, and then the other dog will go on his way, but after a while he always comes back and tries it again, and again, and again. As soon as this dog leaves to go play with others, Dutch bounces up like nothing ever happened, and resumes happy, confident play with any one of the other dogs that want to play, seemingly without a care in the world...until the dog comes back to try and pin him again.
Anyways, today I noticed when ever this dog comes near Dutch, Dutch's ears will go back, he tucks his tail and either heads straight for the nearest person, or hits the ground and rolls onto his back and freezes. So my first concern is.....will this constant issue with this other dog effect his behaviour/temperment/confidence as he gets older....should I stop taking him the dog park if that dog is there??? I am scared that it will cause him to become fearful of all dogs if it keeps happening, and I don't want that to happen. I want to continue to let Dutch play at the park because he really has so much fun, and is always so excited to go, but I don't want to do it at the expense of his confidence and behaviour. Dutch is such a happy go lucky, friendly pup, who is always eager to play and have fun, and I don't want that to change. :(
I really value your thoughts and opinions on this matter because I am really torn as to what to do.
Thanks so much!!
As I have posted before, I have been taking Dutch to a local dog park in the mornings after I get the kiddo's on the bus for school, and Dutch and I LOVE to do it because it is such a great way of tiring Dutch out, and also socializing him with all sorts of different doggies and people. I will only take him to this park in the am, because it is basically the same group of people there all the time, and so I am fairly confident that there will be nothing but lots of fun, balls out play. However....lately, this one dog that is there has been constantly picking on Dutch, as I had brought up in a previous post, he pins Dutch and then stands on top of him snarling. I, and/or other friends at the park can usually get on the situation immediately and stop it before he gets Dutch pinned, and then the other dog will go on his way, but after a while he always comes back and tries it again, and again, and again. As soon as this dog leaves to go play with others, Dutch bounces up like nothing ever happened, and resumes happy, confident play with any one of the other dogs that want to play, seemingly without a care in the world...until the dog comes back to try and pin him again.
Anyways, today I noticed when ever this dog comes near Dutch, Dutch's ears will go back, he tucks his tail and either heads straight for the nearest person, or hits the ground and rolls onto his back and freezes. So my first concern is.....will this constant issue with this other dog effect his behaviour/temperment/confidence as he gets older....should I stop taking him the dog park if that dog is there??? I am scared that it will cause him to become fearful of all dogs if it keeps happening, and I don't want that to happen. I want to continue to let Dutch play at the park because he really has so much fun, and is always so excited to go, but I don't want to do it at the expense of his confidence and behaviour. Dutch is such a happy go lucky, friendly pup, who is always eager to play and have fun, and I don't want that to change. :(
I really value your thoughts and opinions on this matter because I am really torn as to what to do.
Thanks so much!!