Help, I think I have a fighter! (longish)

[Kisha]

Six weeks ago we adopted a neutered male, 1.5 years old, as a playmate for our 1.5 year old spayed female. They get along great, no problems there. We observed him carefully for a full month before we took him out in public, just incase he had any strange behavior issues that the rescue didn't know about. Again no problems. I decided that since he was doing so well that it was time to try him out at the dog park. We have been going there with Peach regularly for the last year and are familliar with the regular dogs. First time, no problem, they both had a great time. Second time Jake got humped by an un-neutered male Pit Bull. The Pit Bull then started a fight with Jake out of nowhere, I was watching very closely for aggressive body language by Jake ("how to speak dog"-great book). So we broke it up and left immediately. Third time at the park, no problem. Just got back from the park today and Jake got hummped again- I saw the aggressive body language and was moving Jake away when the other dog started hummping him, and then they started at it (other dog owner no where to be seen). I know how many people feel about dog parks, and I am aware of the risks. I need to know if this is a problem with Jake or the other male dogs, or just a bad association with what happend with the Pit. Jake has played with un-neutered male dogs before, and was hummped by them with no fighting. I know that it is a dominance thing with most dogs, but I have not noticed Jake having dominance issues with other dogs before. I am willing to give up the dog park, if it is not a good place for him. I am not willing to let my dog continue with antisocial behaviors so that I can't take him around other dogs. Any advice?

Kisha

 

[sgbtab]

I would still give it time. you said that both times he was being humped by other male dogs.he had a right to say no way. dogs have social skills and they know from good behavior and bad behavior. jake was telling them no way.
is he aggresive with dogs that don't hump him?

 

[Kisha]

NO-he is not agressive with other males,that I have seen. We were peacefully at the park for a good 20 min. before the agressive behavior and resulting fight. I have also never seen him do the humping, except when he and Peach are playing- then they hump eachother, but playfully. If its normal for male dogs to become upset because of this behavior by other dogs, how do I get people at the dog park to understand that they can not let their dogs do this! They think its no big deal. Also, is there a way to modify his reaction so I don't have to break up a dog fight everytime another dog acts unsociably? It was pretty hard holding him back tonight, I think he tore some of the stiches in his harness he was pulling so hard.

Thanks
Kisha

 

[sgbtab]

it is hard when there are un altered dogs at the park. but all I can think of is you just need to be aware that jake does not like being humped. the hard part is trying to keep him away from fights. maybe you could bring the dogs to the dog park later in the evening or morning when there are not alot of dogs around. this way he can get use to the park and having dogs around him. good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Jan]

I wouldn't give up on the dog park just yet! What I would do is keep his play sessions short. Give him a few minutes to play and then call him to you. Give him a chance to wind down and then let him go off and play again. At any sign of aggression, I would just take him home. He will figure out that aggressive behavior ends his play time and will hopefully learn to modify his behavior.

Good Luck!

 

[Kisha]

Thanks guys, I was starting to get discouraged about the park. I have witnessed dog fights there, but never had to break one up. It's not much fun, and with 2 strong dogs (Peach likes to join in and then they fight with eachother) it's really difficult. Jake is not aggressive, it's just when another dog humps him he seems to take offense and gets worked up. It's hard to watch my marshmallow baby turn into a scary fighting dog. I guess I'll just take it slow and hit the dog park at off times for a while.

Kisha

 

[ksholmestex]

Laila's our first Boxer to own (not to spend time with), so I was wondering while reading this......
I used to own a Bulldog. Since Boxers are cousins to the Bulldog, are they like them in that if they get a bad vibe about a certain dog or behavior they don't get over it? I mean if they hold a grudge? Maybe the first time he got 'humped' he didn't like it and now when it happens he has a 'tude'?

 

[Kisha]

Thats kind of what I was thinking. The incident with Mambo (the Pit Bull) was realy bad, this dog has a history of reacting badly when he gets humped. I was watching very closely to be sure that Jake did not hump him, but Mambo humped Jake and started the fight with Jake. Now I'm afraid that Jake is reacting badly because of this one (now 2 ) bad incident. You know, sort of hyper sensitive because of a past experience.

Kisha

 

[Kisha]

Ok, after spending an hour on the internet researching this issue I have discovered that this is NOT a problem with Jake. He is a confident male dog and thus does not feel the need to assert(sp?) himself by mounting other dogs. It's the other dogs that feel insecure, or are un-neutered, and need the mounting behavior to try to gain the confidence they lack. He is reacting to their insecurity by giving them the fight they are looking for. Is this right? Just want to make sure I'm understanding things correctly. This is my first male dog, by the way, so I'm new to this psyche. Should I tell people to watch their dogs when we are there, that mounting is not Ok and their dog might learn a painful lesson if they act inappropriatly? I just want to be sure I take all precautions the next time I go, I want Jake to have the positive socialization that is available at the park.

Thanks
Kisha

 

[sgbtab]

females also hump when they want to show alpha. my grace would always try to hump dogs. which of course I would not allow. samson is so laid back he has never tried to hump anything.he does not even lift his legg to pee. dogs do learn what is nice behavior and whay is not in the dog social world. just give jake short trips to the park and praise him when it is a good visit.