We were thrown out of the dog park(long)

[Marybeth18]

Yesterday we were supposed to meet my friend Peter, his wife, and their puppy, a Golden Retriever, at a local dog park. The kids and I got there first and we were the only people (or dog) there. After a few minutes a man, his daughter and a black lab (male) arrived. My two barked like crazy, very protective and scared the heck out of this guy. My kids and I moved our pups away and he asked me if the dogs were aggressive. I said no - just very loud. The three played nicely for a few minutes and then Peter arrived. Another man snuck in at that point with his dog - a male. My two again went nuts - barking and jumping on the fence. Peter opened the second gate (it's a double gate system) with his pup’s leash on (I think this may be important) and Albert started nipping at Honey. They pulled her out, I apologized, and while they tried to calm their dog down I pulled Albert to the side to hold him. After a few minutes they walked back in (Honey still on a leash) and Daisy attacked her. Literally attacked the poor puppy - had her on the ground barking, snarling - it was nasty. I had Albert, I was calling my son (who did not hear me) and we finally got Daisy off of this poor dog - not more than 8 months old. One of the men screamed (as he walked towards me) "You need to take your F****** aggressive dogs out the park! Get out now! Your dogs are not welcome here!" Well, I was devastated. We got our stuff, apologized profusely to my friend and his wife and left. My son was furious, muttering under his breath but I mean, come on. Yes, we were cursed at but Daisy attacked another dog!

I can rationalize this - I know that she is a dog. I've read on BW about the pros and cons of dog parks and I took my chance. I know bad things can happen. But I've never seen Daisy act like that before. Was it because Honey was on lead? Because it was another female? Did Daisy just not like her? All I know for sure is I was so embarrassed and upset. I started crying as soon as we got in the car and I was a wreck for the rest of the day. I called Peter on his cell phone to apologize again. He told me that it was not needed - they are dogs and stuff happens. Honey was fine and having a great time. He suggested we try it another time. Oh no, I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can ever go back to that dog park again. Or any for that matter.

I was organizing a Boxer Bash for June at that same dog park. I am so afraid of Daisy attacking my BW friends’ pups I don't think I can go.

I really am torn - I know this happens but I feel like a bad mommy :rolleyes: Maybe we are just done with dog parks. She's got Albert, her backyard, and goes for her walks at home. Maybe that's all she can handle.

 

[TheBoxerCrew]

Do you have friends with dogs who would be willing to try "playdates"? Maybe the whole dogpark experience was too much for your girl to handle at once. I went through this with 2 foster pups I had once upon a time (they were Pit Bulls, but still.....). The other 8 in the litter had NO problems with socializing with other dogs peacefully and were all adopted. These two girls were wired differently or something. If I tried taking them to a park where there were other dogs walking, they would gang up on any who got close enough and take them down, growling/snarling.....the whole terrifying bit. After raising these girls since about 2 weeks of age, I was willing to try anything and everything before giving up on them at 4 months old.

I started by having another foster home in our rescue organization bring her 2 fosters over to play in our yard. First I let my Boxers out to play with the "new" dogs, and the pups watched from the window for about 30 minutes. Then I called my dogs in and took the pups outside. The other foster Mom & I held the fosters while the pups sniffed them. When there were no growls, we let the older dogs go. The pups were fine with them. So far, so good.

Next, I took the pups to another foster home (they had 4 fosters and 4 dogs of their own of varying sizes and ages). Again, we let the pups watch the other dogs interacting for about 15-20 minutes. Then, the other foster mom & I each took a pup outside on a leash and let "the gang" meet & greet. There were a couple grumbles from the resident cocker spaniel, but nothing more. We let the pups off-leash and supervised. Again, this went smoothly.

The next step was arranging with those 2 foster homes to meet at one of the city parks and just randomly walk the dogs to see how the girls reacted. At first, the pups started with their hair standing up on their backs and growls as the dogs approached in a distance. As the other dogs got closer, I had the pups sit (one on either side of me) and watch as the others go by. The first few times we did this, they were agitated, but after a few park trips and getting more people I knew to bring their dogs out, the pups got used to it.

Long story short, some dogs are a bit odd about socializing, especially if they have alpha tendencies. Starting out with small "meet & greets" in controlled situations and gradually increasing the number of "meeters & greeters" and changing the venue to larger and larger areas may help your girl.

(It took about 2 months for me to get the PB pups socialized enough to adopt out, but in the end it was worth it.)

 

[Vela]

Well with seeing Daisy attack another dog, I can say I understand completely why that man reacted as he did. It's very scary when there is a dog you feel could attack you or your dog. At the same time I am sure it was very nervewracking for you to see your beloved baby react like that. Some dogs really just don't do well in places like that. I am sorry that it happened, and sorry he used the F work with you, that never seems appropriate, however I can understand his fear reaction and he did have a right to his feelings. I would feel the same way if I saw another dog in a dog park act like that, I would want it removed immediately. I would try the socliazation methods suggested by TheBoxerCrew and hopefully she can acclimate to being around more dogs and be okay with it. My girl is the same way. My boy can play with other dogs but my female is very pushy and doesn't love other females all that much, she is okay with males. It may just be a girl thign in that regard. Hope it all works out and don't give up on the boxer bash. If it come down to it you can just leave her home if needs be, I have had to do that with my girl. I can't make my boy never have fun because my girl can't handle it, just have to make concessions for both and try not to feel guilty=)

 

[Marybeth18]

I appreciate your replies. What I don't understand is, last week I took the two of them to a different dog park and she was fine. Is she now just unpredictable?

And Shannon, you are so sweet!

I will say this, if you do decide to participate in the NY Boxer Bash and this guy shows up again, I'll tell him where to go for you.

I was telling a friend at work about it and she basically told me that my dogs are now completely unsociable :( Brought me to tears again. I emailed my friend/trainer this morning. Hopefully she can help me, too. She's a boxer person and loves Daisy.

 

[Vela]

Well I doubt that your dogs are completely unsociable! Female seem to be, and this may just be my thoughts due to experiences I have had, more picky than males about getting along with other dogs well, especially other females. Maybe she was just having a bad day, maybe something about this particular puppy set her off for some reason, it's hard to really know for sure. I would definitely seek the help from your trainer friend. Maybe she can help you guys work it out. Good luck and I hope you guys get it figured out, it's hard to leave one home more often than the other, I know because I have to do it. My girl is fine with people but other dogs get her riled. Don't let other people's opinions hurt your feelings. Especially since she did fine at the park the other week, maybe she was just having a bad day, it happens to all of us, even our pets. Keep working with her and maybe try some socialization at a neutral place, but not so exciting as a dog park, to introduce her to the other puppy again. Maybe it all just came about from that certain set of circumstances.

 

[samsonite]

I am by no means an expert on dog behavior, so please someone correct me if wrong. I'm just giving my opinion on what I'm learning with our trainer. I believe you were right to feel that the problem was much worse because of the leash. Another factor to the situation may be that because you arrived first, your dogs felt that the park was their territory, and were going to inform every dog that entered that they were boss.
I take Samson to our trainers for "dog socialization" on Saturdays. His rules and theories are this: all the dogs are released into the field (several enclosed acres) at the same time, dogs are not allowed to enter late, because the dogs will establish the pecking order immediately. If someone is slow to unleash, the dogs usually end up in a pile up. Our trainer is there to break up any "tiffs" if some dog decides to buck the order. The dog owners have to keep walking circles around the field. This keeps the dogs moving as well, always running and playing and not staying in one place to play too rough for long. It really works, and since no dogs own that field, they all pretty much act neutral because they are unleashed at the same time.
Some dogs do come that have mean dispositions, but they are rare, and we are usually pleased that they are there to get socialized.
Please don't give up taking your dogs out. Good luck and I hope your trainer friend replies with good advice

 

[KELLY W]

Hey, don't feel bad...they are doggies and they are acting as such. The dog parks that aren't that big and are all fenced in with that double entrance can cause problems for alot of dogs. It is very intimidating for the new dog entering and they may give off vibes that they are scared which causes the other dogs to pick on them. My Muggsey is the same way, especially if the other dog is on a leash. Daisy did not hurt the puppy, she just vocally and physically pinned it down to let it know that she was boss. Muggsey has done that to alot of dogs and also vice versa. It sounds and looks very scary, but if you pay close attention, the dogs are not actually hurting eachother. I definately would not say that your Daisy is unsocial by any means. If you want her to play with your friend's puppy I suggest you take them to a place that is more of an open field where they have room to run and where other dogs will not be adding to the tension. Don't worry, you'll never see that guy again anyway so who cares?

 

[Marybeth18]

Thank you all for your advice and for telling me about your own experiences. I feel so much better than I did on Sunday. I have not yet heard back from my trainer friend - hopefully soon.

Yesterday I took Daisy (alone) to the pet store to see how she would act (she's always been fine and loved meeting other dogs there). She seemed ok but it's such a different situation it's hard to tell.

We'll see what happens next. It's so nice to know that there are people that understand.

 

[pyermoli]

I am SO sorry this happened to you. I understand that the guy was upset, but he had no right to yell at you the way he did, specially infront of your kids. I go to a dog park all the time and this guy brings in his boxer who is aggressive and he knows this. He will try to let it socialize, and the boxer gets along with MOST dogs, but there will be one everytime that completely makes him freak out, I don't know why and it's not a particular dog, but there always will be one he will snap on. We understand that this happens from time to time, but nobody not even the other dogs' owners' have ever reacted like that. You know the rules and what's to say you weren't ready to take the dog out of the park. Anyway, I am sorry you had to experience that. As for socializing her again, I have no idea how to go about it once she has snapped, but I wouldn't stop trying. I was about to adopt a girl named Daisy from the shelter, she was as sweet as can be but terrible with my boy Oscar, it's very sad when this happens to boxers, I find it very sad (like, in the park guys case) that a boxer becomes aggressive. Who knows what triggered it. Have you tried again? What was the outcome?

 

[Marybeth18]

Paula,

I haven't been back yet. It's been pretty disgusting here weather wise. I may try this weekend (at a different park) again. I may not. Right now I'm kind of vacillating on the subject because I'm so scared to have it happen again.