at the dog park

[jimm2k]

my 7 month old is great with people and with dogs his size or smaller; however he is very fearfull of dogs that are larger than him and usually will react with fear responses of running away with his nub between his bum or by snarling.

does anyone have any methods that helped with this process?

i have tried several different methods including petting the larger dog and also having the other dogs owner restrain their dog and let my dog come over to the other dog on his terms but it has not been effective.

[rottcrazed]

How about not taking an obviously fearful puppy to a dog park where he cannot control what is going to happen to him.

Rather, take him for walks, play with him, find a nice open field and throw a ball for him for his exercise.

Find him some 'friends' who he is happy being with and get together with them (and their owners) maybe at your house, or their house or at the open field, for some safe fun.

Dog parks are awful places. Bullies can take over, fearful dogs just become more fearful and cannot possibly gain confidence in situations like that. Dogs are like people, they don't always like everyone. In a dog park situation, dogs are stuck to deal with other dogs in their faces, on their backs, jumping all around them, on them, and when they are trying to tell you they don't like it (as your dog is doing), people tend to ignore it.

Sorry, but the only advice I have is above.

Kristi

[moondog]

I have only one thing to add to the excellent advice you've already been given.......you do not want your now fearful young dog to become a bully himself when he's grown up enough to be tired of putting up with other bullies. There is nothing positive to be gained by exposing him to bad behavior by other dogs.

[Burnsway]

Great advice above!

I have NEVER been to a dog park. I have heard there are some strict better ones but I have ALWAYS felt they were bad news. When Houston ran a petition to get their first up and running all my friends thought I was nuts for NOT signing it.

[jimm2k]

Originally Posted by moondog

you do not want your now fearful young dog to become a bully himself when he's grown up enough to be tired of putting up with other bullies. There is nothing positive to be gained by exposing him to bad behavior by other dogs.

my dog has not been bullied by the larger dogs in any way he is just fearfull of them he plays great with dogs his own size and smaller

wow what awesome and excellent advice guys... dont take the dog to the dog park... so helpfull really. if anyone has any actual advice with the question that was asked other than dont go to the evil dog park please feel free to comment.

[Stubby]

Ummm, so what was your point of coming here and asking a question, if you don't want to follow the advice given??
I mean, just because it isn't what you want to hear doesn't make it WRONG advice.
Fear, and fear aggression can develop into VERY serious social issues. If not "managed", it can end up in the dog biting a human, not just being snarky with another dog.
The advice given is good advice. If you want something more, then take the dog to a BEHAVIOURIST, not a trainer, and get their advice. This is genetic, and is NOT something you can "train" out.

Having dealt with many dogs with fear issues, I would advise you to take steps now to avoid any furture potential issues.

Let me ask you something, if you were scared of snakes as a child, yet, every day, your mother took you somewhere where there were snakes around you, and FORCED you to be near them, how do you think this would affect you?

It's not a POSITIVE place for your dog, so don't force it to be there.

[Steelerfan]

Originally Posted by jimm2k

my dog has not been bullied by the larger dogs in any way he is just fearfull of them he plays great with dogs his own size and smaller

wow what awesome and excellent advice guys... dont take the dog to the dog park... so helpfull really. if anyone has any actual advice with the question that was asked other than dont go to the evil dog park please feel free to comment.

I can understand your frustration. Do you know anyone with a bigger dog? Perhaps you could work with a friend (or someone from the dog park) to introduce your dog to a larger one.

Years ago I was walking two of my dogs, I had a leash in each hand. We were on a quiet street in the late morning. An idiot was walking his Mastiff off leash and it attacked us. It took awhile for me to get my dogs comfortable with larger dogs after that.

And it didn't happen in a dog park.

[jimm2k]

maybe i am not being clear with all of this or maybe too many people give stupid advice on these things. my dog loves the dog park and is very excited when we go. i have been there 20+ times since i got him at 12 weeks, i will continue going to the dog park and socializing my pet.

if your advice is dont go to the dog park because he is fearfull of larger dogs that is not advice at all. if my dog was fearfull of going to the dog park and fought with me to go there then i would not take him but thanks for that advice because i didnt know not too do that... wow.

[jimm2k]

Originally Posted by Steelerfan

I can understand your frustration. Do you know anyone with a bigger dog? Perhaps you could work with a friend (or someone from the dog park) to introduce your dog to a larger one.

i tried that when we were at the dog park last time, someone had a 9 month old great dane (was like 100 pounds at 9 months and twice the height of my rott). the great dane would play with my dog but my rott would just run away. i even tried having them restrain the great dane and i would go to the great dane and call my dog that didnt work. i also tried that with several other larger dogs, he came close a few times but sat back about 5-10 feet away mostly.

[Stubby]

Well, without getting into a peeing match with you about this, I'm going to just say one thing...

Good luck...

I'm sure you've seen it all before, so excuse those of us who have seen this time and again, for trying to give you some good advice... yeah, I've only had what... 35 Rott's go through my house in the last year alone, each with its own behavioral baggage, no, I wouldn't have any good advice..

Have fun..

[jimm2k]

Originally Posted by Stubby

Well, without getting into a peeing match with you about this, I'm going to just say one thing...

Good luck...

I'm sure you've seen it all before, so excuse those of us who have seen this time and again, for trying to give you some good advice... yeah, I've only had what... 35 Rott's go through my house in the last year alone, each with its own behavioral baggage, no, I wouldn't have any good advice..

Have fun..

if your advice is to lock my dog up because he is fearfull of larger dogs and runs away or take him to a park where there is no other dogs.... again this isnt advice. i will not lock my animal up because he ran away from larger dogs. also in the state i live in (Pa) we have leash laws so when i take my pet to the park i cannot run him. one of the few places i am allowed to have him off leash is in the dog park(s)

and by the way after the puppy class i took my dog through i also took him to a behaviorist and had 3 fun sessions and the behaviorist could find no issues with my pet. the reason i took him was because me and my lady are thinking of having our own little ones. so with those 40 behavior challenged rotts you took in what the last year i already had mine at a proffesional.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by jimm2k

my 7 month old is great with people and with dogs his size or smaller; however he is very fearfull of dogs that are larger than him and usually will react with fear responses of running away with his nub between his bum or by snarling.

does anyone have any methods that helped with this process?

i have tried several different methods including petting the larger dog and also having the other dogs owner restrain their dog and let my dog come over to the other dog on his terms but it has not been effective.

You have been given good advice. I would avoid the dog park .....so much damage can be done to your dogs future temperment. At the dog park you can have dogs that are poorly trained...and ignorant owners.

He should be socializing, but only with dogs that are good...big and small.
I suggest you get into a group obedience class...this way he will be exposed to all sorts of dogs....big, small, barky,etc.

Keep taking you pup to classes.
If you pup is fine with dogs smaller then him, and scared of larger dogs...something must have happened to him. It may not have been anything you have noticed....but it did leave an impression on him.

Gina

[jimm2k]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

He should be socializing, but only with dogs that are good...big and small.
I suggest you get into a group obedience class...this way he will be exposed to all sorts of dogs....big, small, barky,etc.
Gina

i plan on taking him to the next obedience class they offer but they want the dogs to be 9 months old.

[observer]

The advice given has NOT been to lock up your dog. What was suggested is that you work with socializing him with larger dogs in a more controlled environment than the hustle and bustle of the dog park. He may want to go to the park, for sure, because there are things about it he likes. But, once he gets there, as you yourself stated, he behaves fearfully with larger dogs.

I'm surprised you can't find an obedience class for dogs younger than 9 months. I would keep looking, as that is something else that will provide controlled socialization (which a dog park does not and cannot offer, by definition) and a lot of other benefits. He can run off leash fetching a ball in your yard, and get all of that kind of exercise he needs.

My dog has no fear or socialization issues with any size dog, and I still wouldn't take her to a dog park. You have no idea what you will encounter there on any given day in terms of dogs/owners. I prefer to have control over which dogs and people she interacts with.

Good luck!

[Stubby]

Originally Posted by jimm2k

and by the way after the puppy class i took my dog through i also took him to a behaviorist and had 3 fun sessions and the behaviorist could find no issues with my pet. the reason i took him was because me and my lady are thinking of having our own little ones. so with those 40 behavior challenged rotts you took in what the last year i already had mine at a proffesional.

Sir.. if I may the term loosely.. Not only are you rude, but you are ignorant. And, I can't believe YOU plan on breeding as well.... If you want to come here and talk like a punk, call members advice "stupid", and are not prepared to listen to what people have to say. please be expected to be treated with the same lack of respect, at least by me, I have no time for your ilk. (wonder how long before THIS gets deleted)


Now, WHERE did I say "lock your dog up" ?? I said you were given good advice to NOT take your dog to a dog park, I said you should make the experience POSITIVE for your dog! If the behaviour you describe is not being seen by the professional you hired, then take said professional to the dog park and see what they think!! Not in a "clinical" environment!!! What good is that??? And what is a "fun session"
"Fixing" a dog takes a lot of time, and I get the feeling you are looking for a quick fix.. Not going to happen. It's all baby steps with dogs. If you remove the dog from the place that is causing it's stress and anxiety, then introduce it to a POSITIVE environment, then over time.. LOTS of time... The dog will get "better" at dealing with her fear, but, you will always have to manage it. Brunie's mom gave good advice, OB classes with a lot of other dogs of all shapes and sizes in a controlled environment is a good POSITIVE thing for your dog.

What happens when you have a kid and your dog bites the child because of her fear issues? You KNOW the dog has a problem, so, it's NOT the dogs fault if this happens.. It's yours.