Didn't push back

[glowworm3980]

I have looked through the links and found some common topics, but different situations in which they occurred. My now 1yr old pup was out on a walk with me this morning and the neighbor across the street has an older female black lab. They play together well, she growls at him, but I think it's in a playful manner since she's never attacked him and they go off running after each other and my rotty throws his but into her and it's all good. Well, there's another female, I think and lab/aussie mix and they have interacted palyfully before in the past months. But lately on walks in passing she has barked aggressively at him and we just keep walking by. My Wotan stands tall and kinda pulls toward her but we just keep walking. This morning the dog across the street and Wotan were running and playing in the field when that mix dogged showed up and when the owner took her off the leash she ran after my dog trying to bite and barked at him. Wotan thinks that every dog is his friend since he has been socialized well and attends obedience classes every week. But his reaction instead of standing tall and pushing back was to run away and at times to lay on his back in submission. Honestly, I felt that he would have pushed back or something instead of laying there and letting this roughly 40lb light weight tower over him growling. I had my two year old son in my arms and could jump into separate them, but I was told from other owners that he needed that interaction to let him know that all dogs aren't friendly. What do you feel should have taken place between the two and any advice? Thanks!!

[dipper]

My first advice would be to not let your dog run loose on any property that you do not have control over.
I NEVER go to dog parks or community areas were dogs run loose or anybody can show up with any dog and let them run--it's a recipe for disaster.
Like my Vet says " I hate dog parks but they're good for my practice---honestly I should set up a booth there on the weekends!!". He says this in a sarcastic manner as he really does hate them.
What if that dog decided to take an ear off your pup?? And, you had a 2 year old in your arms??

Dogs don't think like we do and size has little to do with the reaction of a dog.
Some petite women weighing little more than a Rottie can be and are excellent trainers---it's not about size and muscle.
My neighbor has a little terrier that weighs about 7 lbs. that took on a female whitetail deer with a fawn---that deer tore her up but she kept at it until she was knocked out and that little terrier of hers will challenge ANY dog that walks on her property.

Even though your dog is only a year old, it seems like it will be more of a submissive example than a dominate one---but he has a ways to go in his development.
I would not put him in a situation like that again if at all possible.

Rich

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by dipper

Even though your dog is only a year old, it seems like it will be more of a submissive example than a dominate one---but he has a ways to go in his development.
I would not put him in a situation like that again if at all possible.

Rich

My experience is that with "most" dogs dominance and submissiveness can change depending on the context, even between the same 2 dogs. So I'm not sure that from one example you could say your dog is "submissive" or that from another you could say that she is "dominant". Given the situation, your dog tried to avoid conflict and that - in my opinion is good - it shows that she can read and speak dog. A knucklehead (like my own) who's no so fluent can get themselves into serious trouble.

That being said, if i had my 'druthers, I'd chose to have my dog learn what is, and what is not acceptable from a dog I know to be fair and very clear in their body language, not a random dog at a park.

[glowworm3980]

Yea, that won't happen again. I'm glad in a way that he was submissive because like others have stated a law suit or vet bill is more expensive. But then on the other hand I just wanted him to say, " Wo there budy, don't come at me like that! You don't know me!" I guess that the human way of acting versus a more intelligent dog. Like you said, he has a ways to go in mental development, and maybe next time confronted like that it will be different. I thought thought that letting them socialize like that in a dog park is good for them?

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by glowworm3980

I thought thought that letting them socialize like that in a dog park is good for them?

Well the thing is that you never know what you are going to get at a dogpark so while socialisation is good maybe you can start a doggy play group with classmates or friends & their dogs. This is what we do.

[Shelby427]

[quote=glowworm3980;803758]Yea, that won't happen again. I'm glad in a way that he was submissive because like others have stated a law suit or vet bill is more expensive. But then on the other hand I just wanted him to say, " Wo there budy, don't come at me like that! You don't know me!" I guess that the human way of acting versus a more intelligent dog. Like you said, he has a ways to go in mental development, and maybe next time confronted like that it will be different. I thought thought that letting them socialize like that in a dog park is good for them?[/QUOTE]

Well, the problem with dog parks is that ANYONE can bring their dogs there - so sometimes you end up with ill-mannered dogs AND clueless owners who don't realize that their dog is misbehaving. Any time a rottie and another dog get into it, guess what, the rottie will be blamed REGARDLESS of the situation. I only bring my dogs around other dogs that we KNOW, friends dogs, neighbor's dogs, family dogs, so that we KNOW the owner and the dog.

[rtwu]

for me ,the age of your rott could be one of the factors,why hes submissive towards an aggressive mutt,
i can imagine those snarling teeth,intimidating for a young dog.
i totally disagree with ayoka,who states its good that your rott advoided conflict.
with such a long history of not being a submissive breed,any wonder a lot of people on this forum want cuddly show dogs with no working traits.
for me a rott does not and should not be submissive towards a dog not in its league.

[glowworm3980]

I will definetly watch who he socialized with from now on. Like you stated Shelby, the rotty always gets blamed for the mishaps. If it's their mutt on the other end then it's ok. But if he would of acted like that to the mutt, I GUARANTEE that she would have been throwing a fit at me and my rottie.