Dog parks & Walks

[Luv0fDisney]

Today I took my dog (long haired chihuahua) to the park to walk around on the walkway. They do have a gated dog park area but there were small dogs already using it. I really wish my dog would be nice to other dogs. She just sniffs and starts growling and stuff.

I feel sorry for my dog because she won't Play with others and gives me anxiety when she goes up to another dog. I try to slowly socialize her by having her on a tight lease and if another person lets their dog i see what my dog does and usually i have to pull my dog away quickly. .

Do you have a dog that doesn't play well with others but you wish he/she did?
Please share your stories and advice.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I will be following this thread! We have a cockapoo who was a rescue at the end of November. She is the best dog!!! She has been so easy except when she is on walks and sees other dogs. If they are smaller than she is, she is usually okay. She growls and barks if they are bigger than she. She is fine with my brother's cocker spaniel, but that is off leash. I would love to take her to a dog park, but I am not sure how to start.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Today I took my dog (long haired chihuahua) to the park to walk around on the walkway. They do have a gated dog park area but there were small dogs already using it. I really wish my dog would be nice to other dogs. She just sniffs and starts growling and stuff.

I feel sorry for my dog because she won't Play with others and gives me anxiety when she goes up to another dog. I try to slowly socialize her by having her on a tight lease and if another person lets their dog i see what my dog does and usually i have to pull my dog away quickly. .

Do you have a dog that doesn't play well with others but you wish he/she did?
Please share your stories and advice.

I would advise ( and I have a large dog family from all backgrounds ) NOT to keep doing what you are doing A receipe for disaster in the future I would get her & you into a professionally run class for obedience & socialization I would hate for you to get bit or a fight to happen Her behavior will only escalate if no professional training Good luck this is serious

Same advice to you K& K's Mommy Put on any Judge Judy type show in the course of a week and you see the often disastrous results of trying to introduce dogs to other dogs

I have 7 dogs all rescues I have a strong background with dogs Please both of you heed my advice

 

[smadath]

I've never known a Chihuahua that played will with others, including humans. And I've known quite a few. I think it goes with the breed.

Maybe they try to make up for being little dogs by having big attitudes!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I've never known a Chihuahua that played will with others, including humans. And I've known quite a few. I think it goes with the breed.

Maybe they try to make up for being little dogs by having big attitudes!

Same can be said with dachshunds I have known a few with real Napoleon complexes Just need more work

Hey Welcome to the Dis

 

[StephMK]

Our beagle mix is not a fan of other dogs either. She tolerates our lab mix because he adores her but she is a picky princess with all others. She's an old lady so we just keep her at home.

I used to feel bad that we didn't take her out to play but in reality, she doesn't like to play. I don't think she was socialized and lived in an apt. before we rescued her at age 5. I'm pretty sure they had to give her up for barking when left alone.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Our dog doesn't play well with other dogs, bunnies, cats, bobcats, the UPS man, leaves blowing through the yard, diesel trucks, the garbage man, or anyone else who isn't actively rubbing her belly.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Our Schnorgi doesn't play well with others. He was abused badly before we adopted him (age 4 months). He loves us and is very protective. He wants to play with others, but unless there is a fence between him and the other animal, nope. And when other people come over, he has to go to his room (closet and crate). I also use a training muzzle. I would rather contain him then have him injure someone or another animal.

He did have two friends--a great Mastiff and a Great Dane. That was hillarious. He barely reached their knees and if he was getting too yippy the Mastiff sat on him.

Problem was those dogs jumped our fence and I had coax them out.

My dog has been trained in basics and does very good. He knows his commands in 3 human languages and also by hand signals. It's not a dog park, but we are going to build him a doggy obstacle course in the yard. He played on one at the kennel. No one was in the yard with him (no people, no dogs) and he started climbing the ramps. Just imagine what he could do with his mommy along.

 

[mom2rtk]

Our dog doesn't play well with other dogs, bunnies, cats, bobcats, the UPS man, leaves blowing through the yard, diesel trucks, the garbage man, or anyone else who isn't actively rubbing her belly.

Our dog had a thing about the UPS man too! He would hear the truck down the street and start going crazy. One day he actually pushed the screen out of the door and tore out after him. Jumped up and ripped the poor man's pants! (We offered to pay for them, but he laughed us off). Man, I miss Bob (the dog). I always felt safe. Sigh.

 

[lsyorke]

I would advise ( and I have a large dog family from all backgrounds ) NOT to keep doing what you are doing A receipe for disaster in the future I would get her & you into a professionally run class for obedience & socialization I would hate for you to get bit or a fight to happen Her behavior will only escalate if no professional training Good luck this is serious

Great advice. Despite what one would think a tight leash and pulling her away only exacerbates the situation.

 

[Dread Pirate]

Great advice. Despite what one would think a tight leash and pulling her away only exacerbates the situation.

This.

My two dogs, a border collie and a Norfolk Terrier, are very territorial while on their leashes. We can walk the neighborhood, and they bark at dogs. We go to the dog park with the same dogs, and they're best friends. It's just something about the leash.

I'd agree with the person above that said to try to socialization class before going to the dog park.

 

[smadath]

[QUOTE Hey Welcome to the Dis[/QUOTE]

Thank you! I'm an Armchair Traveler who's enjoying it here so far! Lots of interesting topics and threads! Might even inspire me to leave the Armchair and actually visit!

 

[nicolita3]

I have two chihuahuas one short hair that we raised since she was a baby she loves everyone and everything. The other one is a long hair we adopted from a shelter when he was 3, we think he might have been abused the only other dog he likes is our short hair chihuahua. We can't take him for a walk because he barks like crazy and its a high pitch shrill bark..so he gets his exercise in the back yard where he is calm and rarely barks. For his sanity and ours we don't let him socialize but if you can figure out what to do let me know lol..

 

[DisneyLvr55]

We have an 8 month old Weim, and when she gets close to another dog, she just lays down. We took her to a dog park once, and the dogs there beat the *^*& out of her!!! They were all VERY large (like 150lbs and up) and would come charging at her, and spear head her, and she would just go rolling. She was only about 4 months then, but already to big for the little dog area. By the time we left, I was covered in mud, because she kept trying to into my arms/on my back - Do anything to get away from these other dogs.
I'm very happy to be putting in a fence soon, so my baby can run around, without the fear of being attacked.

To the OP, I agree trying an introduction in a more "secure" way. Maybe bring in the scent of the dog one day, and let your dog sniff it. Then the next day bring that one dog in a room of your house with your dog. I'm not expert, but it seems like a reasonable idea to me

 

[kmb584]

I'd recommend easing the tension you're putting on the leash and not pulling back. A tight leash signals tension for a dog and increases their stress and ultimately their aggression. Instead, when you feel you're dog is about to react to another dog (in a negative manner) say his/her name, snap your fingers, clap your hands, do anything to get your dog's attention to break the mind set it's in. You'll find that most dogs immediately react in a positive, calm manner to that sound interference. Socialization is important but start slow. Talk with a trainer to get their input on where to start and go from there.

 

[cedricandsophie]

My two corgis act like terrors when on a leash but let them get close to the other dog and they are fine. At the dog park, they can't wait to run and play. My breeder says that the leash makes them very protective of you and their territory and that's often why they react that way. It's the same with uniforms. They hate the mail person!