Upsetting behavior developing...how do I stop it? (LONG)

**Retriever Mama** · 06-29-2011, 12:05 PM

So, Remy has always been a vocal dog. He growls when he plays. He barks when he's excited. He scares other dog walkers who don't know him when we walk him on leash because he gets all barky when he sees another dog and they can't tell if he's agressive or not. He's not. He's just got a big dog bark and terrible manners. If he's off leash or we just walk right up to another dog when he's onleash...no issue. No barking. Sniff. Sniff. On our way.

Now onto the dog park. He's been going since he was a puppy. (He's 3 now.) We at first were worried about him because he has terrible dog manners. Goes right up to another dog's face and says "Hi!" and some dogs don't like that. But he learned and usually has a lot of fun running around with the other dogs. Whenever there's some sort of barky melee he stays out of it. Never gets into trouble. Always has a great time.

We just got a dog park in our town a couple of months ago. It is HUGE. 2 acres. So it really is a lot of work to stay with your dog. We always do. I'm usually within 5 feet of Remy. When he starts getting growly excited during play I call out to him "Remy, no talking" and he usually shuts up. I know he's just playing, but other dog owners see a big black dog growling at their little guy and they get nervous. Or I get nervous that another dog (for example this obnoxious puggle thing we see from time to time) is going to take Remy's growling as aggressive and then start a fight with him.

Well, last night did not go well at the dog park. Mostly little dogs and then our 2. This young couple comes in with their 5 month old black lab puppy. All the dogs go running over to check him out. Remy and another dog get growly. I call Remy to me. None of the other dog owners are anywhere near the gate at this time except for me and the owners of this puppy. Remy is now standing by me and then next thing you know it is pigpile on this poor puppy who rolls over on his back and the pack of 5 or 6 dogs start growling and barking and I hear this puppy yipe. Remy has run over and joined the pack and I hear his bark and growl and I immediately go grab him as the puppy owners scoop him up into their arms. Now the other dog owners are coming over and calling their dogs. I'm horrified that Remy was in on it and, while holding his collar, walk over to the puppy owners to see if puppy is ok. They complain that another dog that is there always attacks their puppy. I suggest we go to the other end of the park to play.

When Remy jumps up at this puppy in the guys arms with a growly bark like he's trying to bite the puppy. Scares the crap out of the dog owners. I grab him by the collar and we leave immediately.

Now, I know the worst thing you can do is hold a dog up like that at a dog park and I think I know that Remy was just trying to get the dog to come down and play (he does that to his sister when she's being lazy and won't play with him) but at the same time I question if I'm biasing my judgment of my dog's behavior because I can't believe he would try to fight with another dog.

Can someone help me get a better view on what is going on here with my dog's viewpoint and if there is a problem? And what should I have been doing/should be doing to stop this behavior?

This is my cuddle monkey and I am terrified something is going terribly awry here.

**deidra** · 06-29-2011, 12:16 PM

I think he is a follower and will copy other dogs(Bentley is the same way). All my dogs growl too when they are playing but I have finally figured out which growl is play and which is no play. Everytime he starts to growl read his body language if you think it could possibly be aggressive growl. If he is stiff and tail is straight in the air that is a deffensive or aggressve growl (it is with Tank).

I would go to the dog park and see if the owners with the black lab puppy are there and explain to them what happened.

**HersheyK's Dad** · 06-29-2011, 12:54 PM

Dogs are pack animals, and sometimes it comes out. I suspect that Remi just wanted to play, but we don't always know what isin their heads. You did well.

Your story did remind me of how lucky we are here. Your huge 2 acre dog park? That would be small here, I do not know if we have one that small. The smallest we go to is 7 acres, but we go to one by the river that is over 40 acres. It is the best one, even if it is 25 miles from the house.

**Samson** · 06-29-2011, 12:56 PM

He was just excited to see the youngster Mel ! Don't sweat the petty things - the pup is ok !

I'm amazed that they could pick up a five month old though ! Dylan was HEaVY at five months "

**rpost7786** · 06-29-2011, 01:49 PM

7 acre's?!!!! and I thought 2 was big.... GEEZ! Someone told me about one in florida they went to that has HUGE water fountains, pools and sprinklers for the dogs. I wish someone who had $ would build one of those by me. LOL Talk about doggie heaven.

**Samson** · 06-29-2011, 03:03 PM

We have three acres for the horses so why do the dogs play bitey face within a 20 foot circle of where we are sitting incuding spectacular "leap over Dad" cavorting ?It would be the same if we had 20 acres.

**Retriever Mama** · 06-29-2011, 03:17 PM

I just worry sometimes that he doesn't understand how rough he plays. I don't want to be THAT dog owner, ya know?

**Felix** · 06-29-2011, 03:28 PM

What you described, sounds to me like 'ganging-up' one dog starts barking (misbehave) to that pup, and the others follow that behaviour

But .. What i always do, if there a lot of little dogs (pups) in a park, i just went to an other place .. I dont like to mix big and small dogs together, it can go well .. But often it is a wway to create a dissaster

**marmstr** · 06-29-2011, 04:53 PM

Our dog park has under 20 lbs section and over 20 lbs section...that means that some dogs that I'd consider 'small' are in with the labs, great danes and pyrenees...

My son and I took Artemis the other day. She was the youngest dog there (about 4.5 months) that day and at one point the other dogs did sort-of gang-up on her but I didn't get upset or freaked out...figured she needed to be put in her place ;-0

But we're working now on teaching her not to growl when playing with her toys or other dogs...for the very reasons you describe above...other PEOPLE don't understand even if you and the dogs do!

**kassabella** · 06-29-2011, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Samson

He was just excited to see the youngster Mel ! Don't sweat the petty things - the pup is ok !

I'm amazed that they could pick up a five month old though ! Dylan was HEaVY at five months "

I agree.
I woudn't take the puppy to the park with so many dogs until it could handle itself. Dogs love to see someone new come it and it gets to be a pack thing. Even with Tessa I go when we are alone or maybe stay until a couple of dogs Gems plays with come in. It can be a frightening place to walk into. Even I think Oh shoost where do all these dogs come from and maybe only 5-6.