The dog park that I have taken Syd to for the last year is divded by a fence, one side is for small timid dogs, the other side for large dogs. The small timid side was a lot smaller then the big side. Everytime we go the dogs run up and down the fence running and chasing the dogs on the otherside. My dogs will do this the whole 2 hours we are there. I have never had a problem with Syd at the park before cause all her attention was focused on running the fence and chasing her sister.
Well they have now changed the dog park. The small and large side are now one big park for the big dogs. There is a big area on the other side of the parking lot that the city fenced in, and now it is the new small/timid area. So now there is no fence running cause the two parks are not connected.
So today was are first time in the new small/timid park. Since there is no fence running the dogs dont know what to do with themselves and they have all this energy to burn off, so now they play with the dogs there instead of running the fence.
My problem with Syd is that when she plays she is VERY vocal, growling,barking,snarling. She has always been like this when she plays and we have never had a problem. Today Hyde was playing with this dog and Syd saw and ran up tp Hyde and started biting his back legs like normal. She was getting a little wound up and she was making her usual noises. The dog that was playing with Hyde started playing with Syd, they were fine for a minute and it was very nosy thanks to Syd. Then they both started fighting. It was a little fight, but they both kept trying to go for the other and I believe Syd's barking,growling,and snarling when she plays started the fight. It happened twice and im scared that in this new dog park it will keep happening since there is no fence to run and all her attention is focused on the dogs instead of the fence.
Syd needs to go to the park more then my other dogs, and I would hate to have to stop bringing her. I dont know what to do, if i can just get her to be quite when she plays I feel the other dogs wont misinterupt her noises for aggression. I've been going to the dog park for over a year almost everyday and i havnt had a problem untill this new part opened.
My friend has a shock collar he said i could borrow. It seems so harsh though and Ive tried everything. Syd really is a playful friendly dog, its just these dogs dont know that cause she makes these noises and it starts fights. Also I dont want to take her on the big dog side because most of the dogs there ARE aggresive and im scared that if she got in a fight on that side the other dog might do a lot more damage. Today Syd had only the smallest of cuts on her lip, but the dog she fought with was a 6 month old puppy,so he had sharper teeth.
If I use the shock coller how do I use it properly. I really hate to think I would have to use one, but i dont see any other options. Help! Thanks!
I know exactly what you are going thru. Farley is the same way - he is extremely vocal when playing and sounds ferocious & dogs that don't know him tend to either run away or immediately go on the offensive even though all he is trying to do is play.
I have never tried to stop Farley but then again, we don't go to a dog park. Dogs that I want him to be able to play with we take it slow so that the other dog gets to know him really well before I let an off-lead play session start.
I wouldn't attempt to start using an e-collar at the dog park as you don't want her to associate it with the park & the other dogs in my opinion. Maybe instead of starting with an e-collar put her on a long training lead when she is going to be having a play session with Harley. When she starts say No Bark and give a quick correction. If she stops, let her continue playing. If she doesn't stop, end the play session for a few minutes. I would try this method before trying an e-collar. If you can't get her to respond to the verbal command and you are going to try the e-collar, set it at the lowest setting. When she gets started, give the voice command & if no response then give the correction. Using an e-collar if the dog doesn't understand the command only confuses them. I don't recommend them unless the dog absolutely knows the command and is just being stubborn about following it.
You could try the long training lead at the dog park and work with her there on the command. That way if she started and you can see the other dog isn't responding in play you have the control to get her back to you.
That's a toughie..I would suggest a muzzle, but then if another dog picks a fight with Syd, that's not good either. Have you looked into dog clubs in your state? Where people of certain breeds get together with their dogs? I know in my state they even have one for mixed breeds (I can't remember if Syd is mixed or not...) Maybe if you could find something like that, then Syd could still get socialized around other dogs and get to play, but they will be more her size.
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-The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try the long lead first and then go from there.
One thing I forgot to add in my first post is that with Syd if you pick her up or touch her when she is next to a dog, she will go crazy,growling and snapping at the other dog, but never hurting them, she just acts crazy and mean. So when she got in her fight yesterday I had to be careful when I grabbed her, I had to make sure the other dog was far enough away so i could grab her without it getting worse.
Syd has always been like this when you pick her up or touch her when she is playing with another dog, its like the contact gets her riled up. So at the park I learned not to touch her or try to pick her up when other dogs are around and there is no problem. But now im worried about fighting, if i try to remove her from the situstion i dont want it getting worse. How can I get to her when she fights without getting her more worked up?
Syd really is a sweet cuddly fun loving dog, but I think she just gets all worked up when playing. She has never fought with another dog before, yesterday was the first time. She has never fought with any of my dogs at home either, but they also know her, so when she is snappy or growling they are use to it and just keep on playing. Also everytime I have picked her up at home and one of the other dogs is close and she gets crazy, the other dog doesnt walk away and just stands there, and Syd never actually hurts them, its all a show, her bark is worse then her bite.
I just dont want people at the park who dont know her thinking she is an aggresive mean dog, cause i know this dog and have had her for so long, she doesnt have a mean bone in her body.I have four cats who she adores and plays with and grooms, all with no problems, she is even great with my new baby bunny, she is a great dog and friendly with all sorts of animals. It makes me feel sad that people at the park who dont know her might think of her as mean and aggresive..
Oh and Syd is not a purebred, she is a pit/lab/boxer/shep mix, a little of everything.
I would suggest some continued working with her on obedience training. If she is rock solid on recalls with no distractions I would move onto working with her on a long training line in areas where there are distractions - not necessarily where there are strange dogs at the beginning. Once she has that mastered I would then introduce the training sessions around strange dogs. If you can get her to the level where she has a consistent recall and sit/stay in all types of situations I think you will feel much better taking her to the dog park.
What is your reaction when she snaps/growls/etc. at you or another dog if you touch her when there is another dog around, even your others? If it were me I would have a collar & leash on her and set her up at home for this situation to happen and definitely give a strong NO & correction using the leash when she reacts like that.
i dont go to dog parks. they dont have any dog parks around here. but i would try denises method. long lead and correction. i worry about taking my frenchies around big dogs because they want to play and i would worry that a big dog might get offended and take a bite out of them. our gsd plays great with them, but i wouldnt want to take any chances around strange dogs. our neighbor brought his pitbull over one day and they were all running around playing when annie got mad and attacked her ! i got ahold of her quick and put her in my room. so dog parks would be out for us even if we did have one close by.
