Growling after boarding

This might be a good place to start.  http://community.dog.com/forums/p/112088/919498.aspx#919498

 Some dogs don't want to meet and greet others. Tootsie, is like this so we just keep moving. I know she doesn't like meet and greets, so I don't make her do something shes not comfortable doing.

LisaB

My dog Mazzy, a 2 year old Australian Labradoodle, was boarded over Christmas for 2 weeks. She has regularly stayed at this "dog camp" before, both for week long stays and once every week or two play days. She is a very friendly dog, but she does like to play a little rough for some dogs. She plays very much like a boxer with her paws. After her two week stay at camp over the holidays my husband and I both noted that she has growled at some dogs on her walks. We walk her a good 3 to 4 miles a day so we see lots of other dogs. She is fine saying hello to most, but she starts to growl after the initial sniff with others. I've always thought she needs to learn to back off when another dog doesn't want to play her way, but this growling occurs before they even play. I'm not sure what to do about correcting this, so I just make her leave as soon as I her her growl. I actually thought the longer boarding might help teach her how to interact better with other dogs, but it seems to have had the opposite effect. I really want to help her so she can be more relaxed for meet and greets. I hope someone can give me some insight.

I wonder if someone there (human) "disciplined" her for her forward play style a bit too harshly.  Many dogs find Boxer style play obnoxious, incidentally.  This is a dog that should play with dogs who like that style (usually Boxers, Doodles or Labs), and no others, frankly.  Otherwise, one of two things happens: she bullies another dog (not fair) or she gets told off (deservedly, but not wonderful in terms of her continuing to like other dogs).  If she had this play style as a puppy, I would have been inclined to have her play only with adult dogs even back then, so that they could have taught her to inhibit herself a bit better.   Too late for that now, probably, so the best solution is to find playmates she likes and who like her.  Obviously, I can't see her body language, etc., but I would be inclined to avoid allowing any on leash introductions, so that she doesn't practice being a growly twit on leash.  That usually gets worse, not better, without behavior modification.

Thanks so much for your thoughts.  I think it's very possible that a human "disciplined" her for her forward play.  I am well aware that most dogs find her style of play obnoxious.  Ironically a trainer here in Chicago told us Mazzy played rough because she played with adult dogs too much during her puppyhood.  Even though you feel it is probably too late, we are still working on her social skills.  I don't give up that easily...she is only two.

I live in Melbourne where "Labradoodles" were supoosed to have originated from. We call then labradoodles. I have seen some very poor temperaments on them, often the breeding stock of these dogs wasn't great with parents i would not have cared for as either poodles or Labradors. There is a very simple explanation, breeding x breeds without permission will get you a life time ban here from the relevant kennel authority. Unlike some other local dogs that hava type, such as Kelpies, Dingos, Australain Cattle dogs etc they are not regarded as a sperate breed yet, just a cross breed. If you look up the ANKC site. www.ankc.org.au you will find no mention of them.

Having said all of that, my poodles find them interesting to play with despite some of them being a bit Lab like and a bit OTT. They just run through them and try to get chasey going. Normally though as a small dog owner , i avoid them along with Labs, some GSDs, Malamutes, etc. It is nice to see responsible owners owning up to their dogs play styles and looking after other dogs. The main issue is the owners and a new legion of Helicopter owners who often own them (Hover over them...)and are in denial..."He only wants to play"

I once sold my car to a household that were going to use it for Labradoodle transport. They came from a much more elevated social enonomic housing area than i reside in... I heard Labradoodle this and Labradoolde that and how much he was worth and blah ablah blah and didn't get a word in edgeways. My two sat there and did very little. I can't reveal what the arrangements were between the breeder and myself about my two dogs but it was nothing like what this Labradodle cost. But i also will leave it to your imagination what an Entire mini poodle on the verge of a dual championship as he is now with very trendy breeding is worth in those terms..., and he is Sam to me!!  It ws intersting to note that in these peoples minds , my very capable dogs were seen as inferior...  Because of the rise of off pedigree breeding (anything poo)  you really have to look after breeding poodles. I have more security for my dogs than for my house...

LisaB

Thanks so much for your thoughts.  I think it's very possible that a human "disciplined" her for her forward play.  I am well aware that most dogs find her style of play obnoxious.  Ironically a trainer here in Chicago told us Mazzy played rough because she played with adult dogs too much during her puppyhood.  Even though you feel it is probably too late, we are still working on her social skills.  I don't give up that easily...she is only two.

When I say that these kind of puppies should play with adult dogs, I mean socially appropriate adult dogs, not dogs that might themselves bully a pup or teach them an inappropriate set of behaviors;-)   How are you working on her social skills without letting her bully other dogs or by placing her in a situation where someone is having to chastise her all the time?  My suggestion would be to contact a really good behavior professional (you can get a referral from the nearest teaching vet hospital or emergency vet clinic) and forego the dog day care for a while.  A dog that is "just two years old" is socially mature, basically the equivalent of a twenty year old human.  Not that you cannot modify any behavior at that point, but it's so much easier when they are little.  And, it's unfair to perpetrate your dog's obnoxious or pushy style on other people's dogs, so dog day care is NOT the appropriate venue for behavior modification IMO.  Some dogs do better with one or two familiar dogs that LIKE the way they play;-)))  So, if you can find two or three of those, and the owners like to make play dates, that might solve your problem.

Thanks again for your feedback. Mazzy is playing regularly with three dogs. One is a herding dog and it is hilarious to watch it literally run circles around Mazzy!