Dog Wont Back Down

 IMO, dog parks are way to unpredictable. Maybe he could have play dates with 1 or 2 dogs.

He sounds like a great dog, but honestly, it's dogs like this that keep me from going to the dog park.  Not all dogs want or need to have such large, unpredictable play groups.  For many dogs it's an accident (or lawsuit) waiting to happen.  If he doesn't know when to quit and you're unable to interrupt before it escalates, I'd keep him away for now.  If there are certain dogs that are more his play style, setup play dates with that particular dog.  IMO being in a fight is being in a fight whether it was instigated or not.  I have two dogs that are the same way, they are not overtly aggressive but most certainly will say/do something when they feel another dog has invaded their space or gotten in their face, and they will not back down.  I just don't take them to dog parks, it's not worth the risk to them or anyone else's dog and is not fair to the dog to put them in that situation.  Not only are my dogs not dog park material but as you have discovered (the leashed dog), a lot of other dogs there aren't either.

Of course this is just my opinion, but I would not take him to the dog park. Here's some reasons, and please don't think I am saying anything unkind about you or your dog. These are just what *I* see from an unbiased, outside perspective.

 

You've had your boy for about two months now. He's definitely coming into himself now. He's realizing, okay, I'm safe, and he's bonding to you of course. Sometimes a dog may seem like it's becoming more aggressive in the weeks or months following adoption, because he is no longer just completely shell-shocked.

 

In MY experience, bully breeds don't often go through as many behaviors that escalate into aggression before it's a full bite. "You're gonna growl at me or snap? Okay. I'm not going to bother with talking crap, it' ON!" seems to be more the mentality. Does that make your dog aggressive? Of course not. That makes him a typical bully breed.

 

Also this dog has an unknown history. Seeing even a hint of aggressive behavior, even if it's in line (a dog who does not want to be humped showing teeth, IMO, is completely in line) might trigger him into WHOA, I better stop this before this dog really starts trying to light into me. He may have some very bad experiences before you got him.

 

My German Shepherd will NOT tolerate a male dog humping him. It's all fun and games if it's a female, but oh man. All the sudden he's a grizzly bear instead of a dog on a leash by the sounds and faces he makes if he's humped by a male. Does he bite? No. If a dog who was humping him BIT him after the display he won't take it? I do not want to find out. What's the correct response?.. Well, to keep him away from dogs I know will trigger him. Dog parks can be a lot of fun but they can also be HORRID places, and I think you are much better off BUILDING your dogs confidence through obedience, structred walks, and CONTROLED environments now. You say he's very submissive and acts as if he's been treatedpoorly in the past.. I'd definitely work on that. A scared dog is an unpredictable dog.

 

Tiffy hit the nail on the head. Play dates are a much better idea for him, it seems. Sadly you also have the breed sterotype working against you. If a pit or bully gets into a fight, even if he didn't start it, you better believe it will always end up being the pit's fault in the eyes of onlookers- and yikes, courts.

 

I would start working with him on lead building confidence and manners so in the long run he won't do behaviors that trigger defensive behavior in other dogs, in return escalating him- like the mounting.

Thanks for all the comments. They helped put everything in perspective. I agree, a fight is a fight, and dogs are all unpredictable. I have decided to stop taking him to the dog park. Its sad decision to make, he loves it there, but it is just to unpredictable. Maybe in the future after I have had him longer and he is better trained and confident we can try that all again. He is just so good in every other aspect, even playing. Just waaay to dominant when provoked. Here is a question. Could this behavior be triggered by a certain person? He is attached to me and looks to me for commands and what not, but I don't think he is being protective of me. I live with two girls and they take him out for me while I am at work, though I am the primary care giver. The first fight he had was when my roommate took him to the dog park. It was his first fight so I just thought it was one of those fluke incidents. There was a minor incident when she she took him a different time with my other roommate. It was a little scuffle, but no dogs were injured and things were fine after. She had taken him many other times before, these were just two of the many times. And then the most recent one that sparked my decision, was when she came with me to the dog park. This was the first time I saw him act that way, and she made a comment on how maybe its her since I have been to the dog park soooo many times with him, we go 2 sometimes 3 times day without incidents. And she has always been present. I shook it off at first like of course not, but maybe..... Its probably just a coincidence and bad luck on her part. But maybe he is protective of her? After this last fight as I said he is not going to the dog park anymore, and I let them know they are not allowed to take him anymore. They are still encouraged to take him out for walks though of course. I have a play date set up for him with one other dog during the week now. He is a submissive pit bull a friend owns and they always play so well. It probably wouldn't work if he was a dominant type dog because of both their breeds they could get into trouble, but he is the kind to back down right away if a dog challenges him. Its a small group but they still run around and have fun. So its better than nothing. What do you think about doggy daycare? Should I completely rule that out as an idea? I was going to start taking him once a week before all this happened, and now I probably should not. And one more thing! the biggest issue with not going to the dog park is my dog wont poop when on his leash. I didn't put this together when he first came home and he had a couple accidents, but if you don't take him off leash he holds it and holds it. Any tips on how to encourage him to defecate on lead? I keep treats on hand so incase he goes I can give him a reward, but I personally have never seen him go when he is on his leash. Its so weird.

emilyythestrange

Any tips on how to encourage him to defecate on lead?

 

Get a 50 or 100' lead and don't focus on him beyond telling him to do his business.  Just ignore him and look around casually as you stand in one spot and let him ramble around.  He may just need more distance to feel comfortable.  Rex is very reluctant to poop in a strange place and will hold it till he gets home.

yep good idea. You can also try taking him to a spot where other dogs have gone. Often the scent of poop, makes them go...of course this isn't without risk as some fe**ces (why is a proper medical term censored BTW?)  can carry this that and the other...but if your dog is a young healthy guy on monthly flea/tick/worm prevent and vaccinated it's less of a concern. You can also try to pick a spot and seed it with some poop of his in the same manner. It can be difficult with a dog that requires "privacy" LOL! Good luck!

 Tootsie, will only go #2 if on a flexi. If she gets a really good smell she will go, but she doesn't like too. You can see it in her eyes.

 I would NOT "try it again" and here's why.  Even an exceptionally well trained dog can still be a dog that should not be at a dog park.  In general, the bully breeds that have the modus operandi that your dog seems to have will likely do OK with a single female companion that they like, but often will not do well with unfamiliar dogs, or other males.  This dog cannot go to doggy day care if he can'[t go to the dog park - that's asking for trouble.  Dominance has nothing to do with this.  It's just that bully breeds are who they are, and often their genetic makeup predisposes them to fight with other dogs.  Your dog isn't a bad dog, UNLESS you put him in harm's way by continuing to think he has to be social, and he puts some holes, or worse, in another dog.  If it helps, my rescued dog would not poop on leash when I first got him either, but I persisted (one night I just stood there for forty five minutes until he basically had no choice).  NEVER scold a dog like this for anything related to elimination - often the reason they don't poop on leash is that someone scolded them for an accident in the house and the dog made the association that pooping in front of a human is dangerous;-)  A lot of rescued dogs feel a bit vulnerable at first, and later they do their biz on leash just like any other dog - the key is to take them out a lot, reward as you have been doing, and don't allow any freedom in the house if they don't defecate.  They learn poop=freedom and being with the human.  No poop=being in the crate & ignored.

 Sounds like a very protective dog which is good, but you are going to have to get him to interact with other dogs more often in controlled environments.

Have a neighbor come over with their dog once or twice a week and stay next to him, if he shows signs of aggression then discipline him. He shouldn't just attack if another dog is showing agitation that can cause issues down the road!

PITbullRUNNER

you are going to have to get him to interact with other dogs more often in controlled environments.

 

Why?  What I don't understand is, why does the dog HAVE to be able to interact with other dogs?

Since we moved into our new house, I've had several people walk right up my driveway up to my fence with their dogs in tow.  I've turned them all away, or just not followed up on their request for "doggy playdates".  My dogs are fine with their own pack just the way they are, thanks.  We're not going to force them to tolerate every dog in the neighborhood....just because.  If neighbors walk past my house with a dog, my dogs will stand there and watch.  If neighbors come up on my driveway dragging their dog onto my property, my dogs will bark at them and make it clear they are not wanted.

PITbullRUNNER, what do you mean by discipline the dog? I think showing him discipline in a situation like that is likely to make him associate other dogs with negative stimulation. Positive rewards and desensitizing is probably the way to go.

Just a note about going on lead.

It's LOGICAL.  Stop and think about it.  At some point in this dog's life he has stood somewhere near a human who SAW him poop and the human had a major hissy fit!!!

Would YOU go in front of another human? I think not!!  *grin*

"But but ... he's on LEASH it's OK!!"

Who the heck told the dog that?  No one.  We make all these assumptions that the dog is supposed to automatically understand "in" or "out" or "on leash" or "in the yard" or "Not on my CARPET!!"

They don't.  So ... Jackie's suggestion of the long long lead **is** the way to go.  Heck, I've carried a *mirror* with me for some dogs determined not to 'trust' me.  But that way when you spy them from a ways off going, you can say "GREAT what a GOOD dog!!" -- shoot, watch the dog while it's in the yard or where it is normally relieving itself.  They just have to pair your consent with the act.

Just 'splainin ...

calliecritturs

It's LOGICAL.  Stop and think about it.  At some point in this dog's life he has stood somewhere near a human who SAW him poop and the human had a major hissy fit!!!

You have no way to know that occured, which makes it an assumption similar to that of a cowering dog having "been abused".

 Cleo has NEVER been discplined for going poop anyplace on lead or off...she STILL will not defecate in front of you...on lead or off. She MUST be around a corner and out of sight. It has always been so.

Some dogs are just PRIVATE and prefer to go in very specific circumstances...hence the term anal retentive being applied to people who show similar antics in different circumstances. Defecation is a vulnerable time and this is why MOST prey species do it as they walk along....dogs are predators and squatting in a prolonged manner is a vulnerable state. SOME dogs simply prefer not to show this vulnerablity to their people or even other animals.

Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar.

rwbeagles

Some dogs are just PRIVATE and prefer to go in very specific circumstances...hence the term anal retentive being applied to people who show similar antics in different circumstances. Defecation is a vulnerable time and this is why MOST prey species do it as they walk along....dogs are predators and squatting in a prolonged manner is a vulnerable state. SOME dogs simply prefer not to show this vulnerablity to their people or even other animals.

yep, I totally agree.