My dog attacked a puppy

too bad about the ear.
There is this thing called "puppy hazing" dog owners should be aware of. Many adult dogs seem to feel a strong need to beat up on puppies between the ages of four and eight months of age. Certain dogs tend to get a bit over-enthusiastic about it and ignore signals from the puppy that they've gone too far. It seems your dog is an over-exuberant puppy hazer. I'd recommend you promptly remove your dog from the dog park in future if any puppies show up. And puppy owners, if you see a dog that is really aggressively going after your puppy, remove your puppy from the situation promptly. Some beating up on puppies is normal and is good for the puppy's social development; but some dogs go too far.

FWIW:

from the pic you posted of bourbon, he doesnt really look like a pit mix to me but it is hard to tell from the way he is laying.

my experiences with the rescues and shelters in our area is that the workers there are quick to lable a dog as a pit mix if the dog even somewhat resemble something that might be a pit mix. [sm=2cents.gif]

Here's another picture of him. Sorry about the glowing eyes, I'm not much of a photographer.

We didn't think he was particularly pit-looking either, but everyone who sees him seems to assume he's a pit. So we figure, what do we know.

As for shelters not coming clean - check out www.petfinder.com. There are tons of "lab mixes", "terrior mixes", etc., that clearly have the pit face, head and body shape. I guess they figure, buyer beware.

Bourbon - the old saying "but for the grace of God, there go I" or something....
My English bulldog was very sweet til she got older, then she would have tore a puppy up if I didn't have her on leash.  My neighbors pup broke free and lunged at my dog in play but my bulldog was in attack mode.   I was holding  them apart with all my might til the owner ran over and grabbed his pup.  She wanted to beat up several other pups as well.   I don't go to dog parks for reasons including disease and worms.  She was only allowed to socailize with my  brothers or parents dogs. 

My BF's dog would routinely beat up my dog when they first met.  Now they have an ok truce.  it's not just pits that pick a certain dog not to like.  Shadow would beat up Kota below in my avatar....  just my [sm=2cents.gif]

I'm no bully breed expert (far from it) but I think Bourbon looks like an AmStaff. He's a nice looking dog! []

Oh my god! Bourbon is ADORABLE.
He can ALWAYS come over and play with my Ella (who is also a pit mix) and I bet they'd get a long GREAT.



The shelter we got Ella from said she was a pit mix. They DID tell me that when I register her for her rabies vacc. to register her as a "terrier mix" though. They said NEVER EVER register her as a pitbull or a pit mix. <---that was in the typed up paperwork they gave me.

I would suggest you enroll your dog into a training class, look for positive training methods.  This will give your dog the opportunity to socialize in a controlled enviroment and it will help you reconize situations that may be potiential problems. 

DOGS WILL BE DOGS.
 
My boys done it twice, one more severe than the other and after that i stoped taking him to the park till i got him neutered. I was just as scared as you seem to have sounded that day. It totally shook me up, and i had to leave him at home for a while......sounds kinda dumb. Mines a mix too, we are prety sure that he is Lab/Rhodisian Ridgeback, but i get people all the time asking if he has pitty in him, and i dont see where they get it at all?
 
My point is that i was very scared to go back to the dog park. I'm no pro, but dogs sence things. They get smells and "vibes" just like humans would, any dog can be aggresive like this. I do not judge at all, but i've seem small dogs like Jack russels that i've totally been concerned about, but dogs will do what they have to do. I'm responsible to take my dog out of the park if i have a worry, i wont put blame on someone else.
 
Unfortunatly, up here in Ontario, Pit Bulls are banned/illegal?? So they are not allowed at dog parks, and have to always be muzzeled. Very unfortunate, i think they, and all dogs, are great.

My Australian Shepherd is a puppy hazer. He was perfectly fine with any and all dogs until he reached 2yrs. One day right out of the blue he walked into the dog park, right up to a new Mastiff puppy and attacked. Thank God no injury. I put him on leash made him stay dowwn for 10 minutes. We began walking (on Leash). As the pup would come close Kobi would bristle. He finally calmed down and he was let off leash and he never bothered with the pup again. I figured it was a one time thing, bad day whatever! Since then he has had many run ins with young pups and I just have to restrict his access to them. Now he's never attacked hard enough to draw blood, but I won't take the chance.
Thank you Muddpuppy for giving it a name. I talked to many trainers and dog savvy people. They could tell me about dog vs dog aggression but had no ideas on puppy targeting. Funny thing is he is fine with big dogs, small dogs, females, male, intact, fixed everything but puppies up to about 6months old! Any thoughts on a dogs reasoning in this situation? Is it dominance?

I was glad to hear a term for it too, since Russell is also a puppy hazer. That's a lot more descriptive than the weird, vague "my dog hates puppies" hrase I have been using.

Dogs that aren't "puppy hazers" can still get "packy" at a dog park and join in to obsess, or to injure, a dog that has been designated a scapegoat by the pack. 
Also, some dogs just get their prey drive turned on by certain dogs.  We had one dog come to class that only chases small white dogs.  Needless to say, we didn't allow him the privilege during class.
Also, there are some dogs that are soooo submissive, and who keep "apologizing" long after it's appropriate.  Some other dogs seem to get tired of it, and get more grumpy at the fraidy dog, instead of being appeased.
Dog behavior is as complex as human behavior, without the benefit of language! []

The OP also mentioned that her dog laid over the pup. I have on occasion witnessed this with Kobi as well. It's not with puppies but often dogs who are being ganged up on or chased by other dogs. I cannot determine whether this is a dominating jester or a protective jester. It never escalates into anything more than him laying over the dog and barking what qppears to be into the air. Yes Anne, they are as complex as any human.

Am I nuts, or am I the only one who is really surprised that the pups owner didn't step in when 10 dogs were surrounding her pup and picking on him?  If it were my pup I would feel very much at fault for allowing this to go on in the first place.
 

No you're not nuts, the lady definitely should have removed her puppy. But I see that happen more often than you'd think. Dogs ganging up on one dog, even a puppy, and the owner just stands there. I think it's some passive aggressive thing like "I shouldn't have to take my dog out, they should" - ?? Just a guess, I don't know.