Attack or Correction?!?

drive away. If you visit your local dog park regularly, you will quickly learn to recognize certain dogs whose presence tells you it's time to go home NOW. Their owners are usually completely clueless so appealing to them to do something, or maybe not bring their dogs to the dog park, is pointless.

Christina, I think I was away when you got a second dog! Are you fostering or is he yours for good?
 
I would say that incident sounds more like bullying that puppy-correction. When adult dogs correct a puppy the intent is usually to get him to calm down or walk away, so they wouldn't normally pursue him and keep pushing the point. I've met dogs who hate all puppies but can be easily called away by their owners and are content to just ignore puppies unless approached by them. The ACD sounds more like a bully and possibly having dominance aggression. I think you did what you could, though... the only other thing you might do is ask the woman point blank to come get her dog before he attacks.

Tell the Biatch to control her dog!!!

Okay, maybe don't use the "B" word.  But tell her that "you" are not comfortable with the way her dog is behaving around your puppy.  Maybe when she said "Oh he's just being protective," you should have said, "Well I'm being protective of my pup and I think you should come leash your dog."

Not that I know much about dog behavior, but that sounded like an attack to me.  I'd be furious if another dog actually bit Joey. I'd be screaming mad.  Of course, I'd probably pick Joey up, which I know is a no-no.

I'm sorry that happened to Jack.  I know in situations like that I'm too shocked to do what I should.  I always think about it afterwards, like, "I should have said this, or that."  But never do I  think of that during the situations.

Was your pup injured?
 
As a dominant breed owner formerly (Akitas) I can tell you nothing truly upsets the overly dominant dog more than inappropriate sniffing. Dominant dogs sniff...they are themselves rarely sniffed by others. I've seen many a tiff start when there's posturing, even submissive by another dog then they go to sniff the butt of the dog they're trying to appease. It just always seems to start something. It seems esp prevalent if the submissive sniffer is a puppy around 6-10 months of age. they get VERY little leash from older dogs at that age I noticed.
 
This dog was overly dominant becuase biting the face might've been appropriate (from the canine point of view) if the youngster were bouncing, mounting, and being rude in other ways aside from the sniff....most times it's quick scary looking mouthing with no injury.
 
ACD's are not known for being same sex friendly...and tend to like things their own way when it comes to other dogs. Combo of the above most likely.
 
What to do? Well I avoid all off leash dogs when possible...I'd have not unloaded my dog at all. If my dog is on leash he's at a disadvantage and that can set them up to be leash aggressive or defensive in future.
 
Just my .02

Jack's ours.  He's a 17 wk old chocolate lab.  He's a happy little guy but I never realized how well behaved Sally is until I got a lab pup....
 
This is actually the second dog he's had go after him.  The first time was when he was about 13 wks at my vet's Halloween party.  There was a GSD in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  His handler had him up on a grooming table (she had been doing a demo) and I asked if it was OK for Jack to greet him.  She said it was fine and they sniffed noses and did well.  The GSD's handler said that she would put him on the ground to play.  They greeted on the ground and I held Jack back so the handler could make the GSD sit.  I was leaning down, holding him around his front, and the GSD lunged forward and snapped at him.  The handler scolded him and the dog lunged again, barking this time.  The handler was very apologetic and made a point of coming and petting Jack after she put her dog away.
 
I'm concerned that he will become afraid.  Yesterday I had him at the park and a couple was walking their GSDs off leash (outside the dog park) and one of them ran up to the dog park fence.  Jack came within 15 or 20 ft of the fence and the GSD barked at him, and he turned tail and ran back to me.  He is in a puppy class with GSDs and seems to have no issue with them.
 
Jojo--"Shep" is a brown and white ACD, just so you know when you take Joey there.
 

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

Was your pup injured?
 
As a dominant breed owner formerly (Akitas) I can tell you nothing truly upsets the overly dominant dog more than inappropriate sniffing. Dominant dogs sniff...they are themselves rarely sniffed by others. I've seen many a tiff start when there's posturing, even submissive by another dog then they go to sniff the butt of the dog they're trying to appease. It just always seems to start something. It seems esp prevalent if the submissive sniffer is a puppy around 6-10 months of age. they get VERY little leash from older dogs at that age I noticed.
 
This dog was overly dominant becuase biting the face might've been appropriate (from the canine point of view) if the youngster were bouncing, mounting, and being rude in other ways aside from the sniff....most times it's quick scary looking mouthing with no injury.
 
ACD's are not known for being same sex friendly...and tend to like things their own way when it comes to other dogs. Combo of the above most likely.
 
What to do? Well I avoid all off leash dogs when possible...I'd have not unloaded my dog at all. If my dog is on leash he's at a disadvantage and that can set them up to be leash aggressive or defensive in future.
 
Just my .02

 
No, thankfully he was not hurt.  Jack is a little over 4 months.  The weird thing is that Jack wasn't jumping or trying to sniff his butt of anything.  If he was being exuberant I'd probobly just chalk it up to him stepping over the line.  Actually, I was a bit surprised with how subdued he was being, but I can't say that he did not sniff first.

Stupid quetion: what's a ACD?

Australian Cattle Dog.

Sounds like bullying; tho not an all out attack, not correction either. When Maggie corrects a pup she does a hard eye, freezes slightly and then does a nice air snap about 1/2" from the dog's nose; this is generally warranted by outright rude behavior from the other dog like body slamming or humping. When she's being a bully she'll do much what you described: roll the other dog and stand over them growling, she'll chase if they run, but never draws blood and rarely even leaves drool. She's only been truly aggressive (IMO) with two dogs and both times those altercations resulted in blood being drawn on both sides.

I'd say he's a bit young to be triggering the adolescent thing in an adult dog. Some dogs really just key in on weakness and like to pick on it...just like some people do. I believe Erin said as much.
 
I could see Herding breeds being worse about this because their whole work is really based on bullying weak minded or willed animals into doing something they don't want to do...and ACD's are some of the more "aggressive" workers of livestock I believe...as cattle take a bit more oomph to move than sheep.
 
As for the fear thing do be aware of fear periods and when the begin so you can avoid things like big first time experiences that might not go well at that time. Diong familiar things or visiting familiar dogs who's reactions are a known quantity is probably safer during those times.
 
ETA: please don't think I mean your pup is weak minded lol...I mean only that being young, submissive, and a pup is itself...a weak state...and may trigger the instinct I mention.

 
 

Thank you.  I've seen lots of Australian Cattle dogs there.  Why would someone leave their dog off leash outside of an off leash dog park?  Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.  Why would you bother taking your dog to an off leash dog facility if you leave your dog off leash anyways?[&o]

When I first pulled in she was in her car in that little parking area across the street with the dog OUTSIDE the car.  I actually asked if it was her dog at first.  She then drove across the street with the dog following the car and parked in the dog park parking lot.  I know there is one other dog aggressive ACD there but the owners will tell you right away before you even get close.