Link Had A Fight

[Mobezilla]

Today at the dog park, Link and another dog got into a fight as we were about to leave. I always have Link's leash on (and let it drag) so when he starts trouble I can grab him. Well he and this other dog were grumbling at eachother because Link was under the dog sniffing his 'area' and being too close and wouldn't back off, so I grab his leash and decide to pull him away so we can leave. Right as I pull on his leash, the other dog (twice Link's size) jumped on him and attacked him. In the process the other dog got my arm, not fun :/ The other dog pinned Link to the ground and all the time both were snarling and biting at eachother. I couldn't do anything but as they calmed down the other owner was able to grab his dog and pull him off. The other dog is pretty friendly, but I know he can always get aggressive about 'his space'. So I guess my question would be is it safe to take Link to the dog park? He often gets needlessly in other dogs space, although he's finally stopped humping other dogs, he still tries to dominate them. Then if the answer is no, stop taking him, do you think Link will be alright with this other dog once he's neutered? The dog is there quite often and I've not seen it get into a fight like this before, and I've never seen Link get into a fight before, but I need to do what I have to make sure everybodys dogs stay safe. :/

[Sarah]

Aww hope he is ok, and are you ok??

When does he get neutered?

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[Bob & Juno]

When I take Juno to the dog park,  I always get a long long walk for her before going into the park, it takes that (edge) off her and she is better behaved while at the park. We also stay outside of the fence and we watch the dogs to see if there are any (wild ones)  first before heading in.  Hope both of you are ok.

[mydiamond]

oh no I hope you and Link are alright maybe you can teach Link the command "back off" so that you can ask him to back away whenever he starts invading other dog's personal space? Because I think even if you don't take him to the dog park anymore but if the behavior persists he might meet the wrong kind of dog and get into a fight again

[Mobezilla]

Aww hope he is ok, and are you ok??

When does he get neutered?

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He is completely fine, I think I got the only bite from the other dog as I checked him over and couldnt find anything. I'm going to make his appointment as soon as I get my tax refund but I don't want to schedule it until I get money for it so roughly 3 weeks

 

When I take Juno to the dog park,  I always get a long long walk for her before going into the park, it takes that (edge) off her and she is better behaved while at the park. We also stay outside of the fence and we watch the dogs to see if there are any (wild ones)  first before heading in.  Hope both of you are ok.

We were there a good two hours and he had been running and burning energy the whole time, hadn't had any problems with any dogs until that dog came in. 

 

oh no I hope you and Link are alright maybe you can teach Link the command "back off" so that you can ask him to back away whenever he starts invading other dog's personal space? Because I think even if you don't take him to the dog park anymore but if the behavior persists he might meet the wrong kind of dog and get into a fight again

It all happened so fast, the fight happened before I could even give Link a command. I was pulling him away regardless as Link doesn't have very good manners yet (I just got him last week) and is still very nosy and rude towards dogs. I feel the other dog was partially at fault.. I mean most dogs don't attack other dogs just cause a dog is sniffing too close to their junk. They usually just growl or warn them hey, get away. My main worry is him getting into a fight with the same dog, even after neutering, as they're there quite often?

[Jay]

I am worried about taking Kodiak to a dog park because I am afraid he will get into a fight there.  Him and Nikko have gotten into a few but I think in time he will be good

[Mobezilla]

I am worried about taking Kodiak to a dog park because I am afraid he will get into a fight there.  Him and Nikko have gotten into a few but I think in time he will be good

Link hasn't had any major fights with my two.. only one with Cloud when he first came home over dominance

[ponder85]

Let me make sure I got this straight, you keep a leash tied to your dog in the park?

My park doesn't allow unaltered dogs, probably bc of reasons like this. Most of the problems I've seen there have been owners that break that rule, and bring their dog anyway. That dog will always create tension.

How old is Link?

[Jay]

None of our parks say anything about unaltered dogs, only females in season that are issues.  

[Mobezilla]

Let me make sure I got this straight, you keep a leash tied to your dog in the park?

My park doesn't allow unaltered dogs, probably bc of reasons like this. Most of the problems I've seen there have been owners that break that rule, and bring their dog anyway. That dog will always create tension.

How old is Link?

None of our parks say anything about unaltered dogs, only females in season that are issues.  

 

As Jason said, having an un-altered dog is not against the rules, only females in season. Link is a year and a half. And yes, I keep a short 4 ft leash on him that drags out so when he tries to hump other dogs or act inappropriately  I can grab him and put him in time out. I've found it is the best method as he doesn't like his collar being grabbed at, and no before you ask he does not have leash aggression and has already been to the dog park a few times without any problems like this before. Both my other two are fixed so it's not like I'm purposefully trying to be an ignorant dog owner. If you haven't seen my posts before, I just got Link a couple weeks ago. He's come a long way in dog park behavior since then and has almost stopped humping dogs altogether, but never before have I seen him get into a fight like this before. The reason he is unneutered is simply due to the fact the old owners never saw to it.

[RedJasper]

I don't trust dog parks.  It may help once he is neutered.  I was told that neutering Rusty may help Vader aggression.  I dunno though.  I think dogs are like people we get along with some and not others.  I think whenever there is unleashed play you always have the possibility of fights.  Same with doggie day cares that let the dogs run around.

[ponder85]

As Jason said, having an un-altered dog is not against the rules, only females in season. Link is a year and a half. And yes, I keep a short 4 ft leash on him that drags out so when he tries to hump other dogs or act inappropriately  I can grab him and put him in time out. I've found it is the best method as he doesn't like his collar being grabbed at, and no before you ask he does not have leash aggression and has already been to the dog park a few times without any problems like this before. Both my other two are fixed so it's not like I'm purposefully trying to be an ignorant dog owner. If you haven't seen my posts before, I just got Link a couple weeks ago. He's come a long way in dog park behavior since then and has almost stopped humping dogs altogether, but never before have I seen him get into a fight like this before. The reason he is unneutered is simply due to the fact the old owners never saw to it.

I've not seen your posts in regards to Link before. Congrats on the addition.

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/how-will-neutering-change-my-dog

See, behavioral changes -> social problems

A quick google search will reveal other sources saying basically the same thing: neutered and intact dogs can have issues around one another.

In my 2.5 yrs of regular attendance at my local park, I've never seen a dog running freely with a leash on (well, not intentionally allowed to run freely, seen leashes get dropped and dogs take advantage). Obviously that doesn't make it wrong, but I would be concerned for his safety as it could get stepped on or snagged on something.

How does he react when you grab his collar?

For the record, I'm not accusing you of being a poor dog owner. Just asking questions and giving my opinions... which is what the forum is here for.

[Its_A_Husky_Thing]

As someone said earlier...they just may not get along, and never will. Like humans don't like another human for some reason, dogs will do the same thing. I wouldn't worry too much about it, once he is neutered it will probably help alittle bit.

 

Gunner, our youngest one...there is one dog that comes down to the dog park on occasion that they just don't get along. There is always a fight or two between them. But Gunner plays with ALL other dogs, just that one. We just break it up and send them on their own ways.

[Steve]

I think leaving the leash on is a better alternative than having to grab his collar, and you've got a better chance of grabbing the lead. A friend of mine with a small terrier did this for a while, until he got to the point where he could be completely trusted off the lead.

An instructor at a dog training class told me never to put your hand into a dog fight, as invariably you will come off worse than the dogs. This instructor then proceeded to do exactly that when her dog go into a minor scuffle with my Keeshond. Not a mark on the dogs, and she took a bite to the hand (we don't know which dog). She said afterwards she could not believe she was so stupid to put her hand in after lecturing people on not to for so long, but instinct kicked in!

Neutering definitely does improve dogs in my opinion, not just how they approach other dogs, but how other dogs perceive yours. Even so, there will always be the odd dog that you will need to be careful of.

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

Hope your both ok, make sure u really part the fur well to check him over , when skyla got attacked I didn't spot one wound on her straight away because the fur is so thick

[lebe03]

As the other dog is regularly at the dog park do you know the owner?  I ask as was wondering if you could arrange to socialise the two of them together perhaps by taking them on a walk a couple of times to see how they get on.  It seems to me that maybe Link was ignoring the other dogs signals to the point that the other dog had enough and  corrected the unwanted behaviour. 

[Mobezilla]

I don't trust dog parks.  It may help once he is neutered.  I was told that neutering Rusty may help Vader aggression.  I dunno though.  I think dogs are like people we get along with some and not others.  I think whenever there is unleashed play you always have the possibility of fights.  Same with doggie day cares that let the dogs run around.

The plan is to get him neutered. I still worry.

 

I've not seen your posts in regards to Link before. Congrats on the addition.

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/how-will-neutering-change-my-dog

See, behavioral changes -> social problems

A quick google search will reveal other sources saying basically the same thing: neutered and intact dogs can have issues around one another.

In my 2.5 yrs of regular attendance at my local park, I've never seen a dog running freely with a leash on (well, not intentionally allowed to run freely, seen leashes get dropped and dogs take advantage). Obviously that doesn't make it wrong, but I would be concerned for his safety as it could get stepped on or snagged on something.

How does he react when you grab his collar?

For the record, I'm not accusing you of being a poor dog owner. Just asking questions and giving my opinions... which is what the forum is here for.

I'm sorry not gonna lie I was in a pissy mood the other day. Between the dog bite, spilling my plate on myself at dinner, and unneedlessly damaging something thats quite costly on accident, I had a horrid day. He shies away and acts like I'm going to hit him and doesn't let me grab his collar at all, and the leash is only 4ft so no dogs step on it or get caught. 

 

As someone said earlier...they just may not get along, and never will. Like humans don't like another human for some reason, dogs will do the same thing. I wouldn't worry too much about it, once he is neutered it will probably help alittle bit.

 

Gunner, our youngest one...there is one dog that comes down to the dog park on occasion that they just don't get along. There is always a fight or two between them. But Gunner plays with ALL other dogs, just that one. We just break it up and send them on their own ways.

Yeah.. hoping he doesn't hold a grudge lol

 

I think leaving the leash on is a better alternative than having to grab his collar, and you've got a better chance of grabbing the lead. A friend of mine with a small terrier did this for a while, until he got to the point where he could be completely trusted off the lead.

An instructor at a dog training class told me never to put your hand into a dog fight, as invariably you will come off worse than the dogs. This instructor then proceeded to do exactly that when her dog go into a minor scuffle with my Keeshond. Not a mark on the dogs, and she took a bite to the hand (we don't know which dog). She said afterwards she could not believe she was so stupid to put her hand in after lecturing people on not to for so long, but instinct kicked in!

Neutering definitely does improve dogs in my opinion, not just how they approach other dogs, but how other dogs perceive yours. Even so, there will always be the odd dog that you will need to be careful of.

I didn't purposefully put my hand into the fight, I had his leash on my wrist as we were about to go and when the dog lunged at Link, my arm got dragged forward and bit before I could even react. My only instinct was to get Link away from this other dog before a fight happened but it happened before I could even prevent it lol.

 

Hope your both ok, make sure u really part the fur well to check him over , when skyla got attacked I didn't spot one wound on her straight away because the fur is so thick

Yeah I brushed him and checked him completely over, he's 100% fine

 

As the other dog is regularly at the dog park do you know the owner?  I ask as was wondering if you could arrange to socialise the two of them together perhaps by taking them on a walk a couple of times to see how they get on.  It seems to me that maybe Link was ignoring the other dogs signals to the point that the other dog had enough and  corrected the unwanted behaviour. 

Yeah they're a regular.. however the dog can be really pushy and although it usually doesnt start fights can be dominant towards some dogs. Don't know him well enough to make playdates, but yeah, link DEFINITELY ignores dogs warnings. I have to step in and tell him 'hey, that dogs telling you to get away' otherwise these fights happen!