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ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 10:11 PM Sep 2012

I extremely dislike non-social small dogs at dog parks.

Please don't bring your non-social small dog to the dog park w/big dogs and then get upset when my big dog reacts appropriately to your non-social small dog snapping at my big dog's face.

Am I alone in thinking that by and large small dog owners get away with not socializing their dogs because unlike big dogs they're not seen as being threatening?

Also, I notice pugs in particular being aggressive with big dogs. Am I wrong?

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I extremely dislike non-social small dogs at dog parks. (Original Post) ellisonz Sep 2012 OP
we had a great dane d_r Sep 2012 #1
I totally agree regarding understanding behavior... ellisonz Sep 2012 #6
Some dog parks have separate spaces for large dogs and small ones. I like those. sinkingfeeling Sep 2012 #2
Citronella spray works wonders roody Sep 2012 #3
I'll stick up for the little guys a bit MiniMe Sep 2012 #4
Out local dog park has a large dog and small dog area. avebury Sep 2012 #5
In absence of that division though... ellisonz Sep 2012 #7
After that one time I won't take any of my dogs avebury Sep 2012 #8
our dane d_r Sep 2012 #9

d_r

(6,907 posts)
1. we had a great dane
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 11:28 PM
Sep 2012

loved that dog. but I understamd what you mean, we always felt like it was important to keep him socialized becsuse if he did things that small dogs got away wityh ot could be disastrous.

he passed about six years ago, I still miss him. part of having a big dog though is having big responsibilities.



pugs can be snotty but not all.

web have a female labradeagle from the pound now. we didn't have her from a pup, she is supersweet but I don't 100% trust her in unknown situations- we had her in our neighborhood park a couple weeks ago - a people park for kids. we keep her on leash as the rules state. this lady came in with intact male pug off leash. he comes up and tries to dominate her and they start to go at it, they are small and I leash her back and he wonders off to his lady. a few minutes later his woman is down the way sitting on a bench and here he comes back sniffing around. and I'm like really? and I say 'ok its time to go back home." and the lady smirks at me.

my theory is having a big dog makes you a student of dog behavior because you have to be. I think sometimes if you've only had small ones you've never had to understand dog behavior and so don't get it.

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
6. I totally agree regarding understanding behavior...
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:09 PM
Sep 2012

...and it's especially true when there is a clear pack among the large dogs.

I do tend to see more small dogs off leash. I think people assume that because they're small they can't make any trouble. But if anything were to happen to their small dog OMG tantrum time.

I can be thoroughly responsible for my dog, and still call out the blatant irresponsible behavior of other owners. There were also a mother and a daughter there yesterday with a small dog that it seemed they had just gotten and were just going to literally drop into the dog run with a dozen large dogs.

MiniMe

(21,676 posts)
4. I'll stick up for the little guys a bit
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 11:45 AM
Sep 2012

My mother has a Boston Terrier, he is small but gets along great with most other dogs. He loves my Golden Retriever, and my friend's Lab. He plays with them and runs around with them very nicely. They treat him with respect also. I had him over at another friend's house this past weekend. She has a lab and a golden. He was good with both of them too for a while, but the lab was a young buck, and pushing his bounds. The Boston started growling a bit, nothing serious, just a back off bud growl. Considering how much bigger the lab was than the Boston, I thought he was justified. They got along fine, unless the lab was trying to get too close and tower over the Boston. There wasn't a mean bone in either of their bodies. So I understand what you are saying, but on both sides, good doggie manners are in order here. You may not think your 80 lb dog is threatening to a little dog, but to a 10 or 20lb dog, an 80 lb dog is terrifying on general principal. It could be that the little dog is not socialized, or it could be that the 2 dogs just don't know each other well, and the little guy is being cautious.

avebury

(10,946 posts)
5. Out local dog park has a large dog and small dog area.
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 12:54 PM
Sep 2012

I took my large dog once to the dog park and she is as sweet and mellow as it comes. I had a problem with a large dog who got aggressive and bit her and she wasn't even doing anything at the time. The owner didn't even apologize. We were off to the Vet to have her eye looked at because the other dog got her close to the eye.

Just as you cannot assume all small dogs are bad you cannot assume all large dogs are good.

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
7. In absence of that division though...
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:11 PM
Sep 2012

...you're assuming personal liability for anything that may happen. Don't want your dog to potentially get into a fight, don't bring your dog to a dog park.

avebury

(10,946 posts)
8. After that one time I won't take any of my dogs
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:53 PM
Sep 2012

to the dog park. I recently lost Sandy but she was extremely mellow and very few dogs ever bothered her. I knew that she would never be a threat to another dog at a dog park but, after that one time, I did not trust the other dogs or their owners.

d_r

(6,907 posts)
9. our dane
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:21 PM
Sep 2012

got along well with small dogs. there was a scottie that he loved at the dog park. it would bark and raise cain and the dane would just bounce around. even snippy little dogs he would just look at or maybe try to put a paw on. it was the medium sized 70/80 pound dogs that were trouble for him, the boxer or shephard who wanted to try to dominate a
150 lb. dog because he was the biggest one there. we had a group of big dogs, danes and mastiffs who would wrestle and play. it was magnificant when the danes would run and chase. but sometimes a newbie would show up with a med. size dog off leash, always intact males, that would try to dom. a big dog. they prob. dominated their people at home but people were clueless.. I paid vets bills for stitches a few times during his life.


love and miss that dog, but a 30 pound labradeagle is less worry.

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