poodlefan

So you can't catch the dog in the act and discipline it but you can't do nothing. This is occurring in the dog's home and not to every visitor. Practically speaking Corvus, what's your solution?

The fact that you allow your dog to behave unacceptably towards people tells me quite a bit about who's running the show between you. A dog is not a method of furthering your likes and dislikes because you don't have the courage to confront these people. That's what's happening now. You allow your dog to display territorial dominance and to intimidate people you don't like. Dress it up anyway you like but that's what he's doing and right now you don't know how far he'll take the behaviour or what he'll do if one of those people decides to call him on it. Seriously think about the consequences of this pattern of behaviour and shut it down. You really don't want to be one of those folk we see on the front page of the newspaper going "but Sammy was a lovely dog who never hurt anyone". There's a pattern of behaviour here that should worry you and does worry people who know a fair bit about dogs. There's always a first time a dog decides to bite and you seriously do not want to be tolerating behaviour that might encourage that incident to occur.

You're not upset that your dog urinates on people? If you aren't, seriously you need to rethink this. The consequences for it might be a good belting or a boot from someone. Protect your dog by improving his behaviour or by keeping him away. You're OK for your dog think anything goes with some people? You're OK for him to intimidate and dominate them? Again, what will happen if someone objects to his behaviour or if he decides to up the ante with someone. The potential consequences are that your much loved pet will have a dangerous dog declaration and his life seriously curtailed. Someone could also be seriously injured. You need to focus on the potential consequences of allowing this kind of behaviour to continue. Regardless of whether or not you think this behaviour is acceptable, the facts are that others don't and its your dog that is at risk of the consequences. This is a Dobermann we're talking about. He's not a lap dog. Either control his behaviour to protect him AND ensure that he behaves appropriately or the consequences may be disastrous. This boy's unpapered isn't he? If that's the case and/or you have no intention of breeding from him, I'd be getting him desexed.

Solution 1 - don't leave people alone with your dog if its is clear that they are uncomfortable with him. Put the dog away. Good manipulator your dog. Did YOU tell him off for peeing on people? He's reading you like a book. Frankly, I think you should be concerned about your dog's behaviour. He sounds way too big for his boots and unsuitable to be loose in social situations. Put him away or risk undesirable consequences.

You dog is displaying dominance. He is marking 'territory'. I doubt your likes and dislikes have anything to do with it beyond perhaps you not being as vigilant about your dog's behaviour around folk you don't like. What can you do? Confine the dog outside or in a crate when you have visitors. Its utterly unacceptable to have your clothing or body peed on by someone's dog. I'm guessing your dog is entire?

What, the dog parks you don't go to? Did you all see the little dog 'chase' the bigger pup under a chair with friendly tail wags? Those would be the dog parks I walk past, drive past and listen to the stories of other users here. Then I get to see the scars and the drains put in dogs I meet out and about. The dog attack reported last week occurred in one of the three Canberra dog parks Corvus. All I can say is count your blessings if your local is good but you yourself say you avoid some dog parks. And didn't the bigger pup just love the attention of the smaller dog... NOT. He crawled under the chair to avoid him. His demeanor the entire time was unhappy. I wonder how that scenario would play out if there wasn't an escape.

I don't think you have explained how controlled socialisation of dogs with other dogs relates to BSL, which has nothing to do with dog to dog behaviour. But you're under no obligation to.

Vet behaviourists are like animal psychiatrists. They have behavioural qualifications AND they can prescribe drugs to dogs.

Blackdogs: Reread the title of your thread and you might be able to see why I focussed on whether or not the video showed "play". It seemed to be the point you were focussed on making. I agree that there is play. However there is not play between breeds of disparate size or between a wide range of dogs. Furthermore, Im not sure how this video contributes to any BSL issue. I've had my fair share of close encounters of the worst kind with dogs of fighting ancestry who've been interested in doing damage to my dogs. The presence of one of those breeds would stop me in my tracks if i didn't know the dog. That hasn't led me to conclude they should be wiped from the face of the earth and frankly when I don't have my dogs with me, they are usually dogs I'm pleased to see. As I said, this is an excellent example of controlled socialisation. I'd love to see it pinned in the puppy thread.

I'm pro dog parks. I'm just anti the kind of person who thinks that their dog should be able to do anything it likes in them and bugger everyone else because "the dogs will sort it out". I will also tell you that management and control will not make some dogs suitable for the kind of activity you see in that video. No amount of socialisation will override the behaviour hard wired into some dogs. And some breeds will be over represented in the "this is not for my dog" category. Great Danes are not one of the breeds I worry about by the way. Maybe we differ on what you mean by play. Wagging your tail ain't playing where I come from. Most canine play behaviour mimics hunting or fighting activity. It's practice for it. There's at least one dog in that video not enjoying the situation.. can you spot it?

My money would be on temporary pressure on a disc or the spinal cord. Partial paralysis has to come from somewhere. Agree that chiro would be a good idea. I would also restrict that kind of play activity.

I'm not "tearing the post to pieces". I'm disagreeing what you say the video represents. It is not an "allbreeds play session". Dogs greeting, sniffing and moving away from one another are NOT 'playing'. What you're watching is controlled socialisation in which a few offlead dogs play. Given the situation, I'd be very surprised to see a brawl. What you have to ask yourself of course is why so many dogs are on lead. The answer would appear to be to control the number of offlead dogs and restrict any of those whose reactions may not be known. Very sensible socialisation under the supervision of a trainer. It should be shown to all baby puppy owners as an example of what 'controlled socialisation' looks like. As I said, you won't see it done that way down the dog park. You may also care to note that BSL hysteria relates to how dogs interact with humans. I can tell you for a fact that there are entire breeds that I am wary of with regard to their interactions with other dogs because some breeds have been selectively bred for dog to dog aggression. The more the differentiation is made between dog to to dog aggression and dog to human aggression is made the better IMO. Whether or not a dog plays nicely with other dogs is no indicator of how it will be with people.

To reiterate, there's not a lot of 'playing in harmony' going on in that video. Not all interaction is 'play'. A few dogs of roughly equivalent size play but that's it.

Agree - to a point. Any interaction between a 3kg dog and a 65kg dog will have its issues. Some breeds also have temperaments that will make them more or less open to play invitations from others.

A few observations: Whilst many breeds are present, not all dogs interact. A significant number of dogs are on lead. There is heavy owner supervision and control. I don't think any of it is a bad thing but if someone was to suggest that this is a good example of why all dogs can play together "in harmony" , I'm not sure it proves it. It certainly doesn't resemble what I see happening at local dog parks where its more of a free for all.

In most of the puppy or junior foods I'm familiar with, there is MORE fat than the adult version. I feed Royal Canin Medium Junior to Howie - and he's three!!

Look at all the people parked in here oooh best in show Whippet!!

No worries. I appreciate that its hard to read people posting dispassionately when you have a dog or dogs in the firing line.

To be quite frank, unless they have papers, I doubt they WILL pass a simple exam.

Criminal legislation is criminal law PS.. no two ways about it. Not all other legislation is civil law either. Civil law is the law that governs disputes between individuals and organisations. Any legislation passed by any Parliament is law. The Constitution defines some law created or implemented in this country but not all. It says "here are the powers of the Commonwealth and the States have the rest". It has no bill of rights.

Legislation IS law.

Steve: Unless of course, both breeds carry recessive genes for genetically identical PRA. You know, breeds like Labradors and Poodles. :cool:

:thumbsup: So where do you find a constitutional lawyer and how much do they cost ? Don't waste your time. The Constitution limits the powers of one government only - the Federal Government. None of the laws being made about dogs are Federal laws and I honestly doubt that you'd find any basis in the Constitution to challenge them. A whole bunch of laws apply to those harming others - mostly criminal law. Civil law regulates the conduct of court matters between litigants in non-criminal matters. Common law is simply "judge made" law that fills gaps in our legal system. You'd have a better bet with a good property lawyer IMO.. start with the basis of compensation for seized property and see how much the State is prepared to pay for all this seized and destroyed dogs.

Fuzzy: The dog has learnt that if the owner comes to take something, it will get a reward. That behaviour does not always translate into the dog allowing anyone (and in particular children) to take food. It may not translate into a situation outside a normal meal (as a friend of mine found out the hard way). Anyone who routinely allows their kids to interfere with a dog when eating is allowing an unsafe practice IMO and its a particularly risky behaviour to inculcate in a child who may well do the same thing to a strange dog. "Leave dogs alone when they are eating" protects dogs and children. Anyone who thinks otherwise is placing dogs and children at risk. End of story.

Pup will work for you if you establish a pattern of that behaviour resulting in reward. I would also establish a pattern of allowing the pup to experience the world without the other dog present. They need to have sufficient independence not to fall apart if the older dog isn't around. That can happen for a range of reasons and will happen permanently one day. Short walks, training sessions etc with just the pup and you will help.