Pup Doesn't Understand "go Away"

[Elfin]

I have not really had a problem with our 9 month old bitch pup until recently, when the zombie hordes discovered our "private" off-leash park and we now have to contend with a million other dogs when we go for a walk.

She is overly friendly and very submissive. She will literally crawl up to other dogs on her belly, very happy but soooo submissive. She then crawls around the "strange" dog in circles, wagging her tail.

Her size is obviously intimidating to other dogs, and when she gets too much, they will often growl or snap at her. This is fine; she needs to learn her "place" rather than get up in other dogs' faces.

But she continues to try to lick the angry dogs faces... she doesn't understand the obvious "go away" signal these dogs are giving, and I worry that she will be badly bitten one day.

Is it because my two older dogs constantly growl at her when she is being a pain in the ar$e, but never actually "following through" with a well-deserved nip?

Any ideas?

[sas]

Your dog is showing calming signals to the other dogs and you certainly don't want to repremand her for this, however it sounds like because she is so submissive she may be overdoing these calming signals i.e. too much licking.

HOWEVER if she is not suitable for off lead dog parks i.e. if she does not feel comfortable or she is too nutty around the other dogs you probably want to considering removing her from this environment, do some training idealy with a trainer/behaviourist before you return again.

It's not up to other dogs to teach your dog its' place, that's your job

[Elfin]

Your dog is showing calming signals to the other dogs and you certainly don't want to repremand her for this, however it sounds like because she is so submissive she may be overdoing these calming signals i.e. too much licking.

HOWEVER if she is not suitable for off lead dog parks i.e. if she does not feel comfortable or she is too nutty around the other dogs you probably want to considering removing her from this environment, do some training idealy with a trainer/behaviourist before you return again.

It's not up to other dogs to teach your dog its' place, that's your job

Thank you, sas. I was thinking the same thing, but was unsure if i was being an "overprotective mother"!

She gets very excited when she sees other dogs, and while 90% of them are no problem, it is the other 10% that she just doesn't "get".

[Stitch]

She needs to get out amongst other dogs in a controlled situation eg. group dog training classes.

A few months of that and she will be a new dog!

[Elfin]

She needs to get out amongst other dogs in a controlled situation eg. group dog training classes.

A few months of that and she will be a new dog!

Thank you Stitch!

I will be contacting Erny this week to book some group lessons.

[corvus]

Kivi is a bit like that. He tends to think there is a way to approach any dog and he just has to work out what it is through trial and error. I tend to let him make a couple of mistakes then call him away. Some dogs don't stand up for themselves and that's when I'll step in on their behalf and take Kivi away. Some dogs I don't trust and won't let Kivi make any mistakes with.