msn Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) Hi there, My one and a half year old Lhasa Apso male dog (Benny) has been snapping at other dogs when they sniff him from the back or go close to his face. He is the sweetest most gentle dog at home. Very nice to people and kids but I don't know what's going on with him recently with other dogs? He's snapped at dogs in the past but these were one off occasions. Recently it's been happening continuously from the past 2 days. Everytime we go to the park and other dogs come around to say hello he growls and launches at them. He doesn't bite or anything but I don't want it to get to that. I've been able to control him but I just want to make sure I'm doing the right things. Also need your feedback on whether or not I can put a stop to this behaviour and how? When he gets into the growling stage I just pull him away from the collar, say no and take him away from the other dogs. Am I doing the right thing? Benny has been to puppy school and dog behavioural training classes and we never had any issues with him then. Plus, I take him to the dog park every evening and so far he's been just fine with socialising with the other dogs that come to the park. The snapping instances are just happenning very often now and with each and every dog who comes along to say hello. I worry what would happen if he pisses off a bigger/ more aggressive dog. I'd appreciate any advice you guys can provide on how I can better control this behaviour and if possible put an end to it. Thanks in advance MN Edited October 20, 2010 by msn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I'm not a trainer and there are many excellent ones on here who will ahve great advice. The only thing I'd do if it were me is not take the dog to the park at all as it appears the snapping behaviour is becoming a habit. the more he does it, the more he'll do it, it you see what I mean. I do feel your frustration and pain, hope you are OK.xxxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) Hi there,My one and a half year old Lhasa Apso male dog (Benny) has been snapping at other dogs when they sniff him from the back or go close to his face. He is the sweetest most gentle dog at home. Very nice to people and kids but I don't know what's going on with him recently with other dogs? He clearly doesn't enjoy meeting new dogs. He's snapped at dogs in the past but these were one off occasions. Recently it's been happening continuously from the past 2 days. Everytime we go to the park and other dogs come around to say hello he growls and launches at them. He doesn't bite or anything but I don't want it to get to that. The answer is very simple. Don't allow other dogs to crowd him. As you cannot rely on other dog owners to do the right thing and keep your dogs away from him, the easiest solution is not to take him to the dog park if there are other users. I've been able to control him but I just want to make sure I'm doing the right things. Also need your feedback on whether or not I can put a stop to this behaviour and how? See my comment above. Not all dogs enjoy the company of strange dogs, particularly strange dogs a lot bigger than they are. Don't put him in this situation. When he gets into the growling stage I just pull him away from the collar, say no and take him away from the other dogs. Am I doing the right thing? No. You're putting him into a situation in which he is clearly uncomfortable and then punishing him for warning other dogs off. Did this behaviour start with growls and did you discipline him for that? Its possible that you've escalated the behaviour. Benny has been to puppy school and dog behavioural training classes and we never had any issues with him then. Plus, I take him to the dog park every evening and so far he's been just fine with socialising with the other dogs that come to the park. The snapping instances are just happenning very often now and with each and every dog who comes along to say hello. I worry what would happen if he pisses off a bigger/ more aggressive dog. So would I. I'd appreciate any advice you guys can provide on how I can better control this behaviour and if possible put an end to it. Stay out of the dog park if there are other users. You can't force a dog to enjoy socialising and this sounds to me like a dog that doesn't want to. Edited October 20, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 It sounds like he is not comfortable when lots of other dogs come up to him and say hi. Maybe he prefers some space - are there lots of dogs coming up and crowding around him at once? Is it with particular types of dogs/temperament dogs (are they very boisterous dogs/in his face/big etc). One thing I would do is not take him to crowded dog parks as he is obviously not enjoying lots of dogs coming up to him at once Maybe find a quiet time when it is not busy or do walks somewhere else for a while until you get it sorted out. Getting the advice of a trainer/behvaiourist would be the most helpful as they could help you with a program to help him feel more comfortable around other dogs and also explain to you why he is behaving in this way. Also, some dogs just don't like being crowded by other dogs or being approached rudely/boisterously by other dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 The only thing I'd do if it were me is not take the dog to the park at all as it appears the snapping behaviour is becoming a habit. the more he does it, the more he'll do it, it you see what I mean. My way of thinking is that if he is feeling pressured by dogs at the park.and has had to resort to snapping... then why do it to him? yes, he needs to be nice to dogs generally, but there must be a reason he has started to snap....and it shows he is not happy. Taking small dogs to dog parks is not compulsory What is he like when leash walking and encountering other dogs? has his behaviour changed AT ALL around home? even something little ....like being less bouncy, or eating slower,or walking different speeds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msn Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hi there,My one and a half year old Lhasa Apso male dog (Benny) has been snapping at other dogs when they sniff him from the back or go close to his face. He is the sweetest most gentle dog at home. Very nice to people and kids but I don't know what's going on with him recently with other dogs? He clearly doesn't enjoy meeting new dogs. He's snapped at dogs in the past but these were one off occasions. Recently it's been happening continuously from the past 2 days. Everytime we go to the park and other dogs come around to say hello he growls and launches at them. He doesn't bite or anything but I don't want it to get to that. The answer is very simple. Don't allow other dogs to crowd him. As you cannot rely on other dog owners to do the right thing and keep your dogs away from him, the easiest solution is not to take him to the dog park if there are other users. I've been able to control him but I just want to make sure I'm doing the right things. Also need your feedback on whether or not I can put a stop to this behaviour and how? See my comment above. Not all dogs enjoy the company of strange dogs, particularly strange dogs a lot bigger than they are. Don't put him in this situation. When he gets into the growling stage I just pull him away from the collar, say no and take him away from the other dogs. Am I doing the right thing? No. You're putting him into a situation in which he is clearly uncomfortable and then punishing him for warning other dogs off. Did this behaviour start with growls and did you discipline him for that? Its possible that you've escalated the behaviour. Benny has been to puppy school and dog behavioural training classes and we never had any issues with him then. Plus, I take him to the dog park every evening and so far he's been just fine with socialising with the other dogs that come to the park. The snapping instances are just happenning very often now and with each and every dog who comes along to say hello. I worry what would happen if he pisses off a bigger/ more aggressive dog. So would I. I'd appreciate any advice you guys can provide on how I can better control this behaviour and if possible put an end to it. Stay out of the dog park if there are other users. You can't force a dog to enjoy socialising and this sounds to me like a dog that doesn't want to. But he's NEVER had an issue socialising, so why now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Maybe as he's gotten older, he is less interested in playing with other dogs and just wants to do his own thing now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) But he's NEVER had an issue socialising, so why now? Perhaps he's now fully mature. Is he desexed? Perhaps there's been a pattern of increasing discomfort you haven't noticed. Perhaps the dogs he's meeting at the dog park are different or there's more of them. Or one dog has rattled him. Perhaps there's been an incident recently that you've not remembered? No trainer can read your dog's mind. What they can read is his response to approaches from strange dogs. That response is very clearly "leave me alone". I strongly recommend you listen to what your dog is trying to tell you. Edited October 20, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 If he's snapped at dog in the past as you mentioned, this may have been building up for some time and he may have learnt that by snapping he can keep the other dogs away. I have a dog who is not everyone's best friend and is a little fearful so I never put her in that position. xxxxx I too would be very worried another dog will take it further so would not risk it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) Just thought of another potential reason - is he carrying any kind of injury or could he be in pain. He'd be a lot more uncomfortable around other dogs if that's the case. Has he been squashed, bounced on, rolled or run over by larger dogs at the park? Edited October 20, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 My advice, do not go to the dog park. Socialise only with known dogs and those who have been introduced politely, make every experience a comfortable, rewarding and positive one for him. For many "socialisation" means a free for all in a dog park and for many dogs the generally rude, pushy and sometimes aggressive behaviour that goes with dog parks is more than they can tolerate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msn Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Just thought of another potential reason - is he carrying any kind of injury or could he be in pain.He'd be a lot more uncomfortable around other dogs if that's the case. Has he been squashed, bounced on, rolled or run over by larger dogs at the park? No he's absolutely fine as far as I know. It's not larger dogs he's snapping at, it's the smaller more bouncier (if you know what I mean) ones. When they are around him doing their own thing he's fine, but when they come near and start sniffing is when he gets aggressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Sounds like he doesn't like dogs getting in his face/bouncing in his face. It is fairly rude dog behaviour, one of my dogs does not like it either. I would avoid those types of dogs. Since it is hard to avoid them at a park, I would avoid going to the park unless those types of dogs are not there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 He's snapped at dogs in the past but these were one off occasions. Recently it's been happening continuously from the past 2 days. I wouldn't do anything until a vet had thoroughly checked him over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 has his behaviour changed AT ALL around home? even something little ....like being less bouncy, or eating slower,or walking different speeds... I'll ask this again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Definitely not suitable for the dog park, he could get attacked just because he's growling etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui835 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) I'm no expert, I have what I would label a 'social butterfly' who just ignores small dogs that try to attack him and wants to be friends with everyone, who is an entire male doberman (go figure). But still I was thinking about your question as to why he suddenly seems to have an issue with socialising out of the blue, and I wondered if that were the case. Potentially, it could have just taken him this long to learn that growling and snapping at other dogs will make them go away - like the cases on Cesar Milan where they learn to avoid strangers patting them (which they've never been comfortable with) by snapping at everyone, but it takes a few experiences for them to learn this. If my dog didn't seem to enjoy it though, I wouldn't try force him. So long as your dog isn't the aggressor - ie doesn't try to charge dogs that are miles away etc and it's only when they approach and try to interact with him, it's not so bad imo. Edited October 20, 2010 by jacqui835 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussienot Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 If after reading this you still want to use the dog park, go yourself and leave your dog at home. He is clearly telling you that he doesn't want other dogs coming up to him. The reason for that behaviour could be medical, and a thorough vet check has been recommended. Or it could well be behavioural. It is most likely that since reaching sexual maturity, his enjoyment has been declining and his frustration has been growing, and you have not been aware of it. He has learned that you won't keep strange dogs from running up to him, so feels he needs to growl to keep a protective barrier around himself. So, who are you pleasing by going there, yourself or your dog? If you want to work on his doggy social skills, do it with a skilled trainer or behaviourist, but the dog park is not the place for him right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msn Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 has his behaviour changed AT ALL around home? even something little ....like being less bouncy, or eating slower,or walking different speeds... I'll ask this again no he's absolutely fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msn Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hi everyone, Thanks so much for your thoughts on my issue. I'm so pleased with the amount of responses and advise I have received. The key take away points are clearly that he doesn't like to be around too many dogs and I need to be more sensitive about this. Point noted. I did however want to bring a few more things to your attention: 1. Ever since Benny was young he never was eager to go down for a walk. For example when I take his leash in my hand to put around his neck, he runs and hides below the table or soemwhere I can't reach him. Eventually he walks out of the apartment nicely but he's never very enthusiastic about it. 2. When he's in the park, he's absolutely fine. Sometimes he plays around with other dogs but mostly he sticks around me and follows me around. 3.. Yesterday at the park he was absolutely fine. The same dogs he snapped at the day before were around but he didn't snap at anyone. They actually didn't all come to sniff him at once (which I think tipped him off the day before) and they kept their distance. Benny didn't seem to mind that at all. 3. This morning Benny's friend Channel (Shitzu) met us while we were going for a walk. Channel is quite a jumpy and excited dog but Benny didn't seem to mind her at all. In fact they even had a bit of a run around chasing each other and played around. Wierd!! Was it just that the past two days he was in a different 'don't disturb me' mood? So, is it up to me to judge what kind of mindset he's in? MN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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