Urgent Behavior Question
 

Hey guys, I am really feeling stumped by what just happened on our walk and need some guidance. Let me set up the situation for you...


We take our dogs (2 at a time), nightly to a park where dogs are allowed. We usually bring regular leashes and flexi leashes, since there are many wide open areas and lots of room to stay away from other people/dogs.

However, there are always dogs off leash which is against park rules, but apparently not enforced. Tonight for example there were 8 off leash dogs with their owners no where near them. It was very chaotic.

I had Emma (yorkie/jrt), and McKenzie (yorkie) out today at the park. I had McKenzie and Sean had Emma. Both were on flexi leashes.

We had JUST pulled up and were getting the pups out of the car when an older man with a pomeranian stopped to chat and his pom clearly did not want to play. She showed fearful behavior like backing up and pulling on the leash away, yet he kept dragging her near us.

Mckenzie stayed far away from the pom and was barking her head off (she's 5 months). I think it was out of a mix of fear and apprehension since she is still fairly shy( we are working on socialization).

Sean was talking to the gentleman and allowed Emma to sniff his dog. Then, Emma lunged forward and was growling and baring her teeth slightly while trying to get on top of the other dog.

She did not bite or harm the other dog, but it was a very scary situation for both of us seeing as it happened in a split second. The flexi leash was not locked as Emma was not at a far distance and Sean was allowing her to sniff.

Immediately, we switched to a regular leash, and will be continuing to use only regular leashes after this incident, although we've never had a problem with the flexis since we pay so much attention to the dogs.

I guess I'm looking for some guidance on why this might have happened or what I can do to correct this.

I don't know if it was the mix of excitement of being in the car/going to the park/as soon as getting out of the car seeing this dog.

I don't know if it was McKenzie barking and Emma feeling protective?

She has never shown this sort of behavior and has been around numerous dogs, doggy play dates, meet ups. She's always been nothing but sweet and playful.

I'm horribly embarrassed and I keep thinking "what if" it was a bite or a nip, or anything that would have harmed the other dog?

I would have been inconsolable if one of my dogs had harmed someone else's and I'm so thankful that this time it was nothing more than a growl... but it makes me very on edge and unsure of what to do next.

Can someone please help me?

i know how you feel.. it is so embarassing especially if it is TOTALLY out of character for your dog. I know there is such a thing as leash aggression.. and most dog park should have a rule that all dogs be OFF LEASH. i think they feel a bit out of control when they are attached to you and maybe she felt the need to protect you. Layla does the same thing if i am holding her so now if we are going to be around other dogs i have to walk her in on her leash so she can be an equal to them. I'm not sure what the answer is because your park has to be on leash... i'm sure someone on here will have suggestions... i just wanted you to know i know how you felt... it is embarassing but we've all been there!!!

Thank you so much. It was something she has never done before and I instantly started crying because I was embarrassed and shocked.

I feel like we work so hard on training, and it was just a 180 from her usual personality.

Then DH kept saying "oh, she's just a BAD dog" and that made me feel worse. I was talking out loud about why she would have done that, and he just kept saying oh, she's just being bad.. and I know he doesn't mean that, but at the time I was so sensitive about it.

Layla did the same at obedience and i started crying too.... i felt JUST horrible... but i think it was a combination for your pup... of being on her leash... near a dog that wasn't friendly (which i think she - like Layla- expects EVERY dog to be....) and she wanted to protect you. Layla has a strong drive to protect me. WHen i go pick her up at her day care (she LOVES going) she is so happy to see me that she snaps and growls at the other pups there... i ignore her (DON"T PICK HER UP!!! all you are saying is.. good job with the biting!!) and wont' pick her up until she settles down. i am actually nervous to go back to obeidence (where she seems to have the most aggression towards other dogs... small room.. big dogs.. she's tiny... i see her point) but keep in mind if you are nervous next time you go there.. she will pick up on that... and help her out... dont' go near a dog that is not friendly... now i always ask.. and if they dont' say a definite yes.... we keep walking... and when she is good and friendly sniffing... i am always telling her what a good girl she is... i find now that she is snapped once.... she'll do it again if she needs... so i try and not let her be put in situations where that wil happen (ie.. in my arms)

Do you HAVE to go to the dog park? They are VERY dangerous situations - especially for Yorkies.

When a group of dogs get together they pack up - it is instinctive. It makes their agressiveness x's 10, their PROTECTIVENESS x's 10.

8 dogs off leash and runnng "happily" together had become a pack. A new dog comes and it's the odd man out. Perhaps 9 times out of 10 it will be accepted into the group without a problem. However that 1 time, if the top dog decides to exhert his dominance it can happen LIKE LIGHTENING!

And for a Yorkie even a small bite can be serious.

Your dog may have felt threatened and been "getting in the first word". It is kindof a misnomer that dogs have to "play together" with eachother like human children do. You dog should play with YOU and bond with YOU.

If you get a chance take a look at the leerburg.com website and see what he says about dog parks. He explains it MUCH better than I can.

If you don't HAVE to do - DON'T! Why take the chance?

Angela <><

It isn't a true dog park, it's just a public park with lots of softball fields where dogs are allowed.

Unfortunately today, there were many many dogs off leash with a group of people. Usually there are one or two off leash dogs, but there is enough space to distance ourselves from others.

But the dog that Emma growled at was one that was on leash, and not even bothering her. They sniffed and Emma just started growling.. which is something in her year of life is something I've never seen her do. The other dog was doing nothing to her whatsoever.

I will check out the link that you gave though! Thanks!

Just a thought, I'm far from an expert, but because the other dog was very scared and shy, yours may have picked up on that decided to show her dominance over the scared one.

I thought that too, because Emma was literally trying to jump on top of the other dog.

If she was going to attack, I feel she would have just lunged and bitten the other dog, which she didn't... just the growling and jumping.

This is really helping me to get others opinions. I feel just beside myself right now.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I think this is your answer...

Cali who is my real sweet laid back yorkie went after Pixie yesterday over a bone. SHe has never done this before. Later they were kissing each other. Also, my grumpy Pom will guard the food bowls when Cali is eating and chase after Pixie is she tries to eat at the same time. I think sometimes they are reacting to a situation or protecting ne another. It was most likely a very isolated incident.

:thumbup: :thumbup: I also agree that this is possibly what happened. The Pom may have been read by your dogs as "unbalanced" and therefore "unpredictable". Both your dogs may have picked up on this (the younger one was barking her head off), and someone had to take the upper role, so Emma did.