Sudden dog aggression???

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

So we've had Pongo, our 1 year old doodle since August when he was about 7months. We also have Lola, our 6 year old doodle whom he gets along with very well. We've taken him to the dog park several times, and he did fine. I went with him today and before we even got to the entrance gate, he was snarling and lunging at every dog he saw. Luckily, I was meeting with our dog walker (also a trainer) to hang out while the dogs ran around. She saw what he was doing and immediately took over, got him to submit and calm down. She had a muzzle in her car so we put it on him and went into the park (keeping his leash on as well). After a good 20 minutes of freaking out, he did calm down, but did snarl got pretty aggressive with a few dogs up until the time we left. Where did this come from?? My dog walker recommended aggression training, which we're of course going to do...but does anyone have any additional advice we can start working on?????? Thanks in advance!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

So before today he was not dog reactive in any way?  I don't think I would have brought him into the dog park in that state of mind.  Muzzling a dog in a dog park would not be something I would be comfortable with.  It places them at a distinct disadvantage and does nothing to get them back into the right state of mind....they can actually become even more fear aggressive.  I'm a little surprised that this was your trainer's strategy....they all have different viewpoints, but I know this would not be something my trainer would recommend.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I think I was just so shocked that I wasn't thinking at all! Before today, he would get excited walking by other dogs, but was always very polite at the dog park. We didn't let him play or anything at the dog park, I think she was just trying to get him to be able to walk around and be able to "ignore" the other dogs there. If I didn't have her there, I would have gone home and ignored the whole thing, which I don't think would have helped either. I'm just so surprised that I don't know what to do...or what I should have done!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Our Murphy is very dog reactive, and I can share how we handle the dog park.  It starts before we get out of the car....basically he's not allowed out until he's calm.  Then walking into the fenced are is very controlled and I carefully watch his state of mind.  The second I see him start to get tense (for him it shows in his ears and tail) we stop and sit and wait as long as it takes to calm down.  We NEVER move forward until he's calm.  One day it took 40 minutes to get from the car to the inside of the dog park.  Our dog park has a little area where you can remove the leashes before they actually enter.  I put him in a sit and then I go into the dog park and "claim it".....just walk around confidently and calmly.  Then I invite him in, but I watch his state of mind closely.  If I see anything I don't like we leave immediately.  Before we enter I also size up the energy of the other dogs....if I don't like what I see we leave.  When in the park I don't interact with any other dogs...that's a trigger for Murph.  I also never touch a ball (and there are tons of them)....that also is a trigger.  We don't go often, but when we do we use it as an opportunity to "practice".  Good luck....I know this isn't easy.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Thanks, Jane! That all makes a lot of sense to me! I'm going to give it a try this week.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I just read your response to AnnaBelle's guarding situation. I don't think that Pongo is guarding me because he isn't showing any of the body signs that you mentioned regarding that, but I liked your solution to it, it made perfect sense! 

[Adina P]

Until you work on his reaction with purposefully planned training, I would keep him out of the dog park.  No reason to stress him out there.  Dog parks really are only for a very few types of dogs...they are not for all dogs.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I've started reading a few articles, and that's what I'm finding, Adina. I'm completely fine with not taking him to the dog park, we stopped taking Lola there a few years ago because she got hurt a few times playing with other dogs. I thought it would be different with Pongo, but I guess I was on the right track with walking/running him!!!! Thanks for the advice! We'll still look into training with him locally.

[Mindy White]

I had a similar situation with my Italian mastiff who passed away this year.  We socialized him constantly as a puppy, dog park, dog beach.  One week he was fine at the dog beach, the next week he snarled/lunged at three different dogs.  We decided the best thing to do for him and the other dogs was to stop taking him.  He was still always fine with visiting dogs to the house, etc.  I agree that not all dogs do well in all settings, no matter how well they are trained and/or socialized.  

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Thanks Mindy....it's really good to hear that someone else has experienced this. It's just weird that it happened so suddenly, he's always been great in social situations!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Hmmm.  Well, our dogs have been quite snarly at times at the dog park also.  Might he be sick?  Was he on leash and the other dogs free?  I usually take my dogs on a good walk before we get to the park and they are fine.  I let them off leash at the entrance to the park and they usually get along okay with the other dogs.    I would not put a muzzle on the dog in the dog park although I have tried them when we were walking trails because my dogs would eat things (usually poop) found on the trail.  It seems that I am saying "Leave it" all the time that we are out walking.  Maybe get him a little tired before taking him into a dog park.  That would be my suggestion.

Oh yes, Groucho Too gets very protective of me at a dog park and will not allow any other dogs near me.  I can't touch any other dog or he goes after them.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

We did keep Pongo on his leash the entire time. I think he probably would have been better if he was off-leash, but I wasn't comfortable with taking him off with how he was reacting, so we kept him on. I'm going to try these suggestions from you and Jane this week, and hopefully it'll be better. I'll also go during a quieter time. If it doesn't work, then maybe the dog park isn't for Pongo, and I'm ok with that.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's never a good idea to have a dog on-leash among other dogs who are not leashed.  That can make the leash reactiveness even worse.  They feel vulnerable.