Leave his ears alone!!!

[Sandy]

So I ventured back to the dog park yesterday - mid-afternoon, with my son there as support, and we actually had a pretty good time. Toby met a lovely collie, and the two of them ran very well together. Lots of fun play. Of course, we haven't had much rain lately, so Toby picked up a lot of dry dirt, and needed a bath when we got home. No biggie - he loves to have a bath!

Anyway - there was a four month old pup there, whose owner felt the appropriate use of a dog park was to sit on a bench and let her puppy play as it desired. Toby started to play with it - he generally likes to play with puppies. Well, this puppy got hold of Toby's lovely, soft, hanging down ear, and wouldn't let go. Toby was ielping. I marched in and pulled the pup off. HIs owner then wandered over and I told her what the problem was. I led Toby away, but she did nothing as far as reprimanding or correcting her dog. I find that if Toby plays with Goldens, or other doodles, they do not go for his ears, but some other breeds always try to. Has anyone else experienced this? What do you do about it? It just feel like some day he's going to get his ear torn or something.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My 2 often pull on each others ears to get the play started. It's amazing how ferocious they look and yet it's rare to hear a yelp when they're play fighting. Usually they just end it by walking away at some point. I don't think I'd be as comfortable with a strange dog though. If they're not growling though I'd think they're in the play mode though and won't hurt each other, at least intentionally.

[Sandy]

I'm a little afraid of the response I would get disciplining someone else's dog. Most people are pretty proprietary, and if they don't see that it's a problem, I'm sure I'd get in trouble for spraying their dog. I wish I could though. We have really curtailed our visits to the dog park. I'm just sick of owners who aren't responsible. Fortunately we have a fence yard - not quite the same, as there aren't other dogs to play with, but definitely safer for Toby.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Our puppy trainer suggested using spritzer water bottles and spraying annoying dogs, or using a loud bicycle type horn. We have several inconsiderate dog owners at the dog park we "Used" to take our doodle to. It became so worry-some that we stopped going to our local dog park. Some people just don't get it and probably never will.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Haven't had any ear problems, but there was a dog at a dog park near us who used to bite Groucho Too's tongue which is always hanging out. After he got bit several times, he decided it was a good idea to keep his tongue in his mouth. You could tell it was a conscientious effort on his part. (By the way, the owner was upset with her dog for biting his tongue.)

[Sue & Willy Babe]

When our neighbor dogs are playing together they always go after Wilson's ears too, in fact last Christmas when Lucy (King Charles Spaniel) shorten the hair on Wilson's ears LOL it grows back

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned, our doodle, always goes for ears when he plays - sometimes our Springer yelps from it. In fact, Ned considers it the law to "attack" our Springer's ears when we get on leash to leave the dog park. Whenever Ned plays with other doodles, they both go for the ears. I assumed it was a doodle/poodle trait as I have seen poodles do the same thing.

[GBK]

Kona adores her big brother Buddy's curly thick ears. The only time I ever hear squeeks of pain is from poor Buddy with a little brown sister hanging from them. They work it out, but I do feel sorry for the big guy, she is bossy and pushy for a little thing!

[Lorraine Bromley]

We had one puppy in classes that always went to Neelys ears. It was fine until the yelp of pain and then it was ok break it up. As for dicipline for her dog after she had wondered over, too late. That won't help anyone or either dog. Seperating them was the only thing to do. Time out and relax. IF this owner is going to allow her puppy freedeom and no supervision and the dog continues with misbehave and get worse that owner will finally get the idea that when she shows up and everyone else leaves she is left with the problem dog.
This does interest me in another vien. What is appropriate use of the dog park?? They are off leash. What do you think?

[Stella]

I don't know what it is about fluffy doodle ears that is so enticing to other dogs. Our trainers German Shepherd loves to clamp down on Chases ears!! She doesn't pull on them though. Chase cleans Hartleys ears for him - so cute!!

[Sandy]

Toby is so not dominant that he doesn't fight back, but he was crying in pain. The other owner wasn't stopping it, so I stepped in and separated them.

How fragile/sensitive are a dog's ears? It seems like they'd tear being grabbed, but maybe I'm being overprotective?