Question on behaviors...does Enzo bring out the worst in dogs?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Really curious!  Do dogs emit any kind of a scent/fermone? ( She is spayed)

  We attended the So. Ca Group Romp yesterday.  Yesterday, and everytime we have been, we have at least one dog, who targets Enzo out.  Yesterday, it was Bob, a HUGE, Great Dane/Mastiff mix who decided he would aggressively down Enzo and lie on her.  This was one big fella and he would not leave Enz alone.  Owner would take him across the park, and in minutes he was back.  He got progressively more aggressive.   This was making us all very nervous!    Enzo is the most submissive dog I have ever seen/owned and she just rolls over.  Also, numerous male dogs trying to "have their way" with her.  Ok....hump her!  Again....she just either lies down or tries to run away....never snaps or growls, which she probably really needs to do!  But I just wondered, why HER?  They seem to target her out each and every time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's more likely that some of the more dominant dogs are reading Enzo's body language, which is saying "I'm submissive". 

Dogs pick up signals from each other's body language that we humans usually don't see or understand.  

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Exactly what my daughter was just saying.  She said she thinks just puts out that vibe that says "I am an easy target".  Thanks for confirming.  Hopefully, it is something she outgrows.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle did. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Interesting. Lucy use to illicit that same type of response from other dogs when she was young. She also is very submissive. After about the age of 1 things started to change. I'm not sure what, but I think its that she puts off a different 'vibe' to dogs now and they leave her alone. But it was very disconcerting that first year when dogs would target her at the dog park.

Now, Oscar didn't/doesn't seem to have that same problem with many dogs, although in his first puppy class there was a much, much bigger Husky that simply would not leave him alone. Oscar was forever trying to get away from her, to the point that my DH finally had enough and refused to go back (even though the dogs were only allowed to play with one another the last 15 min. of the class). It never happened again with any other dog.

I'll bet Enzo grows out of it... good luck!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Oh. I hope so!  It sort of scary!  But I am glad to hear that Lucy outgrew her " pick on me vibe"!  Hopefully,Enz will too!  Thanks for the hope!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ro...Gracie Doodle was just like Enzo when she was a puppy.  She has never been an Alpha dog and was/is always very submissive.  Somewhere between 1 year and 2 she finally had enough with every male dog wanting to hump her.  She would just sit or lay down but not roll over.  Just close the door on them so to speak!!!  Then if they came near her she would start to lunge and growl.  We were shocked the first time she did this but proud that she was now starting to fend for herself.  The only other time she does this is with her tennis ball.  She has never bit another dog but likes to scare them with a lung and growl. This is only with strange dogs or ones she truly doesn't like.  You saw how she let Enzo take her ball after they were introduced.  And how she would go up to Enzo very gently and take the ball sideways right out of her mouth...ha ha...I loved it! I steer clear of big male dogs and especially ones who are not fixed.  They are just big bullies!  Enzo will grow up one day and make her first lunging growl at one of them.  I have always and still do, keep an eye out for Gracie when strange dogs are around and are stalking her.  That's what we Doodle Moms do!   We really wanted to come yesterday but too many things to do that day to make the drive up.  Sounds like you all had a fun time!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Sweet,sweet Gracie! I, too, loved how gentle, she played with Enzo. Hard to believe a growl coming out of that sweet girl! But I am now hopeful, that Enzo too, will learn to pull on her big girl pants and fend these guys off.
We sure did miss you guys yesterday....next time! And really, just as well. Traffic going up, complete with all types of law enforcement standing on the side of the highway, aiming their weapons out towards the brush. Police cars everywhere! On the way home...same thing! Took almost 3 hrs to reach Fallbrook. Turns out they were searching for an attempted murder suspect in a 8 hr search...never found him.

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin was always on the bottom of the pile too.  I was so sick of him being rolled, pinned or humped, that I no longer took him to the dog park.  He out grew it.  Now he will give small corrections to (puppies especially) when he has had enough.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Thankfully, Enz usually has her backup...her posse of Doodles to help her out! But this one big guy yesterday was sort of scary.

[Pat and Traveler]

Scary when other dogs target yours like this!  Trav is kind of the opposite--he has never laid down for another dog.  He doesn't try to hump--at least not anything other than his blankie, and then only if someone is holding it up.  LOL

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL