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.

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Enzo is the prettiest girl at the park, can't blame a guy for trying. LOL There is probably a lot of truth that the other dogs pick up that she is submissive and the are trying to dominate her. Poor Enzo.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...thank you! That is what my husband said yesterday!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think usually the dogs outgrow being the 'target.'  We were late and missed Bob, but you know full well that NED would have taken care of Bob with a growl, and Clancy would have herded him away from the beautiful Enz.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Thanks Nancy! Ned and Clancy...Da Boyz!

[Julie and Max]

I would rather have a dog that is a little too submissive than one who is aggressive. Max is neither submissive or aggressive, but when he is happily playing he sometimes doesn't know when to back off. He does stay right away from aggressive dogs I noticed though. He prefers to play mostly with puppies or other doodles. When we go to doggy play day every saturday there are a couple of more dominant dogs there. They always choose one female to kind of target. I always feel bad for that female dog, but also for the dog who feels the need to dominate. I mean they don't look like they're having very much fun to me. They lurk around the outside trying to find a way to get near that one female without getting stopped by someone. They aren't aggressive like they don't bite or anything that's absolutely not tolerated but they do try to hump. So they spend the whole afternoon lurking and plotting and never end up playing until their owner just gets frustrated and takes them home, while other dogs are having a blast and playing. 

Enz is being a sweet polite little girl, and I am sure she'll get fed up with these rude boys and put them in their places soon enough. :D

[Amy M. and Molly]

Ro... I was following this thread and saw the mention of Fallbrook and another one of your discussions about the Rod Run. HAS to be Temecula! I am in Fallbrook and wonder if we live close to each other? If so, I'd love to get Enzo and Molly together sometime!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...are you kidding me???? Have you joined the So.Ca. Group here? We have been in Fallbrook a little over a year and live on Linda Vista Dr.

[kelly orlando]

I'll be keeping up on this thread… We took Lilly to a dog park yesterday for the first time, and despite being bigger than a lot of the adult dogs, she would try to play and then the other dogs got fairly aggressive with her-- and she would just roll over on her back!  That seemed to make it worse, and pretty soon, she wasn't having very much fun :(

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I am leery at dog parks with quincy because he tends to be submissive.  He runs away from most aggressive dogs and since he is a fast as the wind, that works.  The one time we had him on a long lead and a dog "attacked" him was a disaster.  We tend more toward day care now.  

Enzo is such cutie! 

[Leslie J]

Cocoa is also submissive, and both times she was at the dog park she was being humped by other dogs- mostly "bully" breeds who were much heavier than her. She's too big for the small dog area, and too small (40 lbs) to be with the big dogs. She ended up hiding behind me and being completely relieved when we left.

I've decided that she is really a people dog and has no need for the dog park. I think it was more for me than her. She loves sniffing and saying hi to neighborhood dogs while we walk, and that is enough for her.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I hate to stop our Romp visits.....it is very evident, Enzo has a blast! It is just those times when a larger dog decides he wants to bully her. Most times, she lies submissively, but doesn't appear to be terrified. In fact, sometimes, if the dog leaves, she will follow! But this large dog on Sun., Bob, did scare her. She yelped a few times...at that point, he wasn't biting or anything, but laying on her.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I don't think you need to stop the Romps.  Enzo will grow up and probably one day snap at the big guy and tell him to back off!  Just like Gracie did.  I hate dog parks anyway and only ever take her when it is one of the Doodle Romps.  We used to come every month but in the summer the traffic is impossible and then I too would have a 3-4 hour drive instead of my 1 1/2 hr.  Gracie hates dog parks too but loves the ocean and her tennis ball so she totally tolerates Dog Beach.  It is always much nicer at either place when we are with Doodle friends.  Doodles have a way of identifying another Doodle and usually pretty much stick together.  Just be a Doodle Mommy and keep an eye on her until she grows up.  You will be so proud of her when she gives her first growl!!!  lol