keeping them safe from disease at a young age and the need for socialization? I was so worried about her getting sick because she didn't have the proper immunity before she received all her immunizations. It is very frustrating! And how does that affect her relationship with the dogs she spent basically her whole life with? I agree the dog park was NOT controlled at all. We went there mainly because her only dog friend she really played with went there,( my step mother's dog-Audrey has been going to her house since she was 10 weeks old) it provided a place for her friend to really run around and play. She got along fine, had a great time playing with this little schnauzer puppy about her age, when WHAM! she was just attacked out of the blue by this HUGE full grown male german sheperd.

I really do think her personality has a lot to do with her overall attitude towards other dogs. She just does not back down and seems to have the get them before they get her attitude. I really think MY fear of her being attacked again has a lot to do with it also. I try so hard to not be nervous, but I know she is very sensitive to my emotions and I just don't seem to be able to reallty keep it from her that I am on alert every time we have contact with other dogs.

We are both so screwed up-being a hermit is becoming more and more appealing.

Cathy
when she first came home

this is why I strongly urge people to get their pups into a puppy class. They are designed to allow pups to play in a controlled environment with supervision by a skilled trainer. Dog parks do not provide a controlled/safe environment for a pup.

Audrey's aggression with the other dogs may very well be her personality. It may be influenced by the incident at the dog park but a well socialized/confident dog would have been able to overcome it.

Lynn King CPDT

with other dogs, is from birth to 16 weeks. Waiting to socialize after 16 weeks can be detrimental to their "understanding" dog, I'm not saying that it can't be done. Think of keeping a child confined to their own household, no playing with peers until they are 10 years old and then sending them off to school. Odds are, that child will never catch up to the others when it comes to the art of conversation/deference/compromise/negotiation.



Lynn King CPDT

poor social skills: we did not take her many places before she was fully vaccinated, she was about 16 weeks before we took her where there were other dogs. Could this late start have caused her aggression towards the dogs she lives with? Did the unexpected attack at the dog park ruin her confidence to that extreme?

spoiled brat behavior: this is tough, because I'm not sure if she's ever really been denied. This one really made me think. Is it enough that she is expected to listen to us throughout the day? That she has to earn the OK to eat, wait for us to bring her to bed? For example, at feeding time she has to sit/stay with her food bowl in front of her until I tell her it's OK to eat. I do feed the other 2 first, then give her the OK to eat hers. The other dogs have never really denied her her toys, they normally don't care about them.

Audrey's aggression is SO HARD for me to deal with! I thought I understood her anxiety around strange dogs, she was young when she was attacked, it was unprovoked and very unexpected. She was actually facing ME when she was attacked, and she was right at my feet. But this sudden attack of the dogs she has been living with for a year is so frustrating and very stressful. And the rope toy is put away! She does get overstimulated, it's just not worth it.

Thanks Lynn for your help! I do appreciate it.

Cathy
when she first came home

and it place in the domestic dog and a ton of great studies, I'm glad that you are reading up on the subject.

Anyway, forget about the "peaceful for the first 12 months or so", their relationships have changed, so don't worry about the past. It ain't ever going to happen again. Dogs, just like people change as they mature, their temperament/life experiences/socialization determines what we see as adults.

Yes, I do believe dogs have a hierarchy amongst themselves regardless of their relationships with their humans. Dogs that are very confident/well socialized rarely fight, they don't have to, they are Gods and they know it. They don't sweat the small stuff, frequently give up toys, share their food with other in-house dogs. Are fair and kind to the others and are the peace keepers. On the other hand, you have the "middle management", squabble often, vie for favored sleeping space, attention, toys etc.,

That said, not all fighting amongst in-house dogs is based in dominance. Much of it is poor social skills, spoiled brat behavior(a dog that has not been denied anything either from the humans or the other dogs), lacks frustration control.

I probably wouldn't play tug-of-war with Audrey. She obviously gets over-stimulated and has a hard time settling. Mind games are probably a better bet with her.



Lynn King CPDT