Rocky Mouthing Off At Park!

[Rebecca Claire]

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This morning I took Rocky and Bailey to the park so they can play and run around with their friends which they absolutely adore. However today Bailey ran over 'happy go lucky' to two little tiny dogs in the coats and Rocky decided to follow charging at full pelt, hackles up and barking :- " naturally the owner of the two little dogs wasn't impressed and told me to put both dogs on leads, which I can completely understand.

Anyway, I put Rocky back on the lead, met up with 5 other people I walk normally in the park, they asked why he was on the lead and said to me let him go he is fine and all dogs played nicely. When the dogs are playing, Rocky sometimes tries to join in but just barks when they are playing around. He wasn't socialised as a pup or even until I got him when he was 3 years old and have never had this problem before, only since I have got Bailey.

I was thinking of putting a muzzle on (not sure which type) and wondered if this would make it difficult for him to bark with it on? I know if I walk him with it on people may think he is more dangerous than he is as he only barks, he hasn't bitten but I need to do something!

Any advice would be superb - THANK YOU x

 

[madbella]

Sorry to hear you didn’t have such a good walk this morning mate.

Don’t really know what to suggest.

Just thinking, he normally sticks to you like glue, do you think it is because bailey is going to meet other dogs and rocky thinks that bailey should stay with you and is trying to protect him in a way.

Or he is wanting to be involved in what bailey is doing and just doesn’t know how to behave correctly (in doggy language).

I don’t think you should muzzle him (last resort) and he is no where near that. And as you say other people would be more wary.

You have 2 lovely dogs, I wouldn’t walk my pup with you if I didn’t like them!!!

:huggles:

 

[jezza]

He wasn't socialised as a pup or even until I got him when he was 3 years old and have never had this problem before, only since I have got Bailey.

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I just wanted to highlight this bit. Lenny is like Rocky, he wasn't socialised by his breeder until we got him at 5 months. Lenny has always been bad around other dogs though but I think thats because we have always had another dog as well.

I always used to think that Lenny may have been worse if he had been an only dog but I had an appointment with a trainer/behaviourist the other day (Jim Greenwood - worth consulting if you are worried) and he said that Lenny is probably as bad as he is because of Molly. Lenny thinks he is charge and has to protect Molly (and me!) so becomes aggressive around strange people/dogs.

Does this make sense? As you say he has only been like it since you got Bailey do you think he is trying to protect him? At the moment I have to walk the dogs separately as Molly has begun to join in barking with Lenny - sort of forming a pack. Molly on her own is completely fine with dogs. Lenny on his own is still bad, but not as bad as if he is with Molly :wacko:

ETA. don't think you need to get a muzzle just yet, I don't with Lenny, tried one but he hated it and it made him more angry! Just don't let him run up to dogs he doesn't know, don't give him the chance to bite.

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Sorry to hear you didn’t have such a good walk this morning mate.
Don’t really know what to suggest.

Just thinking, he normally sticks to you like glue, do you think it is because bailey is going to meet other dogs and rocky thinks that bailey should stay with you and is trying to protect him in a way.

Or he is wanting to be involved in what bailey is doing and just doesn’t know how to behave correctly (in doggy language).

I don’t think you should muzzle him (last resort) and he is no where near that.  And as you say other people would be more wary.

You have 2 lovely dogs, I wouldn’t walk my pup with you if I didn’t like them!!!

:huggles:

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Hey Maddy, you what a lovely message you have written - thank you :huggles:

They love playing with Austin and normally they are good (otherwise no-one at the park would wish to walk with me, plus their dogs coming bounding over to my two all the time!) but I was a bit embarrassed today to say the least as Rocky is normally so very good, but clearly these two little powder puff dogs weren't to his taste :lol: :lol:

Will be great to see you at the yard tonight :thumbsup:

 

[Rebecca Claire]

He wasn't socialised as a pup or even until I got him when he was 3 years old and have never had this problem before, only since I have got Bailey.

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I just wanted to highlight this bit. Lenny is like Rocky, he wasn't socialised by his breeder until we got him at 5 months. Lenny has always been bad around other dogs though but I think thats because we have always had another dog as well.

I always used to think that Lenny may have been worse if he had been an only dog but I had an appointment with a trainer/behaviourist the other day (Jim Greenwood - worth consulting if you are worried) and he said that Lenny is probably as bad as he is because of Molly. Lenny thinks he is charge and has to protect Molly (and me!) so becomes aggressive around strange people/dogs.

Does this make sense? As you say he has only been like it since you got Bailey do you think he is trying to protect him? At the moment I have to walk the dogs separately as Molly has begun to join in barking with Lenny - sort of forming a pack. Molly on her own is completely fine with dogs. Lenny on his own is still bad, but not as bad as if he is with Molly :wacko:

ETA. don't think you need to get a muzzle just yet, I don't with Lenny, tried one but he hated it and it made him more angry! Just don't let him run up to dogs he doesn't know, don't give him the chance to bite.

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I completely agree with what you have said. Luckily I have always had two or three dogs so Rocky has never been on his own, apart from the last year in which he has been superb but in some ways lost his spark/personality. So this year my OH bought Bailey (we had discussed this) and its been the best thing for Rocky and Bailey adores him. I haven't had Rocky with a puppy before so like you said, I do believe he is being protective, which is lovely, but does come across quite badly sometimes! Touchwood he has never bitten a dog and doesn't actually go close enough to bit, just barks around them. If I walk Rocky on his own off the lead he doesn't leave my side. I think I really need to start working on Bailey more so that if he doesn't rush off to see other dogs then it won't make Rocky follow - Rocky won't go first or alone!

Interesting to hear that you have the same issues with Lenny as Rocky never says a word, the most quiet, placid, loveable dog I have ever owned - until I go to the park with Bailey (w00t) When I walk them in the fields and woods in the evenings I don't have any issues even when we meet other dogs - very bizarre! May well think about walking them separately in the mornings.

Its great to hear that so far you don't think he needs a muzzle - makes me think a little bit more positive about the situation :thumbsup: THANK YOU

 

[jezza]

I wonder whether today Rocky just decided he didn't like the two little dogs (for reasons only known to himself!) and got himself a bit worked up. Did you see any other strange dogs afterwards and if so how did he react to them. Sometimes dogs just seem to take a dislike to a certain breed. My Molly isn't too keen on border collies for some reason

Perhaps because Rocky wasn't socialised when he was younger he finds it hard to know how to play with other dogs, resulting in him barking. If I have both dogs and let Molly off to play with a dog Lenny goes mental, he seems to get insanely jealous, or perhaps he doesn't like it because he knows he can't protect her from the other dog if I've got him on a lead. Bless him, I just have to find a way of convincing him that he doesn't have to look after us!

I agree with what you said about working on Bailey, if you can get him to stay near you then Rocky won't have to get worried :thumbsup:

Lenny is also loving, placid and gentle...... but only in the house, outside he is a nutter!

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Lenny sounds great and in some ways so similar to Rocky (please take that as a compliment) its just a shame that sometimes when they are out they feel the need to be protective!

Once Rocky knows the dogs he is fine, always runs up and makes a 'bark' then thats it, just wonders around. But if he hasn't met the dogs before and their owner doesn't know him then clearly this worries them, but for the people who know him they don't have an issue as he doesn't hurt the other dogs. I do think Rocky's way of playing is barking, so whilst the others play, run around I think he thinks he is referee! :- "

My OH took them both for a walk for 2 hours at lunch time and they were good as gold o probably because he walked them in the country he didn't meet anyone and they had the time of their lives and even decided to join in and run with the deer! (w00t) They came back shattered :sweating:

I am now determined to make more progress with Bailey and will walk him out tonight on his own (think Rocky will be too tired anyway!) and try to work with him on a one to one. Thank you so much for your help on this. Wish me luck :luck: :lol:

 

[jezza]

Lenny says thank you He knows how great he is as he gets to lay underneath the settee cover and even has control of the remote :lol:

Good luck with Rocky :luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Lenny is gorgeous :wub: :wub: what a gorgeous sofa he has enjoyment of laying on :thumbsup: very happy whippet to say the least :huggles: