Is Your Dog Bullied in the Dog Park?
February 28, 2010 by Paris and John
Filed under Tips
You take your dog to the dog park to enjoy running free and to socialize with the other dogs. But is he being bullied by other dogs and how can you prevent that?
Some dogs bully other dogs when in a “doggie environment”, such as a dog park, dog daycare, or a beach area designated for dogs and their owners. Like the school playground, bullying often takes place in large groups. Often these dog bullies are large breeds and prey on smaller dogs, although there are certainly cases of smaller breeds with a strong, dominant personality bullying other dogs of all sizes.
Is My Dog Being Bullied–Or Could He Be a Bully?
The next time you take your dog to the daycare, the park, or other places where there are other dogs around, observe how he behaves toward the other dogs and vice versa. Find out if your dog is being bullied by other dogs — or if your dog just might be the one who harasses to other dogs.
You can tell that your dog is being harassed by other dogs if he is being surrounded by them, ganging up on him, jumping at his face, and growling at him, often for no legitimate reason.
Signs of Dog Bullying
A dog that is being bullied is on that:
- is almost always happy around other people and dogs, but nervous and scared around the “bully” dogs
- is repeatedly mounted
- is continually being taken away from his toys, water, or certain spots
- is being attacked, beaten, pinned to the ground, and pushed around
- is continually being menaced
- in worst cases, one that is being bitten or badly hurt
Putting a Stop to Dog Bullying
Don’t tolerate these acts. Repeated display of these behaviors are not only hurtful to your dog in a physical way, but can also be mentally damaging.
It is important to find out what is causing the harassment to occur among these dogs and put an end to the improper behavior. Some dogs are just real bullies, without any direct reason for acting that way. Keep in mind that in many cases, it only takes one bully to rev up other dogs and follow his behavior. In this case, separating the dog from the playgroup will solve the problem.
Another reason for dog bullying is improper or lack of supervision from the owner or staff member in the day care. Dogs that aren’t properly watched tend to get out of control while playing, and that’s when the bullying starts. Therefore, when you take your dog to a day care, make sure that there is enough staff members to supervise all the dogs and that they are being looked after at all times. And lastly, whether it is at the park, the beach, or your neighbor’s house, make sure to keep an eye on your dog at all times.
Video: Dog Park Etiquette
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