Something pretty disturbing with Baloo.

[Barbara!]

Yes, and it needs to be worked on... But I don't find it extreme enough to forgo the dog park completely. (3-4 times in 6 months.) We go every day. But we are going to go less (2-3 times a week) and I am going to work with him.

Would neutering him help with this behavior at all?

[JessLough]

Is this the same dog park that kids run around and accost the dogs?

An obviously bully looking dog biting a kid at the dog park is the very last thing the world needs.

[sassafras]

Originally Posted by Barbara!

Yes, and it needs to be worked on... But I don't find it extreme enough to forgo the dog park completely.

The point of not going to the dog park is not that the behavior itself is currently extreme. The point is that you need to manage his encounters with other dogs to prevent him from practicing the reactivity and prevent him from ever getting over the point where he may redirect while you address the reactivity in controlled situations. Otherwise it may become more extreme with time, and then you are left looking back at what you could've/should've/would've done.
You can neither manage nor control what goes on at the dog park.

[Barbara!]

Originally Posted by JessLough

Is this the same dog park that kids run around and accost the dogs?

An obviously bully looking dog biting a kid at the dog park is the very last thing the world needs.

Yes, but this problem was solved.

[Muttkip]

Isn't one of the number one rules of owning a bully breed or bully breed mix is to NOT go to dog Parks. Seeing how you've been on APBT forums you should know this.

[Barbara!]

Originally Posted by Muttkip

Isn't one of the number one rules of owning a bully breed or bully breed mix is to NOT go to dog Parks. Seeing how you've been on APBT forums you should know this.

I don't see it as a rule, I see it as an opinion. And an extreme one at that. Lots of breeds have the ability to instinctually form animal/dog aggression. That doesn't mean that you should avoid dog parks just because your dog MIGHT develop this behavior. So yeah, I see it as a preference... But definitely not a general rule.

[Barbara!]

Originally Posted by sassafras

The point of not going to the dog park is not that the behavior itself is currently extreme. The point is that you need to manage his encounters with other dogs to prevent him from practicing the reactivity and prevent him from ever getting over the point where he may redirect while you address the reactivity in controlled situations. Otherwise it may become more extreme with time, and then you are left looking back at what you could've/should've/would've done.
You can neither manage nor control what goes on at the dog park.

We will have to see. It is just a difficult decision to make because it is something we do every single day and he really enjoys it and so do I. He has "doggy friends" there. I may keep him away for the time being while we work on the reactivity issues. If it seems to be a problem that may be unfixable, then we won't go again. I already have one dog we have had to do this with.

[Red Chrome]

Originally Posted by sassafras

The point of not going to the dog park is not that the behavior itself is currently extreme. The point is that you need to manage his encounters with other dogs to prevent him from practicing the reactivity and prevent him from ever getting over the point where he may redirect while you address the reactivity in controlled situations. Otherwise it may become more extreme with time, and then you are left looking back at what you could've/should've/would've done.
You can neither manage nor control what goes on at the dog park.

Thank you for explaining that to her. That is precisely what I meant when I posted quit going to the dog park.

Originally Posted by Muttkip

Isn't one of the number one rules of owning a bully breed or bully breed mix is to NOT go to dog Parks. Seeing how you've been on APBT forums you should know this.

It's ok, he's a mix...*insert sarcasm here*

Originally Posted by Barbara!

I don't see it as a rule, I see it as an opinion. And an extreme one at that. Lots of breeds have the ability to instinctually form animal/dog aggression. That doesn't mean that you should avoid dog parks just because your dog MIGHT develop this behavior. So yeah, I see it as a preference... But definitely not a general rule.

The point is that you call the dog an APBT or Am Bully mix. Dog parks are a RECIPE for disasters in most cases. You have posted over and over about the problems with the one you attend, yet you keep taking your dogs there. You just posted not long ago about Baloo having a bad encounter with some kids there, now he is redirecting on you regarding small dogs. It seems to me from your posts, the dog is getting worse behaviors, not better from attending the dog park.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for responsible play groups, supervised etc. Just not letting your dogs run willy nilly in the dog park. Obviously Baloo has some issues, work on training him then worry about taking him back to the dog park.

[Barbara!]

RedChrome, what happened to the idea in the PM you sent me?

Once again, not going to a dog park with a bully breed or bully breed mix isn't a RULE, it's an opinion. The funny thing is the only people that ever see any bully breed in Baloo are usually bully breed people. Either way, I don't agree with avoiding dog parks just because you have a pit bull or bully breed. I think it's a tad extreme and over the top. Lets just hide my pit bull in a closet.

The only problems I have had with my dog park is the kids... And like I said, that issue has been solved.
My dog park is very small and we all know each other and we all know each others dogs aside from the occasional newcomer. I said this in my last thread, as well. It's not a big city dog park where there are dozens of dogs at a time. The most dogs I have ever seen at one time is about 10-12. And that has only happened a couple times since I have been going and I have been going for well over a year.

As I said, I am considering keeping Baloo home until this can be solved. I was only considering bringing him less often, during low traffic times, when it would be unlikely I would even see anyone at all. I wasn't going to continue to go to the dog park full time. I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't like the insinuation that I am somehow incompetent or unintelligent for having a hard time making the decision to keep my puppy home from something he has been doing daily since he was 11 weeks old. It's not an easy decision to make and not one I'm just going to immediately bang the gavel on.

It's ok, he's a mix...*insert sarcasm here*

I also take my pure bred APBT to the dog park... Oh, the horror!

[Muttkip]

It shouldn't even be an opinion it is a rule. You screw up its not just your dog that pays it's everyone's dog that does and the breed's already fragile reputation is hurt even more and more BSL might follow after your dog hurts or kills another dog, all because you say its an opinion. I own a bully breed mix myself and bothers me you see no problem with it and continue to do so.