Pearl @ the Dog Park

[mygirlpearl]

Pearl is 5 monthns 2 weeks old. She has a great personality, loves people, loves other dogs. I take her to the dog park where I live quite often. Its a small community so there are at best maybe one or two dogs their when we go. She gets along fine. However, I have been taking her to the much larger dog park the last few times with many more dogs. She seems completely overwhelmed! She runs from the other dogs and yelps.... almost a screech. She also seeks me out and tries to jump in my arms because she is so freaked. When I sit down and try to ignore her and let her do her own thing she sits right next to me and barks so loud at the other dogs. It's quite embarrassing. At home she absolutely loves the other dogs and plays with them frequently. I'm not sure how to correct the problem. I know that Boxers are pretty vocal but the noise that comes out of this kid is amazing! She draws everyones attention because it sounds like she's getting attacked.

[HostelDog]

As she is only a baby, it's not surprising that she is scared. Our pup has been meeting the same dogs at our small dog park for over a month now, but even though she knows them well if they start barking (not even at her!) or look at her while she has a toy in her mouth, she gets scared and runs to me. Why? Cos I'm her mama and I will protect her from all the bad things in the world! Being so little and so new to the world, when she isn't sure of something she normally reacts in a fearful way. I think this is completely normal. I know if I was a toddler and was suddenly confronted with a load of much older kids I didn't know, I'd want my mama too!

If it were me, I would not take my girl to this large dog park until she is big enough to fend for herself and feels more confident in herself, otherwise I think you run the risk of scaring her away from new dogs forever. She could then end up agressive with new dogs.

Instead, I would take it slowly, try to set up a 'play date' with a new dog every so often if you can, in a place she already knows so you can intorduce her to new, friedly dogs in a not so over whelming environment. When you go back to the bigger park, take a friend with her who already knows the place so she feels more confident.

[Mesquite]

She probably is overwhelmed. She's still pretty young and apparently prefers smaller play groups at this point. Give it some time. Things that scare her today likely won't bother her in a few weeks or months. I wish you lived near me. Jake needs a boxer playmate!

[larrygs]

I wouldn't feel embarrassed. I have seen many puppies do the same. Layla is quite confident, ... far too confident. However she has done the same when frightened.

Puppies learn how to interact, play, communicate status etc with each other. If Pearl hasn't been around a range of dogs very much, especially adults, part of being overwhelmed may be she just needs to slowly catch up some on the social graces and gain her confidence.

Don't forget the particular dog park is new territory for her as well. Perhaps you could get there when no one else is around. She could explore and get comfortable with her surroundings.

Another thought is for you to walk around the park away from the other dogs and let her follow you. We walk around and let Layla follow us whenever her attitude or the group tension is not right. It is a way to get her refocused on something else and let things calm down.

We go to dog parks quite a bit. There can also be unusual or poor dynamics in some groups. It really depends on the owners. Sometimes the tension is overly aggressive, or there are nasty dogs in the group. We have learned to read some of the signals the dogs are giving each other. Your pup may be correctly sensing a tension you don't recognize yet.

People tend to stick to a schedule. I would suggest going at different times. Hopefully you can find a time when there are not as many dogs, and a group dynamic that is not as intimidating.

Oh, it also occurs to me your pup may be in one of the fear stages. If so, that could add some difficulty for her as well.

[Boxerrr]

Our Bella is the same way... she's pretty much the same age, and we weaned her onto the park the same way... we went the first couple times and only went in if there were a only a couple of dogs there... otherwise we'd just keep driving. Throughout the park there are picnic tables which she'd run and hide under when she got too nervous. At first she'd head under there all the time, but she rarely heads there now that she's used to it.

Pretty much every boxer owner at that park has a well adjusted dog and all remark that their dog did the exact same thing at this age. We'll be fine .

[Jpep]

well you have a puppy people at the park should understand that. I doubt the problem is that bad and the only way to get your dog over it is by going back over and over again.

I get the feeling (especially since you made a post about it) that it may be bothering you more than the dog. one thing I always tell people is if the dog is not being hurt then don't let it bother you, make sure you don't EVER give affection to your dog when she is doing a behavior you want her to stop. If she's trying to jump into your arms I get the feeling that maybe sometimes you do pick her up (or how else would she know to do that). At 5 months just keep bringing her back. If she stands by you barking at that age it sounds like an insecurity issue I suggest you be a little more strict with her and make sure she knows that you're in charge of her and she doesn't have to protect you.

The things you probably need to work on has nothing to do with the dog park but more how you treat her outside of the park, and I'm not saying that as a bad thing, I'm saying your 5 month old is too cute for you to be strict with. Try making sure at home you make her know your the leader, make sure she knows you set the rules, you give her her food, you are in control of her during walks, etc..... If you do all that then when you do take her into the dog park she'll know that you would never put her in harms way and she'll trust gust the fact that you lead her into the park. I could walk my dogs into a cage with a Lion and they know (even if its not true) that if I brought them there then everything is going to be OK. Don't leave it up to the dog to decide if other dogs at the park are OK, dogs are not that smart and they make bad decisions all the time, just make sure they know your making the decisions

best of luck