Being a bit bossy or aggressive????

[futuramafan]

I've spent a year now getting Molly to the point whe she can socialise with other dogs and things have been pretty good. However I took her out with a friends young cockerpoo the other day and she walked fine with her, even if she did want to be in front constantly. She has played in the garden with this dog a few times and has been fine but on the park she seemed to be almost hunting her and the poor little cockerpoo just lay on her back and became really submissive. Although she made no attempt to snap at her or bite her I just felt she was getting over the top and put her back on the lead. She doesn't do this with males and I wondered if it could be a dominance thing? Anyone experienced anything similar??

Jane

[gazer]

Greyhounds just like to chase and yes it is a form of hunting for them, they seem to want to chase but of course the other dog can never run fast enough to get away so will either just stop or lie down, if the other breed gets up and starts to run again the same thing can happen.  Running dogs and other breeds have different ideas of 'play', some greyhounds are very different.  Lurchers can be nutsoid and look like they are going to kill each other, it's all very rough and fast.

If you are worried just pop a muzzle on her then if she does get a bit carried away she can't hurt her friend.  It's a fine line sometimes when dogs 'play' and if they are running you are not close enough to intervene should a problem occur.

Jacqui

[jodav]

Hi Jane

Sounds like you are doing well with Mollie and if she is confidently socialising with other dogs. In many ways she sounds like my dog Tracy who is a very confident female hound. When we gather around other sighthounds for group walks, she will very quickly issue a deep growl at any dog in the group who she feels is being disrespectful, not following the introduction etiquette - apart from that is, large males, who she positively simpers around We know that her play is high energy and too much for many dogs. Again on group walks, she will bark repeatedly at a younger male lurcher to get him to run so that she can chase him. At a playgroup, she was in the confident dog group and turned out to be the most bossy dog there As one of my friend's on a walk once said when Tracy barked in the middle of the group "Yeah we know you're the guvnor" I have also seen a Labrador run over to its owner for some respite. Tracy is not 'hunting' these dogs, she is just an energetic playmate; she means no harm to them. Knowing this about her personality, we can decide whether or not to let her off-lead around other dogs. I don't like to use the word dominant because I think it has connotations of a bygone era of dog training which I have reservations about - I would describe Tracy as high energy with a mind of her own, a thinker where other dogs are followers; a character. If you feel Mollie is the same, learn to read her body language, manage her behaviour, let her off-lead with dogs who can hold their own and be mindful of young, inexperienced dogs. Have fun with her and enjoy her love of life

Jo

[julies]

You might also like to read the book 'Dominance in Dogs- Fact or Fiction' by Barry Eaton ... a good read and Turid Rugaas' On Talking Terms with dogs - Calming Signals (or summat like)

Julie