Dog on Dog Aggression at the Dog Park

[insipidroustabout]

Here's the situation: my dog Darwin and I are at the dog park. When first encountering other dogs, Darwin's haunches are raised, his legs and body are very tense and suddenly he starts lunging, growling, and snapping at some dogs who are sniffing him. After this initial drama, he's able to play, chase, the other dogs.

Some background: Darwin responds consistently/reliably to the "climb/box","place/down", and recall commands. I've since trained Darwin to use a muzzle while at the dog park while we work out this energy for safety and my piece of mind.

My current solution is to praise him with a higher pitched "good boy" when he's exhibiting calm behavior, but when I see him releasing that tense energy by growling/snapping/lunging at other dogs I instantly shout a mixture of "eh-eh" or "ie!", until he calms down at which point I instantly praise again with "good boy". I also massage him with long, broad strokes as you suggest.

Applying Kevin Behan's model of energy relatedness between dogs, humans, and objects, how does one release and re-direct Darwin's energy immediately prior to his lunging/growling/snapping?

I understand that Nola had dog-dog aggression. What activities have you specifically done to re-frame this energy?

[insipidroustabout]

Through the use of pushing, tugging, and zinging I'm able to recall Darwin away from the group of dogs that might be surrounding him.

[Lee Charles Kelley]

Originally Posted by insipidroustabout

Applying Kevin Behan's model of energy relatedness between dogs, humans, and objects, how does one release and re-direct Darwin's energy immediately prior to his lunging/growling/snapping?

What I recommend, as a general rule, is that you play a few games of "chase me" and tug-of-war for about 5 mins. before you enter the dog run. Once he's released some of his energy into a tug toy he should feel less anxious around the other dogs.

I would also recommend that instead of using the vocal corrections you've been using, try praising him, using a soothing tone of voice, instead. My article "In Praise of Aggression" explains why.

I hope this helps,

LCK

[insipidroustabout]

Thanks LCK, that's absolutely interesting!

I'm trying to think Darwin's behavior through the prism of the energy-relationship framework, and I can see how praising can short-circuit the tense energy and transform that energy to me.

I got to tell you, after diving into this Natural Dog Training stuff---I'm starting to realize how much of a departure it is from other training models and how one actually needs to THINK!

Thanks again LCK---I'm going to re-read your article and possibly read more from your site as well. I'll do more tugging play before the dog run as well.

[neilsattin]

Hey insipidroustabout (for some reason my mind always says "inspired" instead of "insipid" when I read your name),

Great ideas from LCK (as per usual).

A few more thoughts (and some links).

1. You can think of pushing/tug as a way to resolve the tension in the moment. So instead of letting Darwin get to the overload stage (snapping, lunging, etc.) you use pushing, right then and there, to resolve the energy that he's feeling as he meets the other dogs. Since you can see him getting tense (caused by the experience of more emotion than he can PHYSICALLY handle in those moments) you can use the pushing/tug as a positive release of the energy that's building in that moment.
2. Now ultimately, with aggression, you actually want to get to the point where you "accept" your dog's overload response (i.e. the "aggression") and in THAT moment do some pushing/tug. So while what I was describing before was to divert away from the moment of overload, what I'm saying now is that after you get comfortable with #1, you can do the same thing IN the overload moment. So Darwin lunges/growls, and you still say "Good dog, good dog - READY, Darwin!!!!" - and push. Think of it as if you're saying "Good boy - you're feeling so much energy! That's ok! Give it all TO ME - not to that other dog. Give it to me! See...you're safe! All's well! And didn't that feel better?"

Sometimes #2 can be handled more effectively on opposite sides of the fence from the triggering dog. I describe that exercise in this article on an advanced exercise for dealing with aggression.

In case you haven't read it, my overall approach to aggression is summed up in this article: What to do when your dog is aggressive in four steps.

It would be great if you found someone with a dog who triggers Darwin, and who'd be willing to actually work with you, with the two dogs, apart from the intensity of the dog park. Being on opposite sides of the fence ensures the safety of both dogs and people - and it can be a really effective way to teach your dog how to relax and resolve the energy productively even at the moment of overload.

With Nola, I did these kinds of things over and over again. I'd even find dogs who were contained behind fences in the city, and use it as an opportunity to do a round or two of the fence exercise (after explaining it to the owners first, of course) as we were on our walk. It took time and repetitions, patience, and most of all - acceptance.

Keep us posted. And more questions always welcome, of course.

[insipidroustabout]

Thanks Neil for responding. I'm starting to "get it". I understand the solution's objective is to allow the dog to handle its self-imposed energy-state. Whereas I was squelching this energy with my loud "eh-eh's" it might've stopped the growling/aggression, but Darwin didn't truly release that energy which remains vibrating in its body.

Having said that, I'm now simply just re-directing Darwin away from the other dog(s) by a simple re-call and then I keep his energy up by jogging so he can chase me saying "good boy"!

Since you suggested I do pushing, I have a quesiton on how to push in this situation. In this highly-energy state, Darwin has no interest in kibble, food, or toys, how does one excercise "pushing"?

[insipidroustabout]

...I tried the alongside fence excercise and I think it's helped him "deal" with the energy. I'll definitely continue this.

BTW, folks give me strange (ahem, dirty) looks when I say "good boy" when Darwin's exhibiting this behavior---so I've just relegated only responding with recalls.

[neilsattin]

Glad to hear that you're making some progress.

A couple thoughts:

Go to the dog park when Darwin is really hungry. Bring really tasty treats. Then try.

Since Darwin DOES respond to your call, and will chase you, you could simply try pushing him away from you as he gets to you (playfully). You're making contact, and adding even more energy to the game of "try to get me".

As always, keep us posted.

Oh, and as for the "strange" looks - sounds like you have a plan for dealing with that, but I've generally stopped caring. You could also decide on different words to use, but deliver them in the same "good dog" tone. Maybe even "bad doggie" for that matter - just said in a really happy, playful tone. That oughta REALLY confuse the onlookers.