I took both my dogs to the dog park for the first time today.We walked there, with all 4 of my kids and the 2 dogs. That went better than I expected. She walked well on the leash, stayed to my side with no problems and we even got the boxer to behave well on the leash with my 12yo. So I was feeling really positive.
Then we got to the dog park! The boxer was awesome. She went into the big dog side, just thrilled to be there. So friendly and sniffing butts, marking everything, jumping on this half wall (she has a torn acl, she shouldn't be able to do that!) and just being awesome. The chi hated the small dog part. I was in the big dog area in case there was a skirmish. I didn't want my kids to have to pull big dogs apart. First there were no other small dogs. Juliet climbed the fence to get to me! So I just carried her in the big dog area for awhile.
Then a pug mix came in. 6 months old so the same age. She was nasty! He did the play stance to her and she growled, baring teeth in a big snarl, and snapped at him. I didn't know what to do! I didn't want to reward her by picking her up but I didn't want her to pick a fight with the other dog either. So I picked her up but held her away and told her no every time she growled. Then I ended up holding her the whole time because they were trying to socialize their puppy and I didn't want it to be negative for him.
What should I have done? Where do I go from here? She gets along with my dog pretty well. She gets too big for her britches sometimes and I just tell her no and put her on the floor. But I know my other dog can take it. And I know the boxer will back off if I tell her to.
Then we got to the dog park! The boxer was awesome. She went into the big dog side, just thrilled to be there. So friendly and sniffing butts, marking everything, jumping on this half wall (she has a torn acl, she shouldn't be able to do that!) and just being awesome. The chi hated the small dog part. I was in the big dog area in case there was a skirmish. I didn't want my kids to have to pull big dogs apart. First there were no other small dogs. Juliet climbed the fence to get to me! So I just carried her in the big dog area for awhile.
Then a pug mix came in. 6 months old so the same age. She was nasty! He did the play stance to her and she growled, baring teeth in a big snarl, and snapped at him. I didn't know what to do! I didn't want to reward her by picking her up but I didn't want her to pick a fight with the other dog either. So I picked her up but held her away and told her no every time she growled. Then I ended up holding her the whole time because they were trying to socialize their puppy and I didn't want it to be negative for him.
What should I have done? Where do I go from here? She gets along with my dog pretty well. She gets too big for her britches sometimes and I just tell her no and put her on the floor. But I know my other dog can take it. And I know the boxer will back off if I tell her to.