corbinam
Moderator
Sorry--this is what I meant by joining a dog club and meeting people...once you meet them you can set up play dates. Class environments don't really allow a lot of one-on-one dog interactions.
Sheltie dog park behavior?
- Thread starter Lacey'sMamma
- Start date
Sorry--this is what I meant by joining a dog club and meeting people...once you meet them you can set up play dates. Class environments don't really allow a lot of one-on-one dog interactions.
corbinam
Moderator
Oops! I must have been typing when you were posting. Great minds!
I have a question about the dog park. Is it all one big area, or is it split up at all? I know the dog park I go to has one HUGE area with a gate so it can be split into two (still large areas), then there is a smaller area for little or reactive dogs? If it is split, can you take Lacey to the area for smaller dogs? That way she's still exposed to the bigger dogs, but also protected. She can run along the fence line "chasing," sniffing, etc., without having to worry about being trampled. Just my $.02
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
we are lucky to have large dog area, small dog area and agility area at our 3 acres pooch park, even then it is a bit dicey depending on the time of the day... we are regulars at 630 am, there are only about 10 dogs at most and they all regulars too so rarely any issues... also some people started pooch park facebook so they can post when each goes and other can meet up in groups...
regarding size when we brought Leo he was tiny compare to our other 2 shelties so we have been very watchful initially and after couple weeks Leo figured exactly how far he should stay away when Che and Sammy goofing around... so yeah, putting small dog in the middle of large dogs running is never a good idea without knowing how well other dogs going to play...
Also I do not know how sensitive Lacey is but Che is incredibly sensitive to my moods and body language... Che has been socialized very well and yet he developed apprehension regarding big dogs... I have tried figuring it out and finally concluded that it is ME not him who is unsure/ dislike large size dogs and somehow my posturing and body language give Che that message...
So your tension at dog park might be related directly to Lacey behavior...
regarding size when we brought Leo he was tiny compare to our other 2 shelties so we have been very watchful initially and after couple weeks Leo figured exactly how far he should stay away when Che and Sammy goofing around... so yeah, putting small dog in the middle of large dogs running is never a good idea without knowing how well other dogs going to play...
Also I do not know how sensitive Lacey is but Che is incredibly sensitive to my moods and body language... Che has been socialized very well and yet he developed apprehension regarding big dogs... I have tried figuring it out and finally concluded that it is ME not him who is unsure/ dislike large size dogs and somehow my posturing and body language give Che that message...
So your tension at dog park might be related directly to Lacey behavior...
Caro
Moderator
As dogs get older it is usual for them to be less interested with playing and interacting with other dogs and become focused on their people. Think of it in human terms. As kids we play with just about anyone, and as we mature our circles of friends tend to shrink and our relationships change. Lacey is probably just maturing and becoming more discerning about who she socialises with. I found as my dogs matured they had less interest in the big boisterous dogs and shifted their attention to smaller and gentler dogs - ones that were less in their face. With Deska he much prefers the company of humans, his BFF is an 8yr old human boy.
You have socialised her well up to now. Doing agility and obedience keeps her interactions going and like the others have said, she may find a dog/s that she prefers to be around there.
You have socialised her well up to now. Doing agility and obedience keeps her interactions going and like the others have said, she may find a dog/s that she prefers to be around there.
OK, I have some ideas for you.
- Shelties are naturally standoffish. Don't be sad about it. That's just how they are. There are some plusses to this. First of all, this means your Sheltie probably won't pick a fight with a big dog s/he can't handle. This is a very good thing in a dog park context.
- If there's a small dog or puppy pen in your dog park, use it. Most Shelties are most comfortable with other small dogs or puppies. My Sheltie is choosy about her playmates, but the dogs she gets along with best are cockapoos, Cavaliers, beagles, other Shelties, and those little white dogs. It's really adorable when she finds a dog she does like and starts playing... particularly since it is so rare.
- If your dog park doesn't have a small dog or puppy pen, go to the far end of the park, away from the other dogs. Buffy always just follows us if we go off to the end of the park. Then we play fetch with her, or if both my husband and I are there, we stand far apart and call Buffy to us and she "herds" us. I find that usually Buffy is more focused on us than the other dogs in the park.
- Look for a different dog park. I like the Glenview dog park, which is like 20 minutes away. Bit of a drive, but it's worth it to go somewhere with a nice big small dog pen. I also like walking Buffy on leash in the nearby forest preserves.
- Find a good trainer who focuses on socialization. Buffy had this and it made a huge difference. Our first class, puppy class, was mostly dogs her size and she loved playing with them. Second class was all Labs and this made her a little less engaged, but she learned how to act around Labs and other similar-sized dogs, which is all-important in this area. Basically, she learned to go up to them, do the casual sniff-sniff, wag-wag, and then keep her distance when they get crazy. To be honest I took both classes mostly for socialization... I know how to train her. (Or I thought I knew.) But it was invaluable to get help from an expert who has worked one-on-one with so many dogs.
- A good trainer will be able to recognize social cues from other dogs and teach you to do that as well. You can also read up on this online. I recommend starting by looking in the archives of Patricia McConnell's blog: http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/
- Obedience, agility, flyball, dog therapy.... find a job for your Sheltie. Do whichever thing appeals to you the most. But don't expect your Sheltie to get all his/her energy out at the dog park and on walks. These dogs need mental exercise as well as physical exercise or else they will spend their mental powers on finding your shoes and chewing them up or some similarly fun and amusing activity.
- Find a playmate for your Sheltie. From the dog park, from obedience classes, whatever. Just find one and set up a play date. You may feel silly about it but once you see your dogs playing together it will be worth it.
Good luck! I had this same issue with my Sheltie and others have too. Your puppy will be fine.
- Shelties are naturally standoffish. Don't be sad about it. That's just how they are. There are some plusses to this. First of all, this means your Sheltie probably won't pick a fight with a big dog s/he can't handle. This is a very good thing in a dog park context.
- If there's a small dog or puppy pen in your dog park, use it. Most Shelties are most comfortable with other small dogs or puppies. My Sheltie is choosy about her playmates, but the dogs she gets along with best are cockapoos, Cavaliers, beagles, other Shelties, and those little white dogs. It's really adorable when she finds a dog she does like and starts playing... particularly since it is so rare.
- If your dog park doesn't have a small dog or puppy pen, go to the far end of the park, away from the other dogs. Buffy always just follows us if we go off to the end of the park. Then we play fetch with her, or if both my husband and I are there, we stand far apart and call Buffy to us and she "herds" us. I find that usually Buffy is more focused on us than the other dogs in the park.
- Look for a different dog park. I like the Glenview dog park, which is like 20 minutes away. Bit of a drive, but it's worth it to go somewhere with a nice big small dog pen. I also like walking Buffy on leash in the nearby forest preserves.
- Find a good trainer who focuses on socialization. Buffy had this and it made a huge difference. Our first class, puppy class, was mostly dogs her size and she loved playing with them. Second class was all Labs and this made her a little less engaged, but she learned how to act around Labs and other similar-sized dogs, which is all-important in this area. Basically, she learned to go up to them, do the casual sniff-sniff, wag-wag, and then keep her distance when they get crazy. To be honest I took both classes mostly for socialization... I know how to train her. (Or I thought I knew.) But it was invaluable to get help from an expert who has worked one-on-one with so many dogs.
- A good trainer will be able to recognize social cues from other dogs and teach you to do that as well. You can also read up on this online. I recommend starting by looking in the archives of Patricia McConnell's blog: http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/
- Obedience, agility, flyball, dog therapy.... find a job for your Sheltie. Do whichever thing appeals to you the most. But don't expect your Sheltie to get all his/her energy out at the dog park and on walks. These dogs need mental exercise as well as physical exercise or else they will spend their mental powers on finding your shoes and chewing them up or some similarly fun and amusing activity.
- Find a playmate for your Sheltie. From the dog park, from obedience classes, whatever. Just find one and set up a play date. You may feel silly about it but once you see your dogs playing together it will be worth it.
Good luck! I had this same issue with my Sheltie and others have too. Your puppy will be fine.
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Calliesmom
Moderator
we don't have a dog park but our dog club has a fenced area with our agility equipment. Cran has several friends in our club- but his best friend is a dalmatian. now that he has Dixie too, they play a lot in the backyard.
When I got Happy (non-sheltie), there were some dog parks that I took him to- he did not want to play with too many dogs there. Usually only one or two smaller dogs but he was happy to play with just me. he was older so probably like Caro said, not into playing with everyone that he met.
and Callie doesn't play with anyone or anything
When I got Happy (non-sheltie), there were some dog parks that I took him to- he did not want to play with too many dogs there. Usually only one or two smaller dogs but he was happy to play with just me. he was older so probably like Caro said, not into playing with everyone that he met.
and Callie doesn't play with anyone or anything
I hear ya
Toffee and I now kinda hate Boxers, lol... they play too rough and are too boisterous for him.
Just control it, she is not socially lonely, she's got you, she's got selected friends.
You're not out of ideas, go to classes, socialize her with GOOD dogs.. dogpark is like playing russian roulette
I agree with the sentiment that going to the dog park is like playing Russian Roulette. We have had our fair share of very bad experiences. DH, Ellie and I all agree about not liking Boxers--sorry Boxer lovers out there. When Ellie was minding her own business on a leash with her two owners right beside her and a Boxer attacks her "just because" it's too much for us to go back again to a dog park (although we did go two more times after the last attack for the benefit of all of us).
I agree about going to a class for doggies socialization. I would check first to see if the dogs are screened. We went to a class with Ellie when she was 6 months old that was a disaster because there were two out-of-control totally nasty-tempered dogs and one sneaky attack rag mop dog that bit me and her on the last day of class. Ellie learned how to bark there (I swear, she rarely if ever barked before). I am not trying to scare you off--but since your dog already knows obedience commands, go with an advanced class ebcause all the other dogs should be controlled and obedient.
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
don't get me wrong I LOVE my dogpark and I love going...
That's because only now have I learned about Toffee and his behaviours and signals. I just now have learned and figured out how to recognize 'bad' dogs and avoid them.
I completely recommend against socialization as a main reason to go to the dogpark. I like it, because mine is gorgeous and has lots of fenced in land overlooking the harbour,.. I don't go on weekends. Weekends is when the crazy dogs/owners get to go out once a week to be wild and uncontrolled and owners have no sweet clue about their dogs!
That's because only now have I learned about Toffee and his behaviours and signals. I just now have learned and figured out how to recognize 'bad' dogs and avoid them.
I completely recommend against socialization as a main reason to go to the dogpark. I like it, because mine is gorgeous and has lots of fenced in land overlooking the harbour,.. I don't go on weekends. Weekends is when the crazy dogs/owners get to go out once a week to be wild and uncontrolled and owners have no sweet clue about their dogs!
sable
Forums Enthusiast
We are so lucky to have the park we have, its gorgeous. Everyone is cordial, and really great. Its not a dog park, but everyone brings their dogs on a leash. The ones with the big dogs, walk the people, its funny at times. They keep the bigger ones on the other side of the walk. Of course we have our favorites like an English Setter and some others we visit with.
I have to agree if we didn't have our park I would have to go to a more controlled enviroment. Our backyard covers seven yards, five of them the entire width or length. Five of the yards there are dogs, where L & L get to sniff, run and play with them, a fence in between them.
I have to agree if we didn't have our park I would have to go to a more controlled enviroment. Our backyard covers seven yards, five of them the entire width or length. Five of the yards there are dogs, where L & L get to sniff, run and play with them, a fence in between them.