Kinda Glum: My Dog got into a fight at the dog park this afternoon

[Mike 03]

Maybe "fight" is an overstatement, but he got into his first "dispute" at our local dog park. Friday afternoons are the best time to take a dog to our park because there are ton of dogs and really nice owners there. It is an event my dog looks forward to, and I get such a kick out of seeing dogs having such a great time.

There were about 25 to 30 dogs there, and my dog has been there many times and met many of these dogs that are regulars. The fight itself, at least the part I saw, looked like a dominance contest or something. There were no bites, just snarling, posing and gestures, but it was embarrassing because there are almost never fights at the park.

My dog is so laid-back and so friendly that it made me sad because afterwards he seemed very down about the whole thing. He's a male black lab, neutered, about three and a half years old. He got into a fight with another dog, but I was so shocked I can't remember exactly what breed the other dog was.

Afterwards, I told the owner of the other dog that I had missed the triggering event, even though I saw the fight, and if my dog had done something wrong. He said "No, these things just happen sometimes." Everybody was very nice about it, but it was upsetting.

Now it makes me a little bit fearful to take him back.

More than anything though, I feel bad for my dog the way a parent might feel bad if his kid embarrassed himself in a school sporting event and the child seemed down about the whole thing.

Anybody else had dog park issues?

Do you think it's okay to take him back there? I swear, I used to work with dogs six days a week as a volunteer at a shelter, and I was blessed to find at a shelter the most incredibly laid back dog I've ever met, but maybe he is sending signals I am not seeing to other dogs.

[XemaSab]

1. If it was just a little thing, don't worry about it

A few months ago, two of my dogs started REALLY fighting. Now one of them has to wear a muzzle.

As long as your dog doesn't need to go to the vet, I wouldn't stress about it. :P

[Demoiselle]

2. "Fight" is an overstatement, Mike.

That doesn't a fight. Especially if they were both off leash. Snarling, posing and gestures are preliminary signals of trouble to be sure. But real dog fights involve flesh rending and bloodletting.
It sounds like your dog and the other dog felt threatened by each other....but nothing happened except doggie warnings. Do take you dog back to that park. Keep him on a short, firm lead for a while.
Try to read your dog and the other dogs, and cut things off if you sense any problems.
A black Lab is a pretty big dog. Find a dog expert, trainer, someone who knows his (her) way around pooches, and get him to advise you.

I have two big beautiful Great Pyrenees who are, 99 percent of the time, the most peaceable, other-dog-friendly creatures on earth. But once in a rare, rare while, they encounter a dog on the street who sets something off in them. Usually, I can tell that the dog is really afraid of them (they're big!) And then he curls his lip and mutters. And then they start to carry on. They are on leashes with pinch collars, and I never take them off the lead, even in the park. But it is embarrassing when they start barking as though the devil himself is confronting them....

[applegrove]

3. I know how embarrasing it can be. I once used to walk a bouvier puppy at our local

dog park. He was about 10 months old and used to play with other dogs. He had a great time. The other dogs would come back to their masters with their heads completely covered in saliva. I'm talking totally soaking wet. Seems my puppy loved the put his huge mouth on other dogs heads during play. I was mortified.

[Swede]

4. It doesn't look that bad,Mike.

Go back and you and your dog have fun.

[Brickbat]

5. Thirty dogs? That seems like a lot to me.

He might have felt a little stressed and just saw something that bugged him. Everyone has off days, including dogs. Snarling, posing and gestures do not make a fight -- they're just talkin'.

[flvegan]

6. That's not a dispute, that's simple communication.

Go back to the park and have fun. Matter of fact, the more social he is, the happier and well adjusted he'll be.

[femmocrat]

7. If you act afraid of the dog park, he will pick up on that.

Just act like nothing happened the next time you go there. If you act like you are having tons of fun, so will he.

You might carry a spray bottle with you just in case there is another confrontation. Dogs just "behave badly" sometimes! Mine will even get into a spat over a toy in the house. They have a million toys, but they will both want the same one. LOL

[BikeWriter]

8. I used to love watching my Great Dane relate to other dogs.

He was just a big doofus until one day a chow got between me and him in the truck and growled at me. He broke command, came out of the truck, and rolled the chow half way up the block!