Trip home pics and Question

[zmchristopher]

Hellooo everyone, hope your all well, havent been online for couple weeks cause I went back home to Wales for a visit... Got a couple pics to post but not as many as I should have caught!

Before I post them I got a question... Ive been taking Zeus for his daily walks to my mums local park, its a good size with a lake to walk round and childrens playing area, all round a nice place to go.
Anyway, walking Zeus on his longish line about 4 meters long, hes been getting 'warned' by other dogs, almost bitten at times (Zeus flings himself backwards save getting caught) & I have no idea why. Hes actually started to react himself a little bit with the odd dog which I ofcourse have been correcting with a firm NO! and a leash pop.
Why is this happening?? its getting me worried. I let Zeus approach the dogs so he can say his 'hellos' and 90% of them have been offlead this is why I let him go to them figuring they must be somewhat friendly, Dogs on lead I check with owners first. And these dogs that have been acting aggresively have all been from what I can tell older than Zeus.. Also Zeus has not yet been neutered...
Hope you can help me out with this guys/girls

Heres the pics

Kaizer & Zeus playing chase, these 2 are like brothers they just love playing together




One tired boy


Me and the boys


Poor Zeus has to play 'dress up' from time to time with Lowri LOL!




Trip to Erddig


As most of you will know, this is a small one. Its ususally half a tree for Zeus lol




Snuggled up on grandmas chair

 

[JanS]

Beautiful shots Zoe and your whole family right from Zeus to you and your daughter are adorable! I love the scenery there too!

 

[Marko1962]

Nice pics, he's growing nicely BUT what are you doing?!?!? don't you know sticking PINK sunglasses on a male Dobe is just so not right or cool, he will have so many negative complexes, it's something he will remember for life and his mama did it to him, here comes the freudian complex!!!!

On the other hand it would have been completely OK sticking black glasses on him

 

[zmchristopher]

Nice pics, he's growing nicely BUT what are you doing?!?!? don't you know sticking PINK sunglasses on a male Dobe is just so not right or cool, he will have so many negative complexes, it's something he will remember for life and his mama did it to him, here comes the freudian complex!!!!

On the other hand it would have been completely OK sticking black glasses on him

Hey! Dont tell me tell the 2 year old! and I warn you Marko, you will not get through to her! Zeus is a ''Good girl''

 

[Marinegeekswife]

Great shots! It looks like everyone enjoyed the trip. As to the strange behavior, without being there to observe it is difficult to point out subtle body language that could be causing it. However it could be that he is intact if this is happening with other males.

 

[zmchristopher]

Great shots! It looks like everyone enjoyed the trip. As to the strange behavior, without being there to observe it is difficult to point out subtle body language that could be causing it. However it could be that he is intact if this is happening with other males.

I did think about this... But I did bump into a lady with a 5 year old male dobe (he was stunning really well behaved) and she didnt get him neutered till he was about 2, and she walks him daily at this park. I know what your saying about the body language, I do wonder is Zeus giving off the wrong signals but Im no expert and I cant see anything really obvious even when Im watching carefully..

 

[Dobs4ever]

I let Zeus approach the dogs so he can say his 'hellos' and 90% of them have been offlead this is why I let him go to them figuring they must be somewhat friendly, Dogs on lead I check with owners first.

ZMC -great pictures and I love the pink sunglasses.

Now to your question - First dogs loose and dogs on leash don't mix. The leash makes a dog appear weak Zeus picks up on this when the other loose dogs react negatively. I might be the wrong one to ask as I don't believe dogs need to be solialized with other dogs unless it is controlled situation. It it the rare male intact Doberman or dog that will not have problems with other intact males. Yours might be fine it is the "others" I always worry about.

I also believe in giving dogs their space. I would not let him approach a dog that is loose - that is a BIG unknown. Just keep walking and if necessary step towards the other dogs and tell them to get. This establishes that you are in control and don't need their help. When Zeus flings back he is telling you thre is trouble brewing and you need to calmly show him you are in control and send the other dogs away and continue walking on. If you are uncomfortable with this then carry a walking stick - it gives you power.

It appears Zeus gets along just fine with the GSD so be happy and let them play together - all other dogs should not invade your space period.

Unneutered dogs should not be running loose. Heck if you ask me neutered dogs should not be running loose. ALMOST every single dog attack is by some dog being loose.

 

[zmchristopher]

Thanks D4E. I think you are right, Why am I approaching/letting Zeus go to these dogs? We are on a walk... thats what I should be doing.
Thinking about it, one dog started to bark at Zeus and was bounding round, but the owner said to me ''Shes going mad cause shes onto a winner cause your dogs leashed.'' I didnt take much notice but she was probably right, and maybe these dogs are going mad at Zeus because he is 'invading their space' I never thought it was a problem. I have been letting Zeus meet all dogs obviously hes still a puppy and very friendly, maybe keep him safe and away to keep him that way. I dont want to undo it letting him go to dogs that are gonna bite him and send him nasty?

 

[JanS]

First dogs loose and dogs on leash don't mix. The leash makes a dog appear weak Zeus picks up on this when the other loose dogs react negatively.

I forgot all about that, but the first time we took Albert to class we let him out in the "social yard" to go potty and when another dog came out I told Hubby that we better get him on a leash since we didn't know what might happen when they hadn't met before. Well the other dog was going after him and he was getting defensive so our trainer came out and said "we never have one dog leashed in the social yard since it will create big problems when the other one feels trapped and the free dog knows it ", so yes you're absolutely correct about it. Once we let him back off the leash, they started to play and everything was fine again.

 

[Dobs4ever]

Glad I could help. I am in fact doing an article based on this discussion right now and will get it posted hopefully today. I keep getting interrupted as I am working on 3 or 4 projects as well as regular Dober Duties!!!!

 

[MyBuddy]

Adorable photo with you and your boys!! And I agree with everything being said about loose dogs/leashed dogs.