Yelping - Behavioral?

[nivekjski]

I'm new to the forum. I've had Dobes all my life. My last one past away 2 years ago and I adopted a 2 year old male in Febuary.

He loves other dogs but always had a problem with when they get aggressive with him mostly due to the other dog being protective of something. He yelps and runs to me. Big baby. He still always had fun at the dog park.

About a month and a half ago I got hurt and couldn't drive. So all I could do is walk him and I was stuck at home and babied the crap out of him. I got a little better last week and took him back to the park and he went up to a tiny dog sitting next to his owner on a bench and it bit him on the nose and he yelped like crazy and ran over to me and wouldn't leave. Any other dog that got even near him he would yelp like he was in pain. He didn't want to stay and I took him home.

We stayed at home for a few days and would yelp like he was in pain. Mainly he likes to look out the window. When he sees a dog he would bark. I would pull him away like I normally do and he would yelp really bad like he was in pain. He does it everytime now.

Took him back to the park. He loves getting there and goes straight up to a dog and is happy and the dog attempts to play and he yelps and runs to me. Sets the whole tone for the rest of the time we spend there. Whole time is excited to see a dog. Dog wants to play and yelps and runs over to me.

He needs a good experience with a dog but my chihuahua passed away 2 weeks ago. I can't get to the dog park everyday like I used to right now to get his confidence back. He's still a big lovey dovey dog but now when he doesn't want to do something he'll let out a big yelp. Its just getting worse.

Any suggestions?

 

[Ddski5]

This is gonna be contrary to your mode of thought but just don’t go to the dog park. You will find that many of us Doberman owners here do not like dog parks. It is an uncontrollable environment and you are putting confidence in other owners and dogs to act appropriately. Exactly the case when the other dog nipped at yours.

I find that my Dobermans don’t need other dogs…they are loyal to us and only want our attention/affection. Kinda sound like yours?

If you must, find a friendly dog that won’t be aggressive or snippy with yours and slowly work up your Doberman’s confidence to be around other dogs. Make friendly dog visits with this other dog and just go to the local park.

If you keep putting yours in the dog park situation, he will continue on magnifying his fear of other dogs and in the end will have poor confidence in himself.

Good luck.

 

[nivekjski]

I understand. Its just my last dobe loved the dog park and dog beach. Different dog though.

 

[nivekjski]

What did get better over that period of time was his leash aggression at my apartment complex towards other dogs here. Lots of dogs at my building. Now he's friendly with them. So that worked out.

 

[Ddski5]

I understand. Its just my last dobe loved the dog park and dog beach. Different dog though.

Yeah, completely understandable.

I find it crazy and very interesting how different Dobermans can be, in many ways, on the opposite sides of the spectrum.

 

[nivekjski]

Thanks for the quick reply. Good community you got here

 

[jazzies mum]

I had to deal with this too after my girl was attacked as a pup. The less you yourself react when they "scream and run to mum" the better. They do regain confidence again if you are calm but there is still the occasional dog that for some reason still causes this reaction from Jazz. And she is now 7yrs old and confident in every other way. I just move her away from the stress and have a chuckle about the screaming Dobe!

 

[JanS]

Welcome from Minnesota!

I agree that the dog park is one of the worst places you can take your pup. You are probably very responsible but many other dog owners are not so it's setting your pup up for fear issues. Instead find a good group training class or somewhere else to take him so he can socialize with people and things but not unruly dogs off leash.

 

[nivekjski]

I had to deal with this too after my girl was attacked as a pup. The less you yourself react when they "scream and run to mum" the better. They do regain confidence again if you are calm but there is still the occasional dog that for some reason still causes this reaction from Jazz. And she is now 7yrs old and confident in every other way. I just move her away from the stress and have a chuckle about the screaming Dobe!

The biting of his nose is a big thing for him. When I got him out of the humane society he had wounds all over his nose from another dog. He wants to be around dogs and goes up to them wagging his nub but I can't take him into the dog park if all he's gonna do is yelp everytime a dog engages to play with him. That gets me nervous. He's gonna do it to the wrong dog someday in the dog park. I think he's been lucky so far just because he's so freaking huge and the dogs were intimidated by his size.

If he doesn't ever go to the dog park again I'll be okay but he needs to socialize with other dogs somehow. The dog park might just be more for me if anything at this point. My dog park history goes way back so much that people there still remember when my ex girlfriend that I met at the dog park ran me over in her car in front of it once. I do miss the dog park life. lol

 

[nivekjski]

Not that I'm trying to pickup girls. I'm taken now. Just saying the dog park life was cool.

 

[Kswoodssue]

He doesn’t need other dogs. He just needs you…and a nose without bites.

 

[nivekjski]

He doesn’t need to play with the dog but he needs to be able to be able to be around other dogs. Terms for living in Los Angeles or you lock it up in your backyard. He’s got it covered.

 

[T-bone]

Group classes of any kind will help build his confidence. People and dogs all together, but all the dogs are leashed and under the owners control. Just being in the same area is good. Start slow. Group walks are really helpful, too. There is a training facility near me that does Group walks in all different places every Saturday. Maybe start with something like that.
Remember. He will feed off your emotions, so you should be calm and confident, also. Good luck!!

 

[nivekjski]

Group classes of any kind will help build his confidence. People and dogs all together, but all the dogs are leashed and under the owners control. Just being in the same area is good. Start slow. Group walks are really helpful, too. There is a training facility near me that does Group walks in all different places every Saturday. Maybe start with something like that.
Remember. He will feed off your emotions, so you should be calm and confident, also. Good luck!!

That sounds really good!

 

[Kaiser2016]

The biting of his nose is a big thing for him. When I got him out of the humane society he had wounds all over his nose from another dog.

I was going to say that him being a rescue you might not know all the history of what might be triggering him, but obviously you have figured out that his nose is an issue. Every time it happens his confidence will go down. I worry about the safety aspect of such a large and powerful dog turning into a fearful dog. For now he is retreating, but it can go the other way too. If he becomes aggressive even in defence of himself you will see these dog park goers turn on a dime labeling your dog as a danger and then you will have to stop going because your dogs life will be at risk. Better to take matters into your hands now while you still can. If he's 3ish years old, his reactions may still change. Males mature slowly so you may not know what kind of an adult dog he’ll become.

 

[Two Dobes]

This is gonna be contrary to your mode of thought but just don’t go to the dog park. You will find that many of us Doberman owners here do not like dog parks. It is an uncontrollable environment and you are putting confidence in other owners and dogs to act appropriately. Exactly the case when the other dog nipped at yours.

I find that my Dobermans don’t need other dogs…they are loyal to us and only want our attention/affection. Kinda sound like yours?

If you must, find a friendly dog that won’t be aggressive or snippy with yours and slowly work up your Doberman’s confidence to be around other dogs. Make friendly dog visits with this other dog and just go to the local park.

If you keep putting yours in the dog park situation, he will continue on magnifying his fear of other dogs and in the end will have poor confidence in himself.

Good luck.

I would like to print this and have it as a GIANT sign in my yard! Still have neighbors who let their dogs wander..."Their friendly" they yell.....guess what??? I would like to walk my dogs in my neighborhood, without your dog running up to mine while they are on a walk!!!! Ok, rant over Agree....Dobermans don't need other dogs.

 

[Fightingprussian]

This is gonna be contrary to your mode of thought but just don’t go to the dog park. You will find that many of us Doberman owners here do not like dog parks. It is an uncontrollable environment and you are putting confidence in other owners and dogs to act appropriately. Exactly the case when the other dog nipped at yours.

I find that my Dobermans don’t need other dogs…they are loyal to us and only want our attention/affection. Kinda sound like yours?

If you must, find a friendly dog that won’t be aggressive or snippy with yours and slowly work up your Doberman’s confidence to be around other dogs. Make friendly dog visits with this other dog and just go to the local park.

If you keep putting yours in the dog park situation, he will continue on magnifying his fear of other dogs and in the end will have poor confidence in himself.

Good luck.

I agree, people are terrified of our dogs and just don’t understand the breed. “Your dog is Diablo!”, “evil dog keep it away from us and our dogs!” Etc. ad nauseum. Even though our dogs have great temperaments and are well trained, people don’t like our dogs, and by our I mean us Dobermann Parents. Plus, Leptospirosis is nothing to mess around with, so I’d rather not. Just my 2 cents. And yes, they just need us. Thank you and God bless all