Dog is acting territorial at the off-leash park

[funchefchick]

I have a large 2-year-old mutt who has recently starting acting territorial/aggressive with other dogs at our off-leash park.

My dog is a neutered male who has done extensive obedience training. He is very well-behaved with all people although he is a little scared of children. We recently determined he is part Borzoi, which explains his large size and strong prey drive - and his need to run every single day. He behaves well on leash unless he sees a squirrel or cat in which case he loses his mind. Otherwise, he is a very calm, obedient dog but timid around strangers.

At the dog park (which we visit every morning so he can stretch his legs and RUN) he is perfectly fine with dogs he knows, smaller dogs, and older dogs. Dogs that are about his size and age, however, he has started to chase, sometimes snarls, and bares his teeth. I don't let it go any further once that starts but I would love for it not to start at all!

He has never hurt another dog, not even close. When we recently visited an off-leash park much farther from our house he was perfectly well behaved with every dog we met. This leads me to believe he is being territorial of our "home" park.

Other than trying to visit other parks more often, what can I do to get my sweet playful dog back?

[Canine Psychology Centre]

Hi,

Without seeing it for myself, and from your info, I'd say it's not territorial, or dominance. I'd say it was excitement getting to an extreme. Thrill of the chase, getting a little too giddy and carired away. It's the prey instinct in him.

It's actually a very very hard thing to overcome, I'd say in my experience, the hardest thing. It's primeval. It's no longer your dog running around after the 'prey'. He's become the 'animal', not the pet you know, and he won't listen or even know you exist as you scream at him to come back. Does that sound familar?

Rather than stopping him and his inbred need to chase, you need to redirect it, have him fetch a ball or toy instead. You might also have to tire him out more and up the walking. Don't just take him to a park and let him off. That's not leadership. Keep him on a leash and take him for a long long walk, at least an hour. Do the park thing maybe just once a week, to fetch a ball.

In the mean time, get him coming to you on the blow of a whistle. He may have beocme immune to your voice as you call him. A high pitch dog whistle will get his attention and carry further. To make this effective, associate it with treats. For a week, give him a treat several times a day, blowing the whistle at the moment you give the treat to him. By the end of the week, blowing the whistle should be enough to snap him out of his prey mode as he's about to bolt, and come to you instead for the biscuit. Make it a good treat though, something he's mad about.

Check to make sure that you're the pack leader in general. Challenge him more every day and make him work for everything, every meal, every walk, every bit of affection.

Good luck,

[ste7e]

Originally Posted by funchefchick

I have a large 2-year-old mutt who has recently starting acting territorial/aggressive with other dogs at our off-leash park.

My dog is a neutered male who has done extensive obedience training. He is very well-behaved with all people although he is a little scared of children. We recently determined he is part Borzoi, which explains his large size and strong prey drive - and his need to run every single day. He behaves well on leash unless he sees a squirrel or cat in which case he loses his mind. Otherwise, he is a very calm, obedient dog but timid around strangers.

At the dog park (which we visit every morning so he can stretch his legs and RUN) he is perfectly fine with dogs he knows, smaller dogs, and older dogs. Dogs that are about his size and age, however, he has started to chase, sometimes snarls, and bares his teeth. I don't let it go any further once that starts but I would love for it not to start at all!

He has never hurt another dog, not even close. When we recently visited an off-leash park much farther from our house he was perfectly well behaved with every dog we met. This leads me to believe he is being territorial of our "home" park.

Other than trying to visit other parks more often, what can I do to get my sweet playful dog back?

Hi

'fraid I can't offer any advice for you. But I'd like to know where the dog park is? I've been looking for one in the near me to safely off-leash-excercise our newly rescued blue-merle colllie but can't seem to find a single one in the UK!!

Steve

[mac.]

what sort of park you looking for? there are loads in the uk the safety aspect of them is how you control the dog, as long as it isn't open to roads ect, i have 2 near me both are safe.

[ste7e]

I'm looking for somewhere that's completely enclosed and for dogs to be safely off-leash. Somewhere to safely do recall training and somewhere to safely exericise my dog who's in the early stages of his training.

[mac.]

Iam sure that if you check around your area there would be at least 1 park, to make yourself confident of the park walk around the park with your dog a few times on the lead so that you and your dog know the park and when your happy with it then do your training, it makes alot of difference when your happy and confident with it.
hth.

[Princess]

Hey,
I agree, you should be able to find somewhere closed off to walk your dog. Even if you have to ask the rspca close by if you can use their park and offer to walk some of their dogs?
x

[mac.]

If you walk other dogs this could also help with your confidence with it.

[Princess]

Thats exactly what i was thinking and you'd be helping the rspca
x

[mac.]

what do you think ste7e?