[robinb]

I have a 5 month old male Dobie. He is about 52 pounds and he has grown up with 2 small pugs in my family since we got him. About 2 months ago we went over my father-n-laws house and the black lab came out and he started to make a sound that I was later told is the sound they make when there in pain.

This was about a week after he spent the day at the vet (where i have seen many big labs).

I thought, wow I wonder if something happened at the vets? I didnt think much more of it.

Once he got a little older we started to go for runs and walks. No dog bothers him, but when he sees a lab he tries to get off the path and tries to pull me (which he doesnt normally do).

Last night I was at the park with my friend and his lab mix (smaller then my 5 month old Max) and they were playing ball. This is the one lab he likes, but she is much smaller and he has known her since i got him. They were chasing the ball in the park when another person came with a bigger lab.

Max loves everyone, he needs to say hi to everyone, so he is usually on a leash. Well of course he jolted from the ball to the dog about 15 feet away to say hi. The dog barked and Max realized it was a lab and ran screeching. We all introduced ourselves and started to let the 3 dogs investigate each other without a leash. When they started to play, the lab went after max in a playing fashion and max ran about 400 yards screeching and yelping (scared to death). I was hoping this wouldnt happen but it did. I didnt want to reinforce the fear so i allowed him to come back on his own accord and continue to work back into the mix. This happened a couple more times.

Eventually Max came and sat by me. My friend told me to just have him be submissive and let the lab smell him. We did just that, and then out of nowhere Max started to scream and the dog started play biting him. Max bit my hand in terror and soiled himself as he yelped for about 30 seconds in terror. He was petrified. It broke my heart, and something about it didnt seem right. I felt like I let him down by allowing him to get so scared, but everyone says not to reinforce the fear. I felt horrible the rest of the night.

After talking to another owner they suggested I find some good lab owners who will put there labs in a submissive position and allow max to sniff them, not the other way around. She also said a well trained dog should not attack a puppy when it screams, but many will, so that i need to be selective right now about who I allow him to have that interaction with.

I am going to enroll him in group classes right away, and I will continue to go to the park with the new information as a handler in mind so that i can create a better environment for him to get rid of the fear. He is a big loving goon. He thinks everyone wants to kiss and pet him. I want to do sport activities with him and maybe even shutzhund activities if possible, but I will be much more limited if he carries these fears into adult hood.

Has anyone else experienced this with there Dobie?

Does anyone have any additional suggestions besides increased socialization?

The last thing I want is for him to carry fear.

I have not experienced fear to that level with any of mine. I would suggest talking to a good trainer for the best way to proceed. I agree with letting your pup go up to the lab, not the other way around. And then only if you are confident that the lab will tolerate the pup in a friendly manner. Also never coddle the fear. Act as normal as possible if you do have another incident. I don't want to start any arguments re dog parks but if the park you refer to is a dog park, I would not be taking a pup with fear issues to one. With that said, I'd just never do dog parks period, too much risk for my dogs in my opinion. Best of luck with your guy.

 

[robinb]

It was not a dog park, he has never been to a dog park. I think i will do structured classes first. I am weary of a dog park because I was told not all dogs will leave him alone if he gets scared, some will go after him when he shows the fear (like this one did)..

I am still feeling in the dumps about it. I have never seen a dog so scared and its not his personality to act like that. He usually is playful and happy all the time.

You need to get out of the dumps about it as that can come right down the leash. Your pup will get over it.:biggrin55: Structured classes should help. Here are a couple of articles from the DPCA that might help you. Take a deep breath and things will work out.

Ctitical Behaviour Periods - DPCA Breeders Education


Suspicion In A Doberman - Good or Bad??? - DPCA Breeders Education

 

[robinb]

Thank you so much, robinb, for sharing these two articles with us. I can't tell you how much I learned from them. Every breeder should give a copy these articles to their new owners when they send the puppies off!

You're welcome, one is written by my good friend and mentor Bonnie Wittrock. I wish I knew half of what she has forgotten!