Hello everyone
I hope I can get some guidance from the boxer-lovers on here!
Roxy is 9 months old, and she is a typical, hyper, PLAYFUL boxer. We try to bring her to the DP as much as possible, but in the last few weeks, we've been avoiding it because we're not sure what to do about this issue.
Roxy loves the usual boxer playing style: running, jumping, roughhousing, all of it. She has no problems with dogs equal in size or bigger. I personally get nervous, but I know she's fine and loving every minute of it. We are never more than a few feet away from her at any given time. We are very actively involved at the DP, unlike alot of other owners. But whatever, that's not my issue today. lol
Roxy's problem is the smaller dogs. She is always drawn to the small dogs. So she'll go straight for them and begin the butt sniffing routine which is fine. But then very quickly the situation turns to one of two scenerios.
Scenerio # 1: the small dog will act in a way to show Roxy that she should back off by either barking or something like that. And Roxy will back off, but may or may not chase playfully if the small dog decides to run. But everyone is fine, and Roxy will move on eventually to other dogs.
Scenerio # 2 is that the small dog will not tell Roxy to back off, and Roxy will start to "play" with the small dog which scares the dog and usually results in the small dog being on her back crying in fear, and Roxy on top growling (or making mean sounding noises, which she does when she's playing). This transition happens in a matter of seconds. At this point we have to pull her off, leash her and walk away. Usually, no matter how much time passes, if we let Roxy off her leash, she will go right back to that dog. So either they have to leave, or we have to leave. Usually we leave.
At this point, I am so worried about the situation that we are avoiding the DP, but I feel bad because Roxy needs to burn off some energy and socialize. The DP that we go to is close to home, and it does not have a seperate area for small dogs. The DP that has a seperate area is 1.5 hours away, so that's just not feasible more than once or twice a month.
Does anyone have any advice for me?
Thanks!
PS - I should mention that we are still walking Roxy! We walk her everyday, and that the DP is just in addition to a walk. Thanks!
I hope I can get some guidance from the boxer-lovers on here!
Roxy is 9 months old, and she is a typical, hyper, PLAYFUL boxer. We try to bring her to the DP as much as possible, but in the last few weeks, we've been avoiding it because we're not sure what to do about this issue.
Roxy loves the usual boxer playing style: running, jumping, roughhousing, all of it. She has no problems with dogs equal in size or bigger. I personally get nervous, but I know she's fine and loving every minute of it. We are never more than a few feet away from her at any given time. We are very actively involved at the DP, unlike alot of other owners. But whatever, that's not my issue today. lol
Roxy's problem is the smaller dogs. She is always drawn to the small dogs. So she'll go straight for them and begin the butt sniffing routine which is fine. But then very quickly the situation turns to one of two scenerios.
Scenerio # 1: the small dog will act in a way to show Roxy that she should back off by either barking or something like that. And Roxy will back off, but may or may not chase playfully if the small dog decides to run. But everyone is fine, and Roxy will move on eventually to other dogs.
Scenerio # 2 is that the small dog will not tell Roxy to back off, and Roxy will start to "play" with the small dog which scares the dog and usually results in the small dog being on her back crying in fear, and Roxy on top growling (or making mean sounding noises, which she does when she's playing). This transition happens in a matter of seconds. At this point we have to pull her off, leash her and walk away. Usually, no matter how much time passes, if we let Roxy off her leash, she will go right back to that dog. So either they have to leave, or we have to leave. Usually we leave.
At this point, I am so worried about the situation that we are avoiding the DP, but I feel bad because Roxy needs to burn off some energy and socialize. The DP that we go to is close to home, and it does not have a seperate area for small dogs. The DP that has a seperate area is 1.5 hours away, so that's just not feasible more than once or twice a month.
Does anyone have any advice for me?
Thanks!
PS - I should mention that we are still walking Roxy! We walk her everyday, and that the DP is just in addition to a walk. Thanks!