Aggressive Dog - Dog Park Blues

I'm sharing this Facebook thread from the Vizsla page, I'm asking for suggestions on how to handle a recent problem/concern that I'm having with Ralphie at the dog park.  This great community of Vizsla lovers gave me some great advice....

Ralphie has the dog park blues...what would you do? Ralphie has been going to our local dog park since he was a pup so he's made a lot of good pup pals. Recently a 2 year old un-altered Belgian Malinois, aka The Herder has been coming to the park. This Herder is obsessed with Ralphie and only Ralphie! He's very dominant over Ralphie and will not let up. He 'herds' Ralphie the whole time while we're at the park not allowing him to play with the other dogs. It's evident Ralphie is very annoyed and sometimes tries to 'fight' back grabbing The Herder's cheek/neck ... nothing works to keep this dog away from Ralphie. The owner is a nice guy and gives his dog a time-out when he's getting too aggressive...but after that it starts all over again. I hate to change the time we go because it's cooler out and all of Ralphie's friends are there at that time. Poor Ralphie is exhausted from defending himself rather than normal play when we leave the park. Again, The Herder only herds Ralphie, no other dog, he's fixated on just Ralphie...every day! Advice please!

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• Poor Ralphie is getting so stressed, I would have a talk w the owner of the other dog n tell he has to take responsibility for his dog bc the time out isn't working! He needs to do better than time out. I don't like Bullies! Sending hugs to Ralphie!  
  

  17 hours ago · Like · 2

  
  
• The Herder needs to be removed when you're there since he is the one causing the problem.

  17 hours ago · Like

  
  
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   Here's a pic of poor Ralphie 
  

  
  

  

  17 hours ago · Like
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   This husky was harassing my poor Vlad in fact he attacked him a couple time... So I kicked him...the owner wasn't happy about it but I had to defend my boy... No more park for him tho 

  17 hours ago · Unlike · 1

  
  
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  Gosh, I would hate to stop taking Ralphie to the park...he loved going before The Herder. He has so many friends since puphood...many grew up together...especially his favorite, Bailey.

  17 hours ago · Like
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   poor ralphie! he has a cute bum bum though! 

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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   What happens if you intervene and body block the dog from your dog

  16 hours ago · Like
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  Maybe ask the herders parents for their number and coordinate times or if you see them, leave for a while, go get the baby some ice cream, and come back later to see if they are gone.

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  That man obviously doesn't know how to handle a Malinois. They are a naturally dominant breed that requires an experienced handler under the best of circumstances. When they're unaltered their dominant tendencies show through even more. Unless this man...See More

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  I suggest that you stop going to the dog park. You are going to feel even worse when the problem escalates and your dog gets hurt. I would suggest exchanging numbers with some of the owners of the dogs that Ralphie plays the best with and start arranging play dates away from the dog park.

  16 hours ago · Edited · Unlike · 3
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   There's a corgi at our dog park that herds and barks and runs around everyone. So annoying. 

  16 hours ago · Like
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   Could you maybe get names and numbers of Ralphie's friends and maybe go for walks instead?

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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• Set up a schedule with Herder's owners - alternating days.

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  The malinois owner needs to find a new place to play if he cannot control his intact male. Majority rules at dog parks, and his dog is the issue. He needs to be asked nicely to leave or come at another time.

  16 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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   Take a squirt gun with you. Be sure to let the dom dogs owner. And use it.

  15 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  This situation is so unfair!!! Why can`t people realize it if their dog is being a bully!!! If this Malinois is only young, the owner is in for a very rude awakening one of these times. This will only escalate if left untreated.

  15 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Ken has a good idea! We had to deal with that. The Dominant dog kept mounting Luke and would never leave him alone. Sadly my resolve was to leave the park. After that we would try to go at a different time but I wished I could have had the spine to deal with it differently.

  15 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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   I would ask the man to please keep him away from ralphie

  15 hours ago · Unlike · 1

  
  
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   The owner of The Herder is not a professional trainer. Ralphie is neutered. I do try to intervene between the two dogs but The Herder manages to still go at Ralphie; very overbearing. I would hate to stop going to the dog park because it gave Ralphie ...See More

  15 hours ago · Like

  
  

   Theresa, it sounds like Ralphie is being bullied and while it may not look like it right now... it could affect his socialization skills. If the Malinois owner will work with you on a schedule perhaps something can be mutually reached but it may come down to just finding another time or park.
• 15 hours ago · Unlike · 2
• The best piece of advice I got for my dog was, "Set your dog up for success." In this situation, remove your dog from the harm. There are MANY other ways to socialize your dog in a controlled, safe environment. I agree withAmy, these experiences could be doing more harm than good.

  15 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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   Dog parks rely on owners to be responsible for their dogs, it does not sound like the other owner is taking responsibility for his pet's behavior. I would kindly ask him to redirect his dog away from yours, and if he cannot, then he should apply more ...See More

  14 hours ago · Like · 1
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  And what if both of you, the malinois and his handler, and you and Ralphie would go to the trainer? I mean, when approaching the other owner, point out the problem, but end with alternatives and positive suggestions: like your malinois needs some speci...See More

  13 hours ago · Like · 1
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   Maybe some of Ralphie's friends can be convinced to come at a different time? So he can have a good experience too. I would avoid the bully because it just isn't fun. Or maybe talk to the other owner and alternate days? And, is the Herder's owner embarrassed by his dog's behavior? He should..and be working hard to change it.

  13 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Our V sometimes becomes fixated on other dogs at the dog park and will not let them be. Just keeps playing and playing, some people get annoyed so we leash him, remove him from the situation and move areas. His owner should smarten up. You need to stop being so nice 

  13 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  You shouldn't have to quit or altar your schedule at the dog park ... Obviously this owner needs more command of his dog's social skills ... He needs to be reminded respectfully at first to give your dog some space after a period of adjustment expires ...See More

  13 hours ago · Like · 3
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   I've been on both sides of this situation. My V has been obsessively annoying with a couple dogs in the past, I end up taking him out of the park when this happened. He eventually eased up on the behaviour to the point to where he stops when I tell him...See More

  12 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Maybe a suggestion to the Belgians owner that you work together and arrange opposite times to bring the dogs? One day you go at the "best" time and the next he does? I'm sure he's not happy seeing his dog being obsessed with Ralphie either 

  12 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  It sucks right! This happens to us to and we get told to put our dog on a Leash, it makes me so mad because this rottie picks on Reuben and we're the ones that suffer!!

  12 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  You said the Mals owner is nice. Talk to him and arrange a time, schedule so that the dogs are not in park at same time. You have the brain, voice, watch, calendar and control of the whole situation. As long as the other owner is cooperative make his dogs behavior his problem, not yours or Ralphies. Actually an easy fix, you can be assertive and nice too. A win win situation.

  11 hrs · Unlike · 1
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  An interesting obsevation, in day care my dog had favorites that she played with. Other really fun looking dogs would try very hard to engage her with play but she only had eyes for her special buddies. Cute.

  10 hrs · Unlike · 1

  
  
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   Well I went to the dog park this evening to talk to The Herder's owner and hoping to agree on a schedule to bring our dogs opposite times...he wasn't there, which was a big surprise. Ralphie had a great time at the park today and even was able to play with his BFF, Bailey.

  10 hrs · Like · 7
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   YAY for today!

  6 hrs · Unlike · 1
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   Picure of Ralphie?

  2 hrs · Like

  
  
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  Ralphie with his BFF, Bailey at the dog park. 
  

  

  
  

...After Our Run

We did a 3 mile run today in 86 degree weather.  Yes, it was HOT!  It's that time of the year ... hot day and night so there's no perfect time to run.  Actually the most perfect time is after work... and that's what we do!  Average pace was 13.10 with 3 potty breaks.

After our run...

... and then we jumped in the pool to cool off.

"What Kind of Dog Is That"

If you're a Vizsla owner I'm sure you've heard many, many, many times ... "What kind of dog is that?"  Sometimes it's quite comical and quite amusing.

I've been asked, "what kind of mix is your dog?"   "Oh, Ralphie is a Vizsla."  "A what??"
"A veee-shla."
I've been asked if Ralphie is a Pit Bull before!  Yes, a Pit Bull!!!  Sir, let me google for you, Pit Bull.   Hahaha
Or the know-it-all person..."is that a lab mix?" "No, Ralphie is a Vizsla." Then I see a puzzled look on his face with a big question mark.  Then he says, "oh, he's tall for a viz-la".  Oh really sir, it's vee-shla.  Hahaha
My neighbor really makes me laugh...every time we pass him and his Chows on our walk, he says, "hey, hound dog, how ya doin' today."  At the beginning I never mentioned Ralphie is not a hound dog, but one day I had to tell him, "Oh, Ralphie is a Vizsla, not a hound dog."  He totally ignored me.  To this day, he still calls Ralphie a hound dog!  Arrgh!!
I'm asked, "Isn't your dog supposed to be a gray color, why is he brown?"  "Oh, Ralphie isn't a Weimaraner, which are silver gray. Ralphie is a Vizsla and he's red."  His response, "Wow, I never heard of that kind of dog."

I really do love all the attention Ralphie gets.  I enjoy educating people of this awesome breed. Ralphie receives many kind comments..."he's beautiful, love his shiny coat, such a good-natured dog, love his eyes, he's so different, handsome boy, love his soft-silky ears..."  Many of the comments make me laugh.  But most of all, I'm proud to have such a unique, handsome boy by my side...my Ralphie.

Lazy Vizsla

Is there such a thing as a lazy Vizsla?  Normally when someone thinks Vizsla, your thoughts are high-energy, crazy, hyper.  Well lately Ralphie doesn't seem to be the typical Vizsla.
Ralphie has been very laid back.  I guess you can say sort of lazy.  Oh, today he did swim a little in the pool, chased a few lizards, went on a short walk and that's about it.  He's not interested in chewing his bone.  He just ended up sprawled on the sofa, sleeping after his minimal exercise.   He doesn't have much interest in the dog park as before.  Yesterday he played pretty much by himself at the park...wasn't interested in the other dogs.  He seemed happy and content just fetching the ball and playing frisbee with me and then he got hot and tired.  Can Ralphie be bored with the dog park?  I thought all dogs love running around with other dogs.
Is he getting to the age that he's slowing down?  He's soon to be two years old.
Can it be the weather?  Summers are very hot here.  Maybe the heat is draining him?  But then again I thought Vizslas are made to withstand hot weather...LOL
Can Ralphie be too domesticated...LOL...having the life in air conditioning with a nice clean fluffy bed,  able to stretch out on the sofa anytime, has treats of all kinds, toys of all kinds, has a cool pool to take a dip anytime.
Gosh, is this all normal?  LOL