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Sign of aggression

  
Pharaoh Von- Alsina CGC

Pharaoh aka- Damian
 
 
Barked: Sun Jan 28, '07 4:31am PST
Had to ask this question. My normally very friendly dobbie pup had a little incident at the dog park yesterday. He was there playing for about 30 minutes with all the other dogs like he normally does. A large female boxer then came into the park. At first the two began playing just as pharah does with everyone else, but after about 2 minutes or so I heard pharaoh growling very deeply. Actually I did not even know it was him cause he has never acted that way. He then exposed his teeth, an I immedialty got him on a leash and seperated him making him sit out a few minutes. I was talking to the owner of the boxer and he said that he has not had any issues with other dog, and that maybe it was cause they were being rough. I let pharoah go again and they started to play but within a minute not only did pharaoh start to growl, he went into full attack mode on the boxer, and she did not back down. Myself and the boxers owner pulled them apart and neither dog was injured. I was just very surpirsed how he was acting because he was the aggressor which I have never seen him do. I later went to petsmart and he was mr happy go lucky with the other dogs. Any suggestions?
Spencer

It's ALL about- me!!!!!
 
 
Barked: Sun Jan 28, '07 9:44am PST
It's hard to try to figure out what the problem was since there are so many variables that go on at the dog park and it changes minute to minute. Dog parks can be an overwhelming place, especially when there are a lot of dogs there and since Pharoah is young the signals might have been crossed that particular day even though it's been fine up until now. Without seeing the altercation I can't make an accuate call on it because there could be quite a few reasons for it but consider these questions:

How many dogs were there at the time? Has he ever played with this dog before? Were there toys around? (there should NEVER, EVER be toys at a dog park, IMHO) Could the boxer have been in heat and he sensed it? What was going on around them when the incident happened? Was Pharoah feeling threatened/cornered which could have caused him to react the way he did? Was the boxer near you when the issue occurred? Was she posturing or hard staring him? There is so much to take into consideration so again without seeing it there is no easy answer. I would want to see the dogs together again to see if there is a particular issue with him and that specific dog since not all dogs like each other. This could have been an isolated incident and may never happen again.

As far as him being fine in the store (when did you come in since I didn't see you there?) it's familiar and he's had no issues or reason to feel uncomfortable so I really don't have an answer for you. Talk to me more on Tuesday when you come in...