Dogs dont like him!!!

[Zoeythelsot]

Here's a tuffy for yall.
My furbaby Karu loves other dogs. Hes also overly hyper about other dogs, upon other things. Theres two problems and I'm not sure if there is a solution to either, they may or may not be related. First when greeting other dogs he gives the look like hes about to attack them. He will get very stiff, ears back, and just has a very serious look to him. However given a few more seconds hes normally jumping all over the other dog and play bowing and just being goofy. But we dont always get to that point as the other owner normally freaks, the fact he looks so much like a pit bull does not help things at all. Or heck hes even scared me a few times and i've pulled him back, even though hes never attacked another dog. He does this will every dog he greets and its always followed by a not always welcomed jumping on top of the other dog. He starts obedience school in 3 weeks, hoping that will help with the dragging me down the road to get to the other dog. But is there anyway to train him to not look so threating when he greets other dogs? Also I've noticed a trend with him at the dog park, he gets attacked and snapped at constantly. At first I thought it was because well hes overly friendly and dogs were getting annoyed but dogs that he will just go up to will snap at him that play completely nice with other dogs. Hes been bit, sraight up attacked and had to have dogs pulled off him, snapped at, and growled at, by dogs that will play nice with everyone else. If theres 30 dogs, it will be mine in the fight. And of all the times this has happened I've only once seen him fight back, and honestly I think that was in defense as when pulled apart he was calm where the other dog was lunging. Normally he will just brush it off and go else where. I really can't figure this one out. Any Help?

[Karen]

Obedience classes should help with this a whole lot. He needs to learn to walk nicely on a leash, and to give off and read the right signals from other dogs, or learn to take the cue from you.

[Giselle]

There are certainly some dogs who become pariahs. Certain dogs just don't communicate correctly, which can predispose them to being attacked. Very energetic, young adult dogs come to mind...

However, it also sounds like your dog has some fear. Because he's been in so many attacks, it sounds like he has adapted to being overly cautious and aroused around other dogs. So, when he sees strange dogs on a walk, he'll go into a "uh-oh-what-is-that" state of mind. Then, when he sees the dog is producing friendly signals, he himself will relax. I see this with a lot of dogs who don't know how to communicate well. Dog A will see Dog B. Dog A is so concerned/aroused that he'll stand tall and rigid with staring eyes. But when Dog B gives a friendly signal, Dog A will immediately relax and give a friendly greeting.

When he jumps on top of other dogs, does he put his paws on their backs? If so, it sounds like your dog is trying to display dominance and *that* is what's getting him attacked. I strongly suggest hiring a behaviorist to come watch your dog interact with other dogs. They can help you decipher how your dog is communicating incorrectly and give you insight as to why. It's money well spent, I promise!

[Zoeythelsot]

I wouldn't have thought he is being fearful of the other dogs as he is normally the one dragging me to them. And as I said has never attacked/snapped/growled at another dog. But the stand tall and rigid does sound like what he does.

I do feel he has a dominant personality and felt like that may have something to do with it. He pees on EVERYTHING, and is hump happy as times. He is fixed, I get that question a lot. He does put his paws on their back, and well sometimes completely jumps on top of them. But sometimes its a simple sniff that gets him snapped at. Sigh, possible he just smells

[shepgirl]

I agree that obedience classes would be a big help for starters. Maybe he's unsure how another dog will react and he's on guard for the first few minutes of encounter...just enough to read the other dog but it might be that another dog would take it as a threat.

[Giselle]

Fear can manifest itself in different ways. If he's dragging you over to see them, he might not be fearful. However, you have to remember that he HAS been in many scuffles. Even if he has never lunged at another dog under your watch, he HAS been in fights. Therefore, it'd be completely natural and expected of him to be nervous or anxious the first few moments he sees a new dog.

It certainly sounds like your pup is being "not-truly-dominant". A truly dominant dog doesn't have to resort to mounting and humping strange dogs. What he's doing is more overly exuberant adolescent behavior, and the other dogs are telling him to back off. They are giving him warning signs, and, when he doesn't heed them, the warnings escalate into fights.

So your job is to teach him that no means no. If he's trying to hump or engage in rough play with another dog and the other dog turns away/tries to run away/growls, first let your dog walk away. If your dog doesn't walk away and he keeps pestering the other dog, correct your dog and lead him away. Engage him in something like fetch or let him play with a more tolerant dog.