Kinda confused on Bear's behaviour

[critter crazy]

Sounds like she is simply being protective, if she was dog aggressive she wouldnt do well at petsmart at all! I would just take her to the dog park, and see how she reacts(without a muzzle) muzzles can sometimes make their reactions worse.

My Rotti was the same way, if he was tied up, or inside, he would go nuts if a person or dog came near the house, but out on a leash he loved other dogs!

[Canis-Lupess]

Yeah, on their own patch, dogs can be more aggressive. They run to the fence when a dog walker goes by and they bark at the dog and the dog goes away. Obviously, because the dog walker is only passing the house and not coming to enter it but your dog doesn't know that. She thinks they went because she successfuly drove them away so she continues to do so. Thats why dogs often have a thing for the regular quick visitors like postmen etc...They come to the house, the dog goes crazy and they leave. The dog doesn't know they are only there to drop something off and leave anyway, the dog thinks they leave because they drove them away.
I know of lots of dogs round our end that go mad at passers by when they are in the garden but are fine when out on neutral territory.

Out in public, she probably won't be a problem. Correction isn't a great idea to stop aggression either. It tends to have the opposite effect in convincing the dog that the other dog really is bad news. They think they are being told off or whatever because of the other dog, not because of their behaviour, after all, it only seems to happen when another dog is around so it further convinces them to hate other dogs.
Feeding her some of her daily food rations in the form of treats each time you pass another dog in public is a good way to teach her that other dogs are good news, not bad, even if she's just had a go at the other dog. Yes, you might fear that this is rewarding her aggression but it isn't. If she was one of those types that went whappy whenever another dog passed out in public, if you started giving her a treat after passing every dog, she'd soon be too busy looking at you waiting for the treat when she saw another dog to be throwing herself aggressively at it.

[king2005]

Shes not a barker. Its only when I let her sit at the door. otherwise you would never know we had a dog. We let her bark all she wants when someone knocks at the door. But she must sit & hush so we can open it to see who it is... She'll sit quiet & will just stare at the person.. If I let them in, then Bear gets all wiggly butt, but if they leave, she goes back to her bed.

She was there for me when a creep came up the walkway when I just happened to open the door. I called her name & she rushed over & stared him down. We spoke & he left... bear was awesome!!

I've never brought her to a dog park before so I don't know how it will go. I plan to brink the retractible leash, so she can play with a dog while on a leash & if shes good after a several visits, I'll let her off... She wont stray far from me & shes good at come, so that should be good... Just not sure how she'll be with me touching & playing with other dogs. Wont know till I try I guess... I'll make sure to take things slow, so its not over welming for her


I'm just so excited that winter is gone, so I can take her to a dog park I really hope it goes well. Her having doggy friends to chase & get excersize would be awesome!

[king2005]

Good news, Bear doesn't hate dogs! Maybe that nasty dog, but not all

Just read the post on Buddy, the new rescue.

We gatted Bear in the kitchen & brought Buddy in. We let them say hi & they kissed & got wiggly.. so we leashed bear, then set them both free in the house.. both were thrilled & really like each other

So I know I can deffently try taking Bear to a dog park!!!

[Chilli]

I bet Bear will like going to the dog park, it sounds like she does get along with dogs fine. =]

It definately just sounds like she's a bit protective over her own territory. Thats how our dogs are. If there is a strange dog in our yard our dogs will bark and bark and growl... Though we've taken both out into public places and they're perfectly fine. Total sweethearts!

Good luck with taking Bear to the dog park, and let us hear how it goes! I bet she'll make plenty of friends. =]