Stalking other dogs
Hi guys,
Ty has started stalking other dogs at the dog park recently. I really don't know what the trigger is, and it is not all dogs.
The first instance was a few weeks ago when I flew back to Columbus for the weekend.
We took the kids to the dog park. All was good for awhile. Ty was hanging around doing a fence patrol and peeing along trees. Then he just stands still and lays down. Odd for him to lay down at the park, but okay. Then he was focused on a Great Dane that just came into the park. The owners kept the 7month pup on leash (why i dont know). Ty then would slowly creep towards the Dane.. then lay down. Get up, creep a little more etc. He made it to the other dog before I could get there but he was fine with the dog once he got there.
The second incident was this weekend. Patrick told me about it when he brought the kids to the park. I don't know what breed it was this time, but the dog was outside the park when it caught Ty's attention. Ty then stalked up to the gate by the dog. After he got to the dog and was able to check him out, all was good.
Has anyone else experienced this or could give some tips on these situations?
This all started after he made his first successful rabbit catch. I'm not sure if its related or not, or his over confidence...
Ty has started stalking other dogs at the dog park recently. I really don't know what the trigger is, and it is not all dogs.
The first instance was a few weeks ago when I flew back to Columbus for the weekend.
We took the kids to the dog park. All was good for awhile. Ty was hanging around doing a fence patrol and peeing along trees. Then he just stands still and lays down. Odd for him to lay down at the park, but okay. Then he was focused on a Great Dane that just came into the park. The owners kept the 7month pup on leash (why i dont know). Ty then would slowly creep towards the Dane.. then lay down. Get up, creep a little more etc. He made it to the other dog before I could get there but he was fine with the dog once he got there.
The second incident was this weekend. Patrick told me about it when he brought the kids to the park. I don't know what breed it was this time, but the dog was outside the park when it caught Ty's attention. Ty then stalked up to the gate by the dog. After he got to the dog and was able to check him out, all was good.
Has anyone else experienced this or could give some tips on these situations?
This all started after he made his first successful rabbit catch. I'm not sure if its related or not, or his over confidence...
Comments
Maybe he's doing a similar thing but more stealthy lol? Like trying to be sneaky and surprise them?
Kona has rushed a few dogs like this in the past, and one who was at the dog park had been attacked before and HATES other dogs, so when Kona did this to that dog the dog probably felt scared and started barking when Kona got to her and furiously biting at Kona...it ended in a fight. That's the only thing I would ever watch for, but doesn't sound like Ty is rushing them, just sneaking up on them :P
Jesse
If we're stopped on a trail and he notices a dog approaching, he'll immediately crouch down. It usually results in a bad introduction as soon as the other dog gets to us, so I'm working on ways to avoid it/redirect it. If both dogs are off leash, then they both freely/naturally move toward each other and rarely is there an issue.
He'll also do it in play when with an already known dog, in a yard for example, but it ends in a friendly pounce. With a new dog though and when he's on leash, it is something I have to manage. Oh, he doesn't do the crawl thing though.
Here's a quick article on FAP's http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2499
Dogs may know how to inherently communicate with each other, but if the dogs are leashed and initiate this behavior, then the owner's (usually ignorant of the dog behavior) transmit their anxiety down through the leash to their dog. I contend that the more subservient dog will override their own instincts with their owner's emotions. If you add the pounce position to that the coyote-like looks of my dog, owners are usually on guard of their white fluffy punteranians and kick-terriers.
Jesse
Jesse
What is funny tho' is when Kuma and his buddy do the stalk across the park. They will see each other coming then do the stalk/crawl towards each other. At a certain point they stop and just stare each other down. At that point it's a standoff with neither of them moving. They'll sit there for a while unless either I tell Kuma "Go get him!" or his buddies owner does the same.
He also lays down when he sees a dog nearby when we're on walks
Fala (Kishu Ken puppy) will stalk her brothers when they're playing together. The boys will be wrestling around on the ground and she'll suddenly stop what she's doing, couch reeeeeallly low, back up a couple steps, and then launch herself at her brothers.
It's very cute. They're 4 weeks old, but they're incredibly athletic already.