Dog Park Bullies: How To Spot Them What To Do

There is no standard definition of the term “dog park bully.” However, when you are at the park and there is a particular dog that seems too aggressive when playing with other dogs and also refuses to stop when the other dogs attempt to move away, you just might have a bully situation on your hands. Dog bullies can be found everywhere—at daycare centers, shelters, training classes, on your street or even in your own home. As a dog owner, knowing how to handle them will determine if you will have a peaceful home or one where the dogs have to be treated for wounds every other day.

Dog Park Bullies: How To Spot Them and What To Do

There are no physical features that can aid in the identification of a potential dog bully. As a matter of fact, any dog can be a bully or be bullied in different situations, regardless of their size, breed, age, gender or temperament. Most dog park bullies are recognized when the other dog (the one at the receiving end) does not reciprocate their playful motions. There are situations where dogs playfully bite each other or exhibit some seemingly aggressive motions towards each other, so, it is not just enough to pull a dog back simply because it appears a bit more aggressive than its contemporaries. Their actions go from being playful to being called bullying when the other dog cowers in fright, runs back to their owner or lashes out with a sharp bark or by baring their teeth. Then, it is necessary that the owners of both dogs pull their dogs back to avoid unpleasant situations.

It is not entirely correct to refer to dog bullies as bad dogs. They are dogs that do not possess the dog etiquettes necessary to coexist with other dogs in an off-leash environment. This may be due to a poor development of social skills while the dog was growing; perhaps the dog was denied adequate interactions with other dogs. Thus, it was unable to learn what actions are acceptable and which ones are perceived as discourteous. The tendency to bully may also be as a result of genetic inclinations to ignore usual social skills.

How To Spot a Dog Park Bully The first thing you should do as a dog owner is to know what level of “rough play” your dog can take part in before they lash out or run away. If your dog can cope with the exuberances of another dog, it is okay if you leave them to sort it out. However, if your dog cannot take much of the hard wrestling, jumps, nips and playful bites, and gives warning signs to that effect when playing with another dog, it is considered a bullying event.

What To Do About Dog Park Bullies The best thing you can do as a dog owner is to be proactive. First you need to watch out for your own safety while rescuing your dog at the same time. If the dog seems too aggressive, you can make certain hand motions or throw harmless objects like dust to get the bully off your own dog. When you and your dog are safe, leave the area and report to the appropriate authorities.

In most situations involving a truly aggressive dog, the owner or caretaker is usually very close and so they can get their pets under control before it escalates into something more serious. Most importantly, never take chances with your dog. If the situation doesn’t feel right, remove your dog from the situation.