How much is too much?

[Ed Weinstein]

We have a dog we rescued form the Humane Society in Feb. 2002... we knew when we got our little monkey that he was a timid guy, but he's 100% out of that after a lot of work (and spoiling rotten).

Max plays well with other dogs one on one and ALWAYS wants to play a little too eagerly, once even playnipping at a neighbor who didn't understand that the dog was playing (I've watched him- the dog, not my neighbor- bite through a black Kong, so if he's NOT playing, you'd know). I can live with that, though I'm not thrilled about it and I make every effort to correct it when I see it. He also flips out if someone he doesn't know comes to the door, but this I don't mind so much given where we live. As a rescue of indeterminate breed who was starved and abused before being surrendered, he'll probably always be a little uppity, but it's liveable.

The trouble I'm having, if it's even really trouble, is that we've recently started taking him to the dog park to get some excercise and some socializing. Usually he does just fine, but every once in a while he just decides he doesn't like one of the other dogs and gets a little snarly/barky, maybe even making a lunge. He's NEVER bit another dog, nor has he tried to fight me when I pull him back if he gets lungy. I'm not convinced that he's really a threat to anyone, especially considering that it's maybe one in ten dogs he seems to react to, but at the same time I also know how touchy people can be after my experience with my neighbor.

Given that some degree of growling, posturing, jumping, and swatting is normal, what should I be looking for to be certain that he's not actually being dangerously aggressive? I'm trying to temper my fear that he really isn't behaving well with the possibility that I'm also being a little overbearing and not just letting the dog be a dog.

[Clair Taberner]

if he's doing something u feel is possibly annoying to other dogs/owners that they would be reasonable to be annoyed at, then just call him and redirect whatever he is doing with a game of fetch or something with u. that way he's not going to feel in trouble and u avoid the "looks". and on a plus it reinforces yr recall and that yr more fun for him to be with you:) hope that helps:)

[Daniela Jantzen]

....Given that some degree of growling, posturing, jumping, and swatting is normal, what should I be looking for to be certain that he's not actually being dangerously aggressive?
This can be very difficult to judge, especially when you haven't learned to read your dog 100% yet.
And even then: play situations can easily change into serious confrontations due to the excitement and the arousal in the dogs.
If you feel insecure: take your dog out of the situation at once and have him calm down again.
If you get the feeling that this rough play really is HIS type of play style though, see if you can not find a dog owner with a young, active, well socialized female and organise fun walks together.

Danny

[Ed Weinstein]

That's the part I have trouble with. He doesn't do it with most of the dogs he meets at the park. If he was like that with every dog, I'd actually have an easier time with it. At the same time, I can't say it's *not* playing. But just as you said, play situations can quickly escalate, and that's what I'm hoping to avoid (or ideally nip the bahavior in the bud altogether).

As for being able to read the dog, he'd never exhibited this behavior before we started taking him to the park about a week ago, so I wasn't aware he even had it in him.

[Daniela Jantzen]

...As for being able to read the dog, he'd never exhibited this behavior before we started taking him to the park about a week ago, so I wasn't aware he even had it in him.

New surroundings are exciting. And if he is not used to being amongst strange dogs and play with others a lot, the stress level can be tremendously high, therefore add to the problem.
Either don't go there at rush hour (too many things to see and sniff) or at least only go to staged meetings with dogs he already knows and gets along with fine. Then you should be good to go. ;)

Danny