Please help me to help my gorgeous boy!

[Cathy Kennedy]

hi there,

I have been reading posts here for a couple of weeks and I was hoping that you could help me with a problem. I have 2 beautiful and extremely soppy black labradors called Jack and Jill. They are just over 2 years old, litter brother and sister and have no problems with their behaviour at home at all.

The trouble occurs when we meet other dogs of a similar or larger size - pointers, golden retrievers and especially other labradors. Although they are both neutered, other male dogs always make a beeline for Jack - sniff his bum and then lick his remaining genitals, and try to hump him. This would be bad enough, but the poor soul is cursed with hip dysplasia in both hips, has had a cruciate ligament operation *and* has elbow dysplasia (Jill has no problems at all - the vet tells me it's probably just one of those things).

Anyway, the last time this happened in the park he was about 100 yards away, and although he normally runs to me when it happens he was physically knocked over by the dog and couldn't reach me - with the result that he turned - in a way that is so out of character I can't tell you - and growled, snapped and chased the other dog away. The other owner got very grumpy (understatement) and I got v. tearful (6 months pregnant with our second child) - it was awful.

I have asked the vet and they suggested eucalyptus oil - have tried this and it makes no difference. Please please help me to help Jack - I am now 7 months pregnant and can't run after him as easily in the park, so walks are now restricted which is so unfair.

Apologies for waffling.

Cathy

[Kendall Aliza]

It is totally understandable that your dog snapped the way he did. My parents have a dog with the same conditions Jack has and I know how much pain they can be in ... Unfortunately, I am not sure how much you can really do about this. I would not let Jack out of my reach when other dogs like that are around since you cant really control what other peoples dogs do. If you have the money maybe hire someone to walk Jack and take him to the park. Or you could take him somewhere else that doesnt have dogs and play a game of fetch or something like that with him. Id post something in the Holistic section about possible oils or anything that might dissuade other animals from checking him out. Im assuming thats what the Eucalyptus was for, correct?

[Jarrod Stafford]

Hi Cathy,

I do not think Jack did anything wrong what so ever. Now, I do think Jack should not have been so far away from you as you had no control of your dog either, but, I believe the other owner and dog were at fault. When a dog mounts another it is an extremely dominant behavior and very rude doggy manners. Jack was obviously feeling threatened by the situation and probably in pain after being knocked down, so it may seem out of character in your eyes, but he did exactly what he should have done to show the other dog that he was not interested in rough play. Now that you are so far along in your pregnancy I agree with what was mentioned by another member in trying to find a relative or hiring a dog walker to help Jack burn off some of his energy during the day. If you do continue visiting the dog park, as a responsible dog owner you should be sure to keep him within 50 feet of you incase any bad situation sprouts up you will be there to take control of the situation.

[Amber]

I agree with Jarrod. However, with you being 7 months pregnant, 50 feet away may still be too far...it depends on how well you can still get around. They make 15 and 25 foot leads as well.

[Nella Stevens]

Yep, I remember those days (the 7-month-pregnant ones), bless your heart! Now I may be a little bit dense here, but I've heard that some of the smaller breeds have some sort of sacs/glands around their rectal area, and sometimes they can get clogged up and smelly. Do big dogs like labs have these same problems? Seems like the other dogs are smelling some sort of phernome (???) on him that says "come on, big guy", since they head sraight to his privates. Maybe if you were to disguise that smell???

[Cathy Kennedy]

thanks for the advice - the trouble is no matter how close Jack is to me (ie even when he is sitting on my feet because a dog is trying to get at him), it doesn't stop the other dog from trying its hardest! Other owners look at me as if I must be totally ignorant and bringing a bitch in heat to the park, and when I explain that actually he is a boy, they mostly think it is funny...sigh.

I was hoping that someone might have an idea for something to give him, or rub on him that would deter the other dogs from running up to us (which is what mostly happens) and then taking too much interest.

if anyone has any other ideas I would love to hear them. Meanwhile, I shall ask the holistic site too.

thanks
Cathy, Jack and Jill

[Kendall Aliza]

Well, Hertz makes a can off doggy deterent for your furniture and plants. Maybe you could try that? :) j/k
I have no idea why your dogs butt could smell so much more interesting to dogs than the rest of the dogs at the park. Maybe try getting a second opinion from a new vet? Maybe it has more to do with other dogs wanting to dominate your dog than the actual smell of his butt? I'm assuming his anal glands were checked when you were at the vet and hes not scooting his bottom or anything. Meat tenderizer is sometime put on dog poop to discourage dogs from eating and maybe putting that around your dogs general area might help the situation, without harming him. I'd check it out with an expert just in case.

[Amber]

All dogs have anal gland sacs, and what they are doing is trying to dominate your dog. In doggy world, running up and sniffing each other in the private areas is like us shaking hands and saying hi. Dogs of the same sex, and even dogs of the opposite sex in some incidences, humping is a dominating gesture. I don't think there is anything you can do. The other dogs view your dog as a lower entity in the dog park hierarchy.

I'm sorry to say, but I don't think there is anything you can put on him because it is an instinctual behavior. Maybe an advisor will come on here and be able to say something otherwise, but to my knowledge, that is all it is.

[Renee]

Hi Cathy-

A little info about mounting...
http://www.doggiebagonline. com/forum/showthread.php?p=627 1#post6271

When at the dog park, try to keep Jack and Jill by you (in most parks this is a rule). If you are having trouble with this, have them on harnesess, dragging long lines. People at the dog park should not be allowing their dogs to mount your dog - this is very rude and is an excellent recipe for a dog fight. Dog parks can be dangeous places - not necessarily because of the dogs....it's people who lack good judgement that generally cause problems.

If you think this is too much to handle, being 7 months pregnant, then you might just want to put the dog park on the back burner for now. Leash walks through the neighborhood or fetch in the back yard can be a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

[Jill Ramsey]

Cathy,
Being a lab owner myself, 1 blk.male, 18months and 1 yellow male 8 weeks, I can't tell you how proud I am to have the same name as your female!! ;)
As for the other, we had a yellow male with bad arthritis in his back, and he had the ACL surgery on both knees. The best exercise for them is swimming, if you have some place to take him. You didn't put where you live, so I don't know if this is an option for you.
Sniffing at other dogs is pretty normal behavior for dogs. This is like their handshake, kind of "who are you?". If the dogs at the dog park mount all the time, I don't think I would take Jack there anymore. Maybe just take Jill by herself, so she can get the exercise.
I would suggest that you go online, or find some videos for massage therapy, as this really helped our lab a lot. We found a wonderful alternative hospital that had hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and massage. It was very expensive, and we couldn't do it for long, but when we continued the massage and swimming at home, he seemed to do ok. They also recommended heat for the painful areas.

Also, our lab was already 11 years old when we did this. With yours being just over 2, it should be a lot easier/helpful depending on how severe the dysplasia is.
I hope some of these suggestions help. I know what you are going through, although, I wasn't pregnant at the time, I was 50 years old!!! LOL

[Cathy Kennedy]

well you see, the thing is Jack, Jill and me live in England - and the parks here are run on a general free for all basis, ie, turn up at the park, let the dogs off the lead and walk round with them. The park is at my nearest town, Stratford upon Avon (where Shakespeare came from), and has a river running through it, which is one of the reasons both the dogs love it so much, jumping in and swimming along, generally behaving like overgrown puppies...

Dogs on the lead are very much the exception, and although I would walk them on the lead if I thought it would help, when I have tried, it makes no difference to the other dog then trying to push me out of the way to reach Jack! What I find bizarre is that they never look twice at Jill...

Cathy, Jack and Jill

[Amber]

This sounds like a case of owners who lack good judgement, like Renee said. Is there another dog park, or even a regular park that you can just walk them on lead, by where you live?

[Luciann]

well hmmmmm, if you were in the states and this happened i would say do what the postal workers do. Normally i would not suggest this but they spray wasp spray at them as a deterant but you might consider a squirt bottle and fill it with water and when the other dogs are bothering Jack when on a walk spray them with it.

good luck with the pregnancy