A visitor wants to know how to make her dog stand up for himself at the park. Can you really make a dog more "macho"?
Question: Can We Make Our Dog More Macho?
Hi!
I have a question about dog dominance. I have a two-year-old Catahoula that I got at an animal shelter when he was about five months old. My husband and I enjoy taking him to our local dog park so that he can run around, play and be tired by the end of the day.
The problem is, he's always had a more timid personality, and we have had several encounters with alpha dogs wanting to "hump" him. We understand that it's a dominance thing and it's natural, but lately the nuisance has increased. We are wondering if there is anything we can do to help "man up" our dog so that he doesn't get bothered so much.
Any help would be appreciated!~~ Lori in Nashville
Expert Reply
Hi Lori,
Unfortunately, I've never run across any canine assertiveness training course, although undoubtedly some dogs could use a bit more confidence when dealing with stronger characters. Dogs often try to display dominance over their fellow canines by humping them.
Although this is mainly a dominance issue, you might try spraying your dog's back end with one of those sprays they make to mask the scent of bitches in season. There might be something in the spray that other dogs find repellent. You can find one of these products at your local pet supply store.
I hope this suggestion makes a difference in your dog's park experiences. Thanks for your question.
~~ Kelly
