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About a week ago, I took my beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog baby Zephyr, (5 months old), to the dog park to meet my sister's two Staffordshire Bull Terriers (both aged 2). I have been around her dogs since they were 8 weeks old and they both have the sweetest and most loving temperaments, around both people and other dogs...or so I thought.

Being the playful, bouncy pup that he is, Zephyr was thrilled at the sight of two more dogs to play with, and ran towards them, jumping up and down in greeting and doing his play bow. The three dogs sniffed for about 5 seconds when all of a sudden the male Staffy just snapped and went for Zephyr! He latched onto his muzzle and wouldn't let go for about 5 minutes, in which time we were frantically pulling them apart. I was absolutely horrified, and dumbfounded.

After the event, I was really concerned about Zephyr developing a fear towards strange dogs, or even of the dog park itself, especially at his age of 5 months, as I believe that is one of the fear periods? (I could be wrong.) Luckily, he hardly bat an eyelid, and is no different to his normal, sweet, fun-loving self.

My message is that you can never be too careful around other dogs! I want to remind you that I knew the dog that attacked mine for two years, and I have seen him interact perfectly with others before. I'm not sure what it was that set him off, as they were on neutral territory and everything, but it really is a frightening experience.

>>About a week ago, I took my beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog baby Zephyr, (5 months old), to the dog park to meet my sister's two Staffordshire Bull Terriers (both aged 2). I have been around her dogs since they were 8 weeks old and they both have the sweetest and most loving temperaments, around both people and other dogs...or so I thought.
>>
>>Being the playful, bouncy pup that he is, Zephyr was thrilled at the sight of two more dogs to play with, and ran towards them, jumping up and down in greeting and doing his play bow. The three dogs sniffed for about 5 seconds when all of a sudden the male Staffy just snapped and went for Zephyr! He latched onto his muzzle and wouldn't let go for about 5 minutes, in which time we were frantically pulling them apart. I was absolutely horrified, and dumbfounded.
>>
>>After the event, I was really concerned about Zephyr developing a fear towards strange dogs, or even of the dog park itself, especially at his age of 5 months, as I believe that is one of the fear periods? (I could be wrong.) Luckily, he hardly bat an eyelid, and is no different to his normal, sweet, fun-loving self.
>>
>>My message is that you can never be too careful around other dogs! I want to remind you that I knew the dog that attacked mine for two years, and I have seen him interact perfectly with others before. I'm not sure what it was that set him off, as they were on neutral territory and everything, but it really is a frightening experience.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Many of the "battle breed" dogs are okay in the dog park until they start to mature. I'm sure that is what you encountered. Now please, please don't put your dog in that situation again! Right now he hopefully thinks he can count on you to rescue him. If you put him back in that situation, he is likely to lose his trust in you, in other dogs, in dog parks--it can ruin a dog.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

What do you mean exactly? Don't take him to the dog park anymore? Or don't meet those same dogs anymore?

I think she means don't put him in a situation where there's a possibility of attack. Don't put him at risk in a situation where you won't be able to save him. His relationship with you depends on him deferring to you because he knows that you're on the lookout and will protect him. That way he doesn't need to be on guard all the time, and you won't wind up with an aggressive dog. If he doesn't think he can trust you to protect him from things like this, he'll start to be edgy around other people and other dogs, and may start to lash out at them in preemptive strikes..

I personally am absolutely against the idea of a dog park if any single dog in the park is off leash. There are just a million things that can go wrong, and you can't trust the other owners there that their dogs are safe. Even like you just explained, the owners themselves may not know that their dogs aren't safe. I love pits, I always have, but they don't belong in an unguarded situation like that one..

am so sorry you & Zephyr had that awful experience.

I don't know what to tell you. I've been to a dog park one time & kept my small dog close/on leash & even picked her up sev. times when other big dogs got scrappy nearby.

Others with small dogs, just let theirs go & never seemed concerned.

it would be great if you could get with others that had compatible dogs (but like you said you had no clue that the 2 pitts wouldn't be ok) & go to the park at an off time.

am glad Zephyr is ok, make certain that the bite area doesn't swell, or if you see any signs of apathy, not eating, etc. Some bites go deep & aren't obvious like a slash/bleeding, etc. but can actually be worse.

keep us posted on that fine pup

>>What do you mean exactly? Don't take him to the dog park anymore? Or don't meet those same dogs anymore?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Don't meet those dogs anymore. I wouldn't take him to the dog park, either, but some people are willing to take those risks. The dog that hurt him is not an unknown anymore. If you put them back together, expect it to happen again.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com