Spock is going on half a year old now, and he's still somewhat scared of the other dogs at the dog park and only interacts with people.
We've been to a nearby dog park almost every Sunday for the past month. He's really excited to see the other dogs. When I have him on the leash and am taking him to the gate, any dogs we meet on the way, he runs up to them, then lays down on the ground and sniffs them if they don't notice him, and rolls over if they do see him. He actually peed on himself while in this rolled-over position today...
However, when we're actually inside the park and I let him off his leash, he immediately rolls over on the approach of any dog and half-scared, half interested watches as other dogs sniff him and try to get him to play. Other dogs will, for a few seconds, sniff him all over, then maybe nip at him and run away, or run off and try to get him to chase them. Most of them lose interest after they realize he's going to incorporate rolling over and being submissive into all his responses.
It's not like the other dogs menace or bother him in any way. Occasionally, a dog will bark at him excitedly, but the owner is usually there to curb that behavior right away. Plus, I'm right there with him so that he knows someone is around to help him if he's in trouble. But he just won't play at all. In fact, he ran to the fence and whimpered as if to say, "Mom, let's get the #%$*?! out of here!"
I thought he would get better with time, but it's the same story every week.
My boyfriend and I are discussing getting another dog, beagle or not, or a cat as a buddy for him, though I don't know that I am ready for two puppies in the house at once (maybe I can talk him into rescuing an older, more mature shelter dog). I read in another thread (that I magically can't find now!) that a more confident creature might help Spock's socialization. That's cool! But what can I do with him in the meantime to help him with his shyness and submissiveness?
We've been to a nearby dog park almost every Sunday for the past month. He's really excited to see the other dogs. When I have him on the leash and am taking him to the gate, any dogs we meet on the way, he runs up to them, then lays down on the ground and sniffs them if they don't notice him, and rolls over if they do see him. He actually peed on himself while in this rolled-over position today...
However, when we're actually inside the park and I let him off his leash, he immediately rolls over on the approach of any dog and half-scared, half interested watches as other dogs sniff him and try to get him to play. Other dogs will, for a few seconds, sniff him all over, then maybe nip at him and run away, or run off and try to get him to chase them. Most of them lose interest after they realize he's going to incorporate rolling over and being submissive into all his responses.
It's not like the other dogs menace or bother him in any way. Occasionally, a dog will bark at him excitedly, but the owner is usually there to curb that behavior right away. Plus, I'm right there with him so that he knows someone is around to help him if he's in trouble. But he just won't play at all. In fact, he ran to the fence and whimpered as if to say, "Mom, let's get the #%$*?! out of here!"
I thought he would get better with time, but it's the same story every week.
My boyfriend and I are discussing getting another dog, beagle or not, or a cat as a buddy for him, though I don't know that I am ready for two puppies in the house at once (maybe I can talk him into rescuing an older, more mature shelter dog). I read in another thread (that I magically can't find now!) that a more confident creature might help Spock's socialization. That's cool! But what can I do with him in the meantime to help him with his shyness and submissiveness?