Timber is usualt really good with other dogs but iv noticed sometimes he just doesn't get aling with them. Mainly puppies and other males. I know most dogs hair raises when they are aggrivated but timber doesn't do this. Another dominate male husky and him got to it at the dog park and the other dogs hair was conpleatly raised but timbers was down. Then he was playing with all the other dogs and as soon as the puppies came into the park he got kind of cranky with them. I'm not sure the signs of him being agressive or really how to handle it sence I'm new at this. Any advice?

It's really just getting to know their personality. Diego is the most outgoing, happy go lucky dog ever, MOST of the time. he's going to be one in a week and his behavior took a drastic change when he got neutered a few months ago. Their are several dogs that have attacked him at the dog park and it's intimidating when it happens. I feel bad because I sometimes avoid the dog park when it's crowded and take him and Roscoe, our rott when it clears out but then I feel like I'm being unfair by not giving him an opportunity to socialize. At the same time, I'm horrified about a fight breaking out (Diego has never started one so far but he will NOT back down if a dog gets aggressive towards him.

When I walk him, mind you, I live in downtown Chicago, he's usually fine when people with dogs stop to let them sniff their hellos but if I see someone coming and the person says their dog isn't friendly and holds them back or if their dog starts barking/snarling, Diego usually goes crazy growling and barking/howling. I guess he doesn't like NOT having the opportunity to say hi lol.

I wouldn't say he's aggressive he just plays very differently than other breeds and huskies do that. If he's playing with another husky, it's a good time all around. Only once did a husky attack him out of nowhere at the dog park and that damn dog actually bit me too when his damn owner didn't pull his dog off Diego and I'm not one to touch someone else's dog like that but damn straight I'll pull your dog off mine if he's lunging at his throat!

Anywho, sorry for the book I wrote lol I'm just trying to say, it depends on your dog and how well you can gauge his reactions. I can tell within ten seconds if I see a dog down the street if Diego is going to be calm or nippy around them. He either freezez and stares them down as they get closer (and he's never been wrong, it's always been a dog that started barking/growling first) or he gets excited and howls and tries to drag me to the other dog while wagging his tail lol. Good luck!

Timber is like that. I also get scared a fight will break out. Timber does the husky talk a lot! And he also has never attacked a dog but the min. Another dog nips or comes at him he won't back down. He's a very big husky and I get scared. I don't think he's being aggressive tapers the puppys but he does snarrle when he plays so I get concerned I won't know when he is serious. I guess it will just take time getting to know him. Iv only had him for a little under a month. Thanks for the input!

Aww well congrats on the new member of the family!

I know what you mean. My rott Roscoe is the calmest sweetest dog but if a dog goes after DIego, it's on like donkey kong. Mind you I'm 5 feet tall and breaking up a dog fight when I have to drag a husky AND a rott out of it, is intimidating. I've gotten bitten by so many dogs because the owner just stood their while their dogs attacked mine out of the blue. And like I said, having Roscoe be so protective of Diego scares me because even though Diego doesn't pick the fights, I'm always scared because people are always quick to make comments like, "Oh, well your rottweiler is out of control I could sue you over him being so aggressive" and I'm like go ahead, your dog bit mine AND me and my rott wouldn't be so aggressive if your dog didn't attack his brother! (brother= my husky diego lol)

thank you for letting me rant lol the whole dogdrama at dogparks and stuff makes me crazy.

Good luck with Timber. You're learn his personality/reactions soon the longer you have him. Diego, when he starts getting mad holds his tail straight down all wolf-like and the hair on his back goes straight up. once there was an akita at the park who for some reason kept following me around and growling walking behind me and ended up biting me on the ankle and diego jumped in front of me, put his tail down, ears down, and showed his teeth like no tomorrow snarling. that akita was goofy though I don't know what that dog had against me lol he's bitten so many people in the neighborhood his owner has lawsuits up the a**.

Good luck once again!

Hackles don't always mean aggression. They can mean they are on high alert, or really excited. If I get Kale riled up in the backyard playing chase, his hackles go up. Just to clarify.

Dogs have distinct personalities, just like people do. Think of it this way; You meet someone and instantly don't click, and you can't put your finger on it. Dogs do the same thing. Some love every other dog they come in contact with, others are picky with who they associate with. As time goes on, you'll be able to sense when it's time to leave a play session. Kale is sometimes picky, and he likes to start playing by mounting, and MOST dogs let him and continue to play, while others correct him. If there's a dog there that Kale just can't seem to play nice with, or via-versa, we leave. No skin off anyone's back, and I don't let others comments get to me. They are usually the ones who don't know anything about dog behavior.

From my experience, dog fights usually start when a very tense, and insecure dog enters the park (when me and Kale usually leave, Kale is the first to try and "calm" them by mounting, which makes things worse lol). If two dogs meet, heads next to each other, rigid and tense, that's a warning sign to you that a fight MIGHT start. Watch how others interact with each other. I learned a lot just by observing at the dog park

ETA- dogs can sense your apprehension and fear, take a few deep breathes and try to do some calming exercises before you enter.

Thanks for all the advice! Now that I think about it he does get more tense when he meets a dog face to face then just going straight to sniffing. I'll have to watch for that. Thank you all again.

So I actually wanted to bring this thread back up.

I've been having a problem with Lycus at the dog park recently. The last two times I've taken him, he's gotten a bit feisty, but not necessarily aggressive. The first time a dog tried humping him immediately after we went in and I think that automatically put him in a bad mood. He ended up pawing over two different puppies and making like a high pitch noise. Not really a growl. And I know for a fact that it wasn't in a playful manner either.

The second time, these people came in with three dogs. Two chihuahuas and a small female husky puppy. Well he started running around with them and for no reason, he immediately got dominant over the husky and did the same thing with the paw over and the high pitch noises. And like before, it definitely wasn't in a playful manner.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to why he's gotten like this. He's never acted like that before, unless another dog is the one being dominant or aggressive towards him. I've also noticed that he now pees on a lot of trees, marking his territory. He's never really bothered with that before until a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure if he's being dominant, territorial, or just a little shit. Every time he acts like this I just put him back on the leash, apologize to the other owners and leave.

One thing I'd like to note is that my parents (which I live with) do have a poodle mix puppy who is around 6-7 months old. I'm not sure if maybe Lycus has been changing because he wasn't neutered up until two days ago and maybe that was making him act a bit more dominant? Or maybe he's just loosing his tolerance for puppies? He was ok with the chihuahua puppy, but not really the husky puppy.

It'll  be a bit sad if he starts acting like this constantly because I know he loves the dog park, but if he continues to be like this, I don't think I'll continue to take him. I don't want him to hurt another dog, or to instigate another dog to start a fight with him. I'm going to take him a few more times and see how it goes.

Do you guys have any ideas why he could be acting like this? Or any advice on how to help end this?

He's a super sweet dog, especially when he meets other dogs on walks and stores. Not sure why he's acting like this at the dog park.