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Lucy is just about six months. She and I were out on the beach and we met up with another dog, looked like a Pitbull, slightly larger than Lucy- owner said he was a puppy and friendly. So he came over and checked Lucy out and they got playing. At first I noticed Lucy was the one being pursued, she had a very submissive posture, and this went on for a couple of minutes. The play was not rough, just normal dog stuff. Then after a few minutes it was as though she had suddenly decided that she would control the situation, like someone flipped a switch. She became the dominant one, although I am not sure if aggression was involved. She had no hackles but was assuming the dominant posture, and the Pit had hackles and was looking might submissive. I heard growling and I think it was only coming from her. I immediately separated them, and Lucy looked like she wasn't done giving the other dog what for but she wasn't nuts or anything.
A very similiar situation happened about a month ago- went down almost exactly like this one. In both cases the other owners were not at all alarmed, so I wonder if this was all a part of normal play. I am a firm believer in erring on the side of caution and would rather have dealt with it before it escalated further, if that was what was happening.
Am I overprotective, or is she showing signs of dog aggression? Should I be doing anything differently?
Thanks, Lisa
A very similiar situation happened about a month ago- went down almost exactly like this one. In both cases the other owners were not at all alarmed, so I wonder if this was all a part of normal play. I am a firm believer in erring on the side of caution and would rather have dealt with it before it escalated further, if that was what was happening.
Am I overprotective, or is she showing signs of dog aggression? Should I be doing anything differently?
Thanks, Lisa