[Shadow's mum]

My older son took Shadow to the dog park like he always does, but this time he took one of our little dogs with him. Gizmo is an 8 year old shitzu. We don't often take the little dogs with us when we take Shadow, they can't walk as far as she does and they don't seam to enjoy it. Anyway Shadow who is well known at the dog park for her super friendly nature and easy going temperament, became aggressive, barking and hackels up every time any dog came any where near her smaller older brother Gizmo. Anyone have any clue as to why she would behave like this with Gizmo there?
She often goes to the park with other dogs ie, my neices gsd Kujo or my sister's lab Tux, but she has never reacted like this before. My son tells me none of the dogs at the park were ones he was familiar with, again this normally wouldn't have been a problem. I have never seen her react aggressively to strange dogs. Needless to say they wont be going to the park together until we are 110% sure Shadow won't react like that again.

I'm clueless :help:

 

[Whiteshepherds]

Could she have been guarding Gizmo?

 

[JakodaCD OA]

sounds like she was guarding her little buddy.

 

[Kelly's Buddy]

If the little dogs don't really enjoy the park, and it brings out this behavior in Shadow, then why do it?

Set the dog up for success by not giving an opportunity for an undesirable behavior to manifest itself.

It is good that Shadow has a bond with his smaller brothers, but keep it at home IMHO.

 

[we4elves]

We have a little shih tzu and corgi...Matty was in the house...the little dogs were in the front yard...Matty saw her "friends"(2 shepherd puppies - 6 months) come towards our little dogs...and went aggressive at the door...she didn't like the shepherds running up to her little friends either...

 

[Wolfiesmom]

It sounds like she is guarding Gizmo.

 

[Shadow's mum]

Hmm thanks for the input everyone.
This is what we were thinking,that she was guarding Gizmo, which is really funny because at home they argue like brother's and sister's. I guess it's ok for family to argue amongst them selves but it's not ok for anyone else to pick on family.

As for going to the park together again, that wont be happening. Giz does like going to the park sometimes. He's always eager to run to the door when Shadow is going, it's the walking he doesn't like.

My son took Shadow back down the park a few hours later and said that she behaved beautifully again. When she got home, Gizmo usually ignores her but not this time, he was kissing her, licking her mouth, her legs any part he could reach. It was very cute.

Perhaps earlier, the other dogs at the park were saying nasty mean stuff to Gizmo.