Do you find that your GSP is social with other dogs? 

My boxers were ALWAYS more than happy to play with other dogs, and they never initiated any aggression. I believe they lived to go to the dog park!

Bo, on the other hand, is turning out to be not so social.

The other night he was in the yard with my husband. Neighbors walked by with their 1-year old GSP (male, intact).  Bo and the other dog sniffed, then Bo snarled, jumped on him, and took him down! (I wasn't there).  My husband was beyond embarrassed.

I've had Bo to the dog park a few times. He's okay. He seems tolerant of the other dogs, but not anxious to engage in playing.  He has growled at a couple of dogs at the park. Once he did get into the middle of a fight and came home bloody.

I'm just wondering if this is typical GSP, or maybe just our dog?

He is 3.  We adopted him from the shelter, so I do not know what his prior experiences have been.

Wachter is VERY social with dogs, people, kids, and especially BABIES!!! But I still monitor his reactions closely just incase there is a personality clash somewhere. 

I know that there are times with my Shih-tzus he just gets to be too much for Macey (the old lady) and she turns around and snips at him. I have also seen situations at the dog park where he invades someone's personal space a little too much (imagine that) and they snip.

Carrie

Keep exposing Bo to more dogs and more dogs. Step in if you see his hair ruff up make him get back and sit till he calms down. Good if you can get Bo around your friends well balanced dogs for him to practice. Keep him on leash by your side if you see a strange dog coming at you.No, it is not uncommon with GSPs to want to be the top dog  and act aggressive toward other dogs. We just have to be their boss and show them we will not accept aggressive behavior toward other dogs. Training is on going and continues!!! Doing lots a work with Rocky on our walks. Bo, Bean and Rocky are all in the same socializing training club Good luck

  SAME CLUB, no doubt  Bean is a work in progress, but is so much more social, than she used to be. It is a lot of work, and trying at times. I NEVER would have thought Bean would reach the level she is now. I'm sure the majority of GSP's are very social....NOTE>> 

  Rocky, Bean & Bo are all rescues !!!!!!   We accepted them into our lives like  grab bags  ....Mine is still full of surprises ( daily )

  She has been on a roll this week, having quite the BRATTITUDE...so we kicked the training up a notch..and today we were approached by a Mail carrier lady...who obviously had the GSP bug.....You know ???  We have that glazed over look in our eyes when we see another GSP ?.......we gave her some chicken, to meet Bean with...and they were good to go....she has an 8 yr old named OBERON.. 

That makes sense. But this was not in our yard.  It was in a field across the street (not really Bo's territory).

The neighbor commented, "you're always nice when you come to visit."  Apparently the few times Bo's been out, he's wondered over to their house. 

I'm surprised so many people are 'anti-dog park.'  I love the dog park!

All three of my dogs are very social and for the most part get along with other dogs.  Halo is a bit more stand offish than Belle and Ringo and she doesn't like dogs that are pushy and in her face and will warn them to back off.  She has never gotten into with any dog though as she will give other dogs wide berth most of the time and they can never catch her because she is fast.  I don't particularly like dog parks because many owners think they are places to just turn their dogs loose with no supervision.  There are some hiking areas in Austin, TX that are off leash and I much prefer them as they are not as crowded and the owners and dogs seem to be more aware.

LuckyPenny -  I am just guessing since I know nothing of the history of your dog, but is sounds like she may have been taken away from her mom and the litter at and early age and did not get the benefit of the socialization skills of her family.  Dogs start learning interaction with other dogs and proper behavior from their mom and littermates. When they go home it is also good to keep up the socialization with people and animals.  Sounds to me like Penny did not get that when she was young.  I would suggest you and Penny register in an obedience class and let the instructor know about Penny's socialization problem.  The class with other people and dogs will help Penny and the instructor should be able to show you how to deal with the behavior.

Good luck!!

Oh ... and a very similar incident I thought I would relate.

A couple weeks ago, our Bo was playing with a neighbourhood friend ... a one-year old intact chocolate lab. Well, I guess Hershey has discovered he is a boy, and kept trying to mount Bo. Bo just kept growling and snarling and sounding like he was going to freak on Hershey. We all kept a very close eye on the situation, and each time Hershey got away from Bo, he came right back for more. It sounded terrible, but we decided to let the boys sort it out, and they did.

Anyhow, it could have been a dominance move that your Bo was having no part of.

Neither of mine are very social.  At the dog park (I don't have 40 acres and my semi-urban area doesn't have miles of leash-free trails) Chelsea just wants to "hunt"  and Jasper to play fetch.  Chelsea will occasionally play briefly with other dogs but she is very picky and will definitely warn off ill-mannered dogs.  They were both rescues and I don't think either was properly socialized.    Neither is aggressive when we meet other dogs out on walks although Chelsea is definitely a little suspicious. 

I think sometimes a dog will pick up on body or eye contact language from another dog that we don't recognize.  Its impossible to tell sometimes where these sudden bursts come from.

A friend's young Aussie recently went for and put on the ground a cocker spaniel that had gotten out of its house and charged him.  My friend was concerned enough to consult a trainer, but after observing Toby behaving calmly off-leash around other dogs, the trainer told her that he had probably just been teaching the rude dog a lesson--which can be dangerous when there's a huge size disparity!

Our GSP is also a rescue. He is a little protective. When we go to the bark park, he seems to be the unwilling center of attention from the other dogs. He usually tolerates the little dogs nipping at his legs. But if they squeak, he thinks that they are a toy. Willie barks at strangers, even from the car.   Bo may just be working through some past experience and may be protective like Willie. Once he has been in your pack for awhile, I expect he will become more relaxed.

I live in a rural area and frequent a town path which is not exactly off leash legal, but 90% of dogs will be loose. My GSP is not interested in the other dogs or people. There are birds and bunnies that need to be pointed at. He will sniff other dogs a little, but normally just in passing. He has had only one disagreement with a yellow lab in the feed store. The other dog growled and snapped at him and he went after it. They were both on leashes and it was no big deal.

Manners are learned from repeated exposure to strange dogs and places while YOU are in control of the situation. A dog loose in the dog park is not under your control. He is free to make decisions that he does not have the experience to make.

Dan