Dog lying down when seeing other dogs

G
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Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, so I'll give you a quick description of my little (30kg / 66lbs / 4st 10lb ^^) baby!

He’s a lovely one-year-old Boxer, an entire male that I got when he was three and a half months old. To be honest, he’s not the most confident dog; he often jumps at the slightest noise when we’re out, but he’s still very sweet and curious about everything.

The issue (which might not actually be one…) is this: he systematically lies down and refuses to budge whenever he sees another dog, and sometimes even people when passing them is unavoidable. When the other dog gets close (or most of the time, once they’ve already passed), he wants to go for it and just dive right in ^^, to play. Once he's comfortable, he could play for hours (I take him to see his mates very often, and on walks, if the owners are happy with it, we let them play and it always goes really well).

Sometimes he starts shaking, huddled up when he sees one or more dogs. The problem is, I don’t know what’s going through his head, and sometimes this behaviour (which I let him get away with because I’d much rather have this than aggression) can be a bit of a nuisance—like in the middle of a road with cars, or when I'm in a rush.

So, if any of you have any advice or similar experiences, I’d love to hear them so I can help build up his confidence in himself and in me.

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11 answers
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  • M
    Marcoo Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi. I know this is a really old thread but I was wondering how things have panned out over time? Thanks.
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    M
    Marcoo Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there.

    I know this is a very old thread, but I was wondering how things have turned out over time?

    Thanks.

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    ?
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    I had a dog who used to do that a lot when we met other dogs. He didn’t seem stressed; I reckon it was just his way of saying "hey, I’m friendly, do you want to play?" He grew out of it as he got older.
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    J
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    In some cases and depending on the context, a dog may lie down as an appeasement gesture.
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    G
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    Thanks everyone for your replies, we’ll give that a go! If it’s normal behaviour, that’s a good sign ^^

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    ?
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    What you’re describing is actually perfectly normal behaviour for some dogs when they’re approaching dogs they know or don’t know, or even humans (though that’s less common). It’s a good way to approach; it’s anything but a problem.

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
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    Hi there, As the other forum members have mentioned, you need to gradually teach your dog to walk properly to heel when you're out in town. You should also continue to socialise him with other dogs, even though this kind of behaviour is perfectly normal. For walking to heel, keep the lead short and if your dog loses focus, call him back and give him some praise—either with a treat or a pat, whichever works best for him. I’d suggest starting with short walks and gradually making them longer as his concentration improves. Best of luck, Cyanne - Vet student, project manager for a student-run veterinary consultancy
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    G
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    The problem is when we're in town; he just freezes on the lead as soon as he sees another dog, even though he knows how to walk without pulling. I don’t really mind when we're in the countryside (unless it's just because he's scared), so I let him watch and have a play if the other owner is okay with it.
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    G
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    Hi again, Thanks for your reply. I actually had the same thought as you; this issue started when he was about 5 months old. I was already taking him for walks with other dogs and into town so he could get used to people, motorbikes and so on. In town around people, there aren’t any issues at all—it’s only on the paths he knows well where there’s usually no one else around. That’s where he’ll just lie down... Once the introductions are over, though, he’s an absolute sweetheart, which is why I really don’t want to misinterpret the reasons behind it...
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    Docline
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    Lots of dogs lie down in that 'watching and potentially inviting play' position when they spot another dog in the distance. There’s no real reason to try and break this habit when you’re out on walks. If you’re in town, I’m assuming he’s walking to heel—a more controlled walk—so he shouldn't be allowed to focus on anything other than keeping pace with you anyway.
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