Dog barking while playing with other dogs

[3AndADog]

Our dog is just over a year and I struggle to know what is normal, especially as she is quite an anxious dog and we’ve had various issues over the last year. It certainly hasn’t been plain sailing (I would never again get a cockapoo).

anyway she’s pretty brilliant out and about, we have some lovely off lead walks and her recall is pretty great. She’s amazing on cliff paths, woodlands and parks, and occasionally plays with other dogs very politely. She goes to daycare where apparently she is lovely and plays well. But on the beach, and we do go a lot as we live on an island, she is a totally different dog. We go to what is locally known as doggy beach as there are so many dogs walking there. She charges up to any dog, does the bow thing then runs around and around and around barking incessantly at the other dog - regardless of whether they want to play or not, but more often than not they do. She is always the chaser and She does not give up. Her recall goes to pot (it’s reliable everywhere except while playing with other dogs on the beach) and I worry she is threatening or upsetting other dogs. No one has ever complained and lots of owners always say ‘oh it’s fine, I know she’s just playing’ but sometimes after a while they start to look nervous and move on. I am so nervous and apologetic and always offer to put her back on the lead but generally people have been reassuring to me that it’s normal adolescent behaviour. But other dogs just don’t do it to this degree and I hate it. She gets so wound up and sometimes growls as well as barks. At this point I genuinely have no idea if she’s happy/scared/aggressive/over excited. As soon as I put her back on the lead she stops still and goes all polite again, so I don’t think there is real aggression. I don’t know what to do about it and where we live beach walks and sea swimming are just part of life -it would be so sad to have to avoid them altogether. She also goes bananas and barks like crazy if I try to go for a swim, so I generally don’ t anymore if I have her with me and I get so envious of all the dog owners swimming with their dogs!

A guess because I can't see her, but... do you know that poodles are working herding dogs and highly intelligent ( as a breed, ranked second after Border Collies). It sounds like her poodle genes are strong - the chase sounds like herding behaviour. But since she isn't trained to that work, it's all instinct - and excitement. Herding behaviour in dogs is domesticated hunting. If other dog owners are tolerant, you could allow short games. And perhaps look at some "working games" like fetch that build on her natural instincts.

Some dogs simply don't like water. And you do realise that salt water is potentially dangerous to dogs? Something a smart dog can realise by instinct. My Border collies have all loved swimming but not one would go in the sea.

Thank you, yes I do think she is very intelligent and very poodley - lots of poodle traits eg neurotic, fussy eater etc!
we have tried to do some scent training but she doesn’t seem that great at that. And she chases a ball but never wants to return it to me! I feel like we are going through a really rough patch and I know I should be doing extra training during this phase but I don’t really know what/how - it’s so long since we did training with a trainer. Mainly I work on separation stuff as she hates to be left downstairs alone, and some impulse control games.

It sounds normal for a young dog but not ideal and it's not a behaviour I would be encouraging. So until she's calmer I wouldn't take her or I would be using a lead or longline to keep her under control - mainly because you say her recall goes to pot and that's not fair on other dogs or their owners.

Scent training isn't ideal for herders - some love it but not all. You could try a frisbee instead of a ball - again some dogs prefer the challenge of them more than a ball. Treibball possibly. Or just google and try different things until you hit pay dirt. Every dog is different. Brain games can be exhausting for smart dogs too. She's young - her job is to wear you out and yours is to wear her out!

brain games - what sort of thing? She nails all those Nina otterson type games in seconds. But something like a long she gives up on very easily. I’ll have a look at toys and try a frisbee - I need to find something more exciting than chasing other dogs! Actually it’s not the chasing I can’t handle, it’s the barking. But seeing as the two seem to go hand in hand…

I have a long line but i stopped using it as it was always such a trip hazard! Will dig it out for beach trips I think.

My dog is similar... she wants to rush up, bark , or fly past with a growl but then want to chase and play.
It's not ok.
With her dog walker, and the dogs she knows well, she doesn't do it, she plays and chases happily, but unknowns...always.
Gradually I realised that actually she is a very anxious dog. and it is a mix of anxiety, and lack of impulse control.
Unfortunately the solution is to NOT let her do it. I have gone back to a long line and while she is off lead with known dogs, if I see and unknown...long line, and I don't let her run towards anyone. You never know if the other dog will cope, or be happy or react badly so a long line, pain though they are is much safer.

I have only had my girl back on a long line for a few weeks but I can see a difference already, now she has realised she CAN'T do that, she is calmer.

I agree with a PP that a lead or long line would be best at this point if you continue to take her to this beach. You don't want her to rehearse this behaviour so often that it becomes even more habitual than it already is. Other dog owners may say that they don't mind and some may be genuinely fine with it, but some could just be trying to be polite rather than actually meaning that the behaviour is O.K. with them.

Are there other less busy beaches you can take her to? The number of dogs on this particular beach may be too overwhelming for her.

Re. Brain games - that can just be basic trick training. I'm not convinced by all those expensive dog puzzle games to be honest, mine is more amused by a cardboard box filled with biscuits!

But there's loads of stuff you can practise at home. Does she, for example, know commands like settle or quiet? What tricks have you taught her? Weave, spin, roll over, teach her left and right, how to go over or under things, basic agility work, commands like roll over, play dead, jumping through hoops, teaching her the names of all her toys etc.

It's all a way to channel that energy and intelligence and firm up your bond with her.

If it’s causing you and your dog to get upset then working with a long line would be useful, but talking to other owners is key. If other owners aren’t upset I wouldn’t worry about them playing, but working on recall is needed. Some dogs love chasing as part of playing.

My dog will bark at dogs and it’s like she’s saying ‘play with me’ so the barking will be communication. I always talk to other owners who know it’s just playing and communication.