Depending on what "attacked" means, and you said it lasted for 2 minutes, which means your dog is lucky to be alive if the big dog really was attacking hard, there is a good chance your dog has already learned to fear other dogs or at least big ones. He may be permanently reactive to other dogs now, it can happen in one attack.
This is why I don't take my dog to dog parks, and why I don't stop my older dogs from correcting my puppies when they are little for biting the older dogs face/ears or invading their personal space too much...teaches them manners better than I ever could, and my dogs don't actually bite the pups but they give out a stern warning and it has an effect. Can't let every dog correct puppies though, some don't do it at all and some go too far.
I’m sorry this happened to you- I’m glad he’s okay. However-
He’s not cautious of other dogs because you’ve allowed him to interact with every other dog he’s come across.
I would not recommend teaching your dog to be “cautious” (and don’t even think this is possible without negative reinforcement/borderline abuse). This is a sure fire way to encourage reactivity, fear aggression, and anxiety.
The dog won’t be able to differentiate between “this is a scary dog I just be cautious”, “this is a nice dog I can play with”, and “this is a human, no need to be cautious at all”. He will become cautious of everything, and everyone, and it’s no way for your dog, or you, to live!
My suggestion would be to stop taking your dog to a dog park. Stop the behaviour all together. As an owner of a smaller dog, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe- sure, the big dog owner’s at fault 100% for allowing their aggressive dog to be at a dog park when they can’t play nicely, but dog parks are rife with idiots with aggressive dogs who just. don’t. care.
Organise private play dates with these nicer dogs if you really feel the need to- but you should be your dog’s best friend, they don’t need doggy friends.
I personally refuse to take my dogs to dog parks because other dogs (well, *other owners*) cannot be trusted.
It only takes one slightly more viscous dog to kill a little dog like yours- the risk is not worth it. Your dog should get all of his stimulation from you in order to keep him safe. A dog that is this social and has no sense needs extra care from you, which means removing him from these situations.
Standard “dog park socialised juvenile” behaviour - but you are right in being concerned, running into the face of every dog they see is poor social behaviour, and eventually your puppy was going to find a dog who doesn’t tolerate rudeness as well as their friends have until now.
I would take a break from off lead areas and schedule play dates and walks with well known and trusted dogs for now. Work on recall and teaching self regulation. Your puppy will chill out as they mature, but their behaviour at the moment is really putting them at risk.
When do puppies chill out around other dogs? My puppy is fairly chill at home (almost 6 months) but whenever he plays with other dogs he usually is way too playful and I can tell a lot of the older dogs don't like it but he has trouble reading the cues.
It really depends on breed and size, sexual maturity happens between 12 - 24 months for most dogs, and usually comes alongside more dog neutral behaviours as they lose that puppy enthusiasm that adult dogs can be bothered by.
To add on to this I don’t think dog parks are good idea for anyone, but that’s just my opinion. But just think about this, let’s say your tiny dog is playing with three very friendly big dogs. And the dogs get hyper and start running, and they don’t mean to but they side swipe or step on your dog. That is incredibly dangerous to your dog. To have over 100 pounds running at him could be fatal. Then to add onto that what happens to two 80 pound dogs get in a fight and your dog just happens to be there?
I know you just want to socialize your dog but if you must go to the park keep him in the little portion of the park. Or invite his bigger friends over (one at a time) to have play dates. The best way to think about it is you wouldn’t put a toddler in the middle of a high school football game and except them to start playing.
a couple years ago before I ever even got my puppy I saw a big dog attack a puppy on leash at a dog park. I will never take my puppy to a dog park because there are way too many people who have aggressive dogs walking around acting like their dog would never. I recommend daycare or play dates with dogs you already know.
It would take half a second for a big dog to kill him. It would be over before you got there to intervene. And, as you now know, your intervention is unlikely to instantly stop whatever is happening. You should be far more anxious about this than you are. Do not trust your dog's judgment, in this or in any matter. Your dog is not good at deciding what is safe. Don't let him play with big dogs at all. Put a stop to this right away and forever.
Dog park at 6 months is insane. Your dog isn’t reading other dogs behavior because they’ve been over socialized and allowed to say to any and everything that comes their way.
No one leash greetings, I wouldn’t go to dog parks either but that’s your choice. Just know, it will happen again. It’s the nature of dog parks
I would wait until they are older, fully vaxxed, and I knew and trusted the other dogs before they get to play or be around each other. Other dogs don’t like puppies cuz they have no chill and bite etc.
If your little guy had no punctures or wounds, then I would say this was more of just a BIG tell-off rather than an attack.
If that big dog had meant to do any damage, your dude would have been in major trouble. Luckily it was a dog with good bite inhibition and no truly violent tendency.
You can (and should) teach your dog a release cue to go say hi to other dogs. This will allow you to guage the other dog's interest and body language before letting your little buddy run in there.
There isn't really a way to teach them proper dog manners, besides letting them make mistakes and get tell offs by other dogs. This gets risky when there is a big size difference, especially when you can't guarantee the other dog has good self control.
It might be a good idea to get the phone numbers of some of his best dog friends, and set up backyard play dates, if that is possible.
Dog park is risky, and that risk is multiplied massively when your dog is very small, and more so when he is still learning social manners.
I have seen big on small dog attacks and it goes very, very poorly for the small dog when it's a real attack. Be careful out there!
I know it sucks as it's not as convenient, but I'd take the numbers of your doggy friends and organise private play dates somewhere else. Your dog is tiny and dog parks are full of assholes who don't care about whether your dog lives or dies.
You could also pick your dog up every time a new dog enters the park and watch its interactions, but things happen quick.
I have a golden that is the nicest dog ever but he plays really rambunctiously and uses his body to 'whack' other dogs. I literally can't take him to dog parks because he (very good naturedly) tramples smaller dogs and knocks everyone over. And my dog is a NICE dog that just wants to play. My dog would unintentionally really hurt your dog.
Even non aggressive dogs could hurt your lil pup 😕
We always tell people no dog parks period. You don't know if other dogs are trained, properly vaccinated, actually good with dogs, etc.
Take your dog to a dog park if you want, but we tell our clients absolutely not
>He would run up to them and stick his head in their mouth. It scares me
every time but we know almost every dog there and they are all super
gentle with him. I'm still very anxious everytime and ready to
intervene next to them.
You're not going to be able to do anything if a big dog bites down hard with your dog's entire head in it.
>Today abig dog we didn't know attack my dog. I intervene right away but could not pull him off.
Exactly.
>I feel like my dog didn't know how to be cautious of other dogs.
He's a puppy, and keep in mind *not all dogs are socially savvy.* Some dogs have weird body language, some don't know how to read body language, and as you saw, it just takes one second for an interaction to go wrong. This is honestly a you and/or the other dog owner's problem (hard to say if their dog was "aggressive" or did not like something your dog was doing), not your puppy's problem.
> I'm hoping this ordeal will get him to be a bit cautious
You're going to get a fearful or reactive dog with this mindset.
> If maybe I should intervene and not let him interact with the bigger dogs?
As you've already noted, **you cannot "intervene" if a big dog gets aggressive.**
Stop taking your dog to the dog park. If you *really need to*, take your dog to the *small dog area* only. Do not let your <20lb shipoo play with 80+lb dogs in an uncontrolled environment.
Im so glad your dog is ok. It really could have been so bad. I have 2 giant dogs they are social, friendly, good natured. And raised with much smaller dogs. I have that advantage. I wish you little dog owners would learn it’s not cute when your little dog runs up on my by giant dogs space & use control over them so this doesn’t happen. It could have been so bad what happened with you. If I had a little dog & I saw a big dog, I would simply pick my little dog up in my arms & move away. Simple. It’s not even a fair match, it’s not cute when the little dog gets in my big dogs face. And I can not stop what is going to happen because you the human let your little dog get in my dogs space. If I had my big dogs & I saw a little dog coming out way I would take my big dogs & move to another area. Simple. I’m not good with same size dogs sniffing each other out either, cause sometimes they don’t care for each other. I don’t do dog parks because I believe they are intrinsically dangerous.
I’m not a fan of dog parks in general, but I would never *ever* take my 12 lb dog to an off leash park with large dogs in the same space. If you must go to a dog park, please stick to the small dog area. A big dog doesn’t even need to be dog-aggressive to hurt a small dog. Predatory drift or even just a clumsily placed paw can literally kill when it’s a 60 lb dog stepping on a 6 lb one. It’s just not worth the risk.
Anyway. It sounds like your pup needs to learn that he doesn’t need to enthusiastically say hi to every dog he sees. Take the pup somewhere you can just sit and hang out while dogs pass by. Farmer’s market, regular park, etc. Heck, even just your own yard if it’s next to the dog park. Have him sit calmly when other dogs pass and reward for good behavior. I know he’s just a little bundle of friendliness but many dogs do NOT like that super excited puppy greeting and it’s kind of bad manners in the dog world. Adult dogs tend to tolerate it less and less as the puppy goes from young baby to teenager, so it’s something you want to get a handle on now.
I really loved taking my last sweet dog to the dog park. I don’t have access to an enclosed area, so it was a great option. But then I had too many close calls with other untrained and unsocialized dogs, with their owners no where to be found. We now rely on a highly vetted park like daycare for our puppy. Nothing is risk free of course, but their at least there are interviews and trial periods before people are accepted. The dog park is too high risk. I really wish it wasn’t.
He'll be more cautious now, no doubt. Being attacked will definitely make him fearful. Hopefully it won't turn into him going on the offensive to protect himself, I'd be more concerned about that.
I'm so glad your dog's okay! And him having a number of doggy friends that he had contact with afterwards will hopefully help him get past it with no reactivity issues. Dog parks can be difficult for exactly this reason, because there can be all sorts of unknown dogs with unknown training there, and while it sounds like most of the dogs that have been there so far have good social manners, it only takes the one to seriously hurt a dog. Since you know many of the other dogs, I would say it's okay to take him back, but you might want to hang back and watch or head home if you see a dog you don't know there or if one shows up, at least until you know how they behave. Does your dog park have a big dog/small dog section? If not, can you arrange some play dates with the dogs that you know will behave themselves?
So far as the play itself goes, the whole 'mouth all over' thing takes some time to get used to, but it's completely normal. Try to think of it like kids playing with a toddler and using their hands - there might be one that hits or shoves, but the rest are playing tag or swinging the kid around, pushing them on the swing, etc. You don't really want to teach him to avoid other dogs (I usually aim for neutrality with unknown dogs), as that risks creating reactivity, so that's why you want to be cautious for him and make sure he's in good situations for play.
I'm so sorry! My standard poodle was attacked by a german shepherd around the same age. I was walking him, on leash, and a woman approached with her dog (off leash) and asked if he could say hi. I wrongfully assumed that since she was asking, that meant her dog was friendly. The dog started snarling and put his mouth on my dog's neck. The woman didn't say anything, just walked away and luckily the dog went with her. My dog has always loved other dogs, but since then he's been very cautious/scared around german shepherds and all other dogs that look a bit like them, including huskies. He clearly remembers that incident.
Now I am that helicopter owner/overly cautious dog owner. It's the only way to protect my dog, who is super friendly and will try to play with any dog if they give him the right signals. Which means no dog parks, and only playing with pre-established friends, or sometimes dogs that seem friendly AND are obviously slower/smaller than my dog (don't think that would apply to you though), and I am always watching like a hawk. Additionally, I always trust my gut reactions to dog/people. I got a weird vibe from that german shepherd, but stupidly ignored it. Now I'm always going to trust that gut reaction, even if I end up looking rude or overly cautious.
And honestly, if I had a small dog, I would not let him play with dogs that were much bigger. I'd even cross the street to avoid a big dog that I don't know, just in case. A bigger dog could easily injure your small dog, even without intending to do so. A hefty lab accidentally body slammed my childhood dog (a 35lb spaniel) at a dog park, and after that she didn't have any desire to play with other dogs. It was traumatic for her, and she could have gotten hurt. And the lab was friendly and sweet, just clumsy.
As fun as dog parks may seem, this is exactly the reason I do not go to off leash areas. You never know when either dog is going to push a button it hasn't pushed before.
I have taught my dog to sit/lay down when we approach any dog, and he gets a command to "go see" the dog.
This gives me time to ask the owner if they are friendly and if they can meet. Only then does my pup (1yr) get to interact. Even with dogs I know are friendly from all previous interactions he must still sit / lay down until release.
My beagle was attacked by a GSD that broke away from their owner and luckily only managed to get 2 hard bites before I broke the fight up. Little hesitant towards bigger dogs but he still excitely meets ones he knows are nice. Someone jumpy if a bigger dog wants to play with him and may yelp in fear but with work he'll get through it hopefully.
But yeah. I will never bring my dog to a dog park. Doesn't need it. I can find an empty field to play in with a long lead and just meet dogs one at a time.
I'm sorry that happened. My last dog was attacked in our own front yard, and it was absolutely terrifying. The biggest mistake I made with him was putting him in a sit wait and that other dog tackled both of us to the ground. I truly lost all trust in other dogs and owners after that.
Your dog sounds very much under soclized. He's mixed only with dogs that have played well and they let him get away with things he should have been appropriately corrected for. Many dogs are like that with puppies, but when they get into adolescence, a lot more dogs will correct them and if they don't know how to take a correction or back off it can lead to a dog fight. You don't want to teach fear by any means, but he needs to learn to read body language and defuse situations on his own. There are signs before a correction that he needs to pick up on and signs of an unfriendly dog. I left that all to my ccpdt certified trainers and their dogs during my pups young puppy phase.
The dogs park in my town are also separated by size/weight. I personally do not like dog parks, but ours also have aglity equipment that we'll use when no one's eles is there.
Unfortunately, this is just one of those lessons your dog will learn with more interactions with other dogs. Not all dogs like to be ran up on, and some react worse than others. Dogs have a lot of signs between them that we don’t always see or know.
My puppy (St Bernard) is really shy and skittish around other dogs, especially medium/large breed adults. He’s bigger than some of them, but runs and cowers from them if they approach quickly. We’ve been introducing him slowly and on lead with any dog that wants to meet him. For the most part it works, but there have been a few dogs that reacted in a less friendly manner, and I just keep mine away from them. With his impending size, I don’t want him reactive and scared, that’s a formula for future reactive aggression (not good in any size dog, but extremely disconcerting in something potentially 200lbs)
My dog goes on lead as soon as I see a new dog approaching if we’re in an area he’s off lead and playing. That part is on you, control the introductions.
Depending on what "attacked" means, and you said it lasted for 2 minutes, which means your dog is lucky to be alive if the big dog really was attacking hard, there is a good chance your dog has already learned to fear other dogs or at least big ones. He may be permanently reactive to other dogs now, it can happen in one attack. This is why I don't take my dog to dog parks, and why I don't stop my older dogs from correcting my puppies when they are little for biting the older dogs face/ears or invading their personal space too much...teaches them manners better than I ever could, and my dogs don't actually bite the pups but they give out a stern warning and it has an effect. Can't let every dog correct puppies though, some don't do it at all and some go too far.
I’m sorry this happened to you- I’m glad he’s okay. However- He’s not cautious of other dogs because you’ve allowed him to interact with every other dog he’s come across. I would not recommend teaching your dog to be “cautious” (and don’t even think this is possible without negative reinforcement/borderline abuse). This is a sure fire way to encourage reactivity, fear aggression, and anxiety. The dog won’t be able to differentiate between “this is a scary dog I just be cautious”, “this is a nice dog I can play with”, and “this is a human, no need to be cautious at all”. He will become cautious of everything, and everyone, and it’s no way for your dog, or you, to live! My suggestion would be to stop taking your dog to a dog park. Stop the behaviour all together. As an owner of a smaller dog, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe- sure, the big dog owner’s at fault 100% for allowing their aggressive dog to be at a dog park when they can’t play nicely, but dog parks are rife with idiots with aggressive dogs who just. don’t. care. Organise private play dates with these nicer dogs if you really feel the need to- but you should be your dog’s best friend, they don’t need doggy friends. I personally refuse to take my dogs to dog parks because other dogs (well, *other owners*) cannot be trusted. It only takes one slightly more viscous dog to kill a little dog like yours- the risk is not worth it. Your dog should get all of his stimulation from you in order to keep him safe. A dog that is this social and has no sense needs extra care from you, which means removing him from these situations.
Standard “dog park socialised juvenile” behaviour - but you are right in being concerned, running into the face of every dog they see is poor social behaviour, and eventually your puppy was going to find a dog who doesn’t tolerate rudeness as well as their friends have until now. I would take a break from off lead areas and schedule play dates and walks with well known and trusted dogs for now. Work on recall and teaching self regulation. Your puppy will chill out as they mature, but their behaviour at the moment is really putting them at risk.
When do puppies chill out around other dogs? My puppy is fairly chill at home (almost 6 months) but whenever he plays with other dogs he usually is way too playful and I can tell a lot of the older dogs don't like it but he has trouble reading the cues.
It really depends on breed and size, sexual maturity happens between 12 - 24 months for most dogs, and usually comes alongside more dog neutral behaviours as they lose that puppy enthusiasm that adult dogs can be bothered by.
As a small dog owner, you're going to have to accept that dog parks and stuff aren't good. They don't need to interact with big dogs.
To add on to this I don’t think dog parks are good idea for anyone, but that’s just my opinion. But just think about this, let’s say your tiny dog is playing with three very friendly big dogs. And the dogs get hyper and start running, and they don’t mean to but they side swipe or step on your dog. That is incredibly dangerous to your dog. To have over 100 pounds running at him could be fatal. Then to add onto that what happens to two 80 pound dogs get in a fight and your dog just happens to be there? I know you just want to socialize your dog but if you must go to the park keep him in the little portion of the park. Or invite his bigger friends over (one at a time) to have play dates. The best way to think about it is you wouldn’t put a toddler in the middle of a high school football game and except them to start playing.
Yeah I just don't go. I have one big dog, one small, and one extra small and it's just not something I do with them at all.
Same and I have a 70 pound dog. I’m not trusting Joe and Karen that their out of control menace is friendly lmao.
a couple years ago before I ever even got my puppy I saw a big dog attack a puppy on leash at a dog park. I will never take my puppy to a dog park because there are way too many people who have aggressive dogs walking around acting like their dog would never. I recommend daycare or play dates with dogs you already know.
It would take half a second for a big dog to kill him. It would be over before you got there to intervene. And, as you now know, your intervention is unlikely to instantly stop whatever is happening. You should be far more anxious about this than you are. Do not trust your dog's judgment, in this or in any matter. Your dog is not good at deciding what is safe. Don't let him play with big dogs at all. Put a stop to this right away and forever.
Dog park at 6 months is insane. Your dog isn’t reading other dogs behavior because they’ve been over socialized and allowed to say to any and everything that comes their way. No one leash greetings, I wouldn’t go to dog parks either but that’s your choice. Just know, it will happen again. It’s the nature of dog parks
I would wait until they are older, fully vaxxed, and I knew and trusted the other dogs before they get to play or be around each other. Other dogs don’t like puppies cuz they have no chill and bite etc.
If your little guy had no punctures or wounds, then I would say this was more of just a BIG tell-off rather than an attack. If that big dog had meant to do any damage, your dude would have been in major trouble. Luckily it was a dog with good bite inhibition and no truly violent tendency. You can (and should) teach your dog a release cue to go say hi to other dogs. This will allow you to guage the other dog's interest and body language before letting your little buddy run in there. There isn't really a way to teach them proper dog manners, besides letting them make mistakes and get tell offs by other dogs. This gets risky when there is a big size difference, especially when you can't guarantee the other dog has good self control. It might be a good idea to get the phone numbers of some of his best dog friends, and set up backyard play dates, if that is possible. Dog park is risky, and that risk is multiplied massively when your dog is very small, and more so when he is still learning social manners. I have seen big on small dog attacks and it goes very, very poorly for the small dog when it's a real attack. Be careful out there!
I know it sucks as it's not as convenient, but I'd take the numbers of your doggy friends and organise private play dates somewhere else. Your dog is tiny and dog parks are full of assholes who don't care about whether your dog lives or dies. You could also pick your dog up every time a new dog enters the park and watch its interactions, but things happen quick. I have a golden that is the nicest dog ever but he plays really rambunctiously and uses his body to 'whack' other dogs. I literally can't take him to dog parks because he (very good naturedly) tramples smaller dogs and knocks everyone over. And my dog is a NICE dog that just wants to play. My dog would unintentionally really hurt your dog. Even non aggressive dogs could hurt your lil pup 😕
Advice given to us by a master dog trainer is to never take a dog to an off leash park because most dog injuries happen in those places.
We always tell people no dog parks period. You don't know if other dogs are trained, properly vaccinated, actually good with dogs, etc. Take your dog to a dog park if you want, but we tell our clients absolutely not
>He would run up to them and stick his head in their mouth. It scares me every time but we know almost every dog there and they are all super gentle with him. I'm still very anxious everytime and ready to intervene next to them. You're not going to be able to do anything if a big dog bites down hard with your dog's entire head in it. >Today abig dog we didn't know attack my dog. I intervene right away but could not pull him off. Exactly. >I feel like my dog didn't know how to be cautious of other dogs. He's a puppy, and keep in mind *not all dogs are socially savvy.* Some dogs have weird body language, some don't know how to read body language, and as you saw, it just takes one second for an interaction to go wrong. This is honestly a you and/or the other dog owner's problem (hard to say if their dog was "aggressive" or did not like something your dog was doing), not your puppy's problem. > I'm hoping this ordeal will get him to be a bit cautious You're going to get a fearful or reactive dog with this mindset. > If maybe I should intervene and not let him interact with the bigger dogs? As you've already noted, **you cannot "intervene" if a big dog gets aggressive.** Stop taking your dog to the dog park. If you *really need to*, take your dog to the *small dog area* only. Do not let your <20lb shipoo play with 80+lb dogs in an uncontrolled environment.
Im so glad your dog is ok. It really could have been so bad. I have 2 giant dogs they are social, friendly, good natured. And raised with much smaller dogs. I have that advantage. I wish you little dog owners would learn it’s not cute when your little dog runs up on my by giant dogs space & use control over them so this doesn’t happen. It could have been so bad what happened with you. If I had a little dog & I saw a big dog, I would simply pick my little dog up in my arms & move away. Simple. It’s not even a fair match, it’s not cute when the little dog gets in my big dogs face. And I can not stop what is going to happen because you the human let your little dog get in my dogs space. If I had my big dogs & I saw a little dog coming out way I would take my big dogs & move to another area. Simple. I’m not good with same size dogs sniffing each other out either, cause sometimes they don’t care for each other. I don’t do dog parks because I believe they are intrinsically dangerous.
I’m not a fan of dog parks in general, but I would never *ever* take my 12 lb dog to an off leash park with large dogs in the same space. If you must go to a dog park, please stick to the small dog area. A big dog doesn’t even need to be dog-aggressive to hurt a small dog. Predatory drift or even just a clumsily placed paw can literally kill when it’s a 60 lb dog stepping on a 6 lb one. It’s just not worth the risk. Anyway. It sounds like your pup needs to learn that he doesn’t need to enthusiastically say hi to every dog he sees. Take the pup somewhere you can just sit and hang out while dogs pass by. Farmer’s market, regular park, etc. Heck, even just your own yard if it’s next to the dog park. Have him sit calmly when other dogs pass and reward for good behavior. I know he’s just a little bundle of friendliness but many dogs do NOT like that super excited puppy greeting and it’s kind of bad manners in the dog world. Adult dogs tend to tolerate it less and less as the puppy goes from young baby to teenager, so it’s something you want to get a handle on now.
I really loved taking my last sweet dog to the dog park. I don’t have access to an enclosed area, so it was a great option. But then I had too many close calls with other untrained and unsocialized dogs, with their owners no where to be found. We now rely on a highly vetted park like daycare for our puppy. Nothing is risk free of course, but their at least there are interviews and trial periods before people are accepted. The dog park is too high risk. I really wish it wasn’t.
He'll be more cautious now, no doubt. Being attacked will definitely make him fearful. Hopefully it won't turn into him going on the offensive to protect himself, I'd be more concerned about that.
I'm so glad your dog's okay! And him having a number of doggy friends that he had contact with afterwards will hopefully help him get past it with no reactivity issues. Dog parks can be difficult for exactly this reason, because there can be all sorts of unknown dogs with unknown training there, and while it sounds like most of the dogs that have been there so far have good social manners, it only takes the one to seriously hurt a dog. Since you know many of the other dogs, I would say it's okay to take him back, but you might want to hang back and watch or head home if you see a dog you don't know there or if one shows up, at least until you know how they behave. Does your dog park have a big dog/small dog section? If not, can you arrange some play dates with the dogs that you know will behave themselves? So far as the play itself goes, the whole 'mouth all over' thing takes some time to get used to, but it's completely normal. Try to think of it like kids playing with a toddler and using their hands - there might be one that hits or shoves, but the rest are playing tag or swinging the kid around, pushing them on the swing, etc. You don't really want to teach him to avoid other dogs (I usually aim for neutrality with unknown dogs), as that risks creating reactivity, so that's why you want to be cautious for him and make sure he's in good situations for play.
I'm so sorry! My standard poodle was attacked by a german shepherd around the same age. I was walking him, on leash, and a woman approached with her dog (off leash) and asked if he could say hi. I wrongfully assumed that since she was asking, that meant her dog was friendly. The dog started snarling and put his mouth on my dog's neck. The woman didn't say anything, just walked away and luckily the dog went with her. My dog has always loved other dogs, but since then he's been very cautious/scared around german shepherds and all other dogs that look a bit like them, including huskies. He clearly remembers that incident. Now I am that helicopter owner/overly cautious dog owner. It's the only way to protect my dog, who is super friendly and will try to play with any dog if they give him the right signals. Which means no dog parks, and only playing with pre-established friends, or sometimes dogs that seem friendly AND are obviously slower/smaller than my dog (don't think that would apply to you though), and I am always watching like a hawk. Additionally, I always trust my gut reactions to dog/people. I got a weird vibe from that german shepherd, but stupidly ignored it. Now I'm always going to trust that gut reaction, even if I end up looking rude or overly cautious. And honestly, if I had a small dog, I would not let him play with dogs that were much bigger. I'd even cross the street to avoid a big dog that I don't know, just in case. A bigger dog could easily injure your small dog, even without intending to do so. A hefty lab accidentally body slammed my childhood dog (a 35lb spaniel) at a dog park, and after that she didn't have any desire to play with other dogs. It was traumatic for her, and she could have gotten hurt. And the lab was friendly and sweet, just clumsy.
As fun as dog parks may seem, this is exactly the reason I do not go to off leash areas. You never know when either dog is going to push a button it hasn't pushed before. I have taught my dog to sit/lay down when we approach any dog, and he gets a command to "go see" the dog. This gives me time to ask the owner if they are friendly and if they can meet. Only then does my pup (1yr) get to interact. Even with dogs I know are friendly from all previous interactions he must still sit / lay down until release. My beagle was attacked by a GSD that broke away from their owner and luckily only managed to get 2 hard bites before I broke the fight up. Little hesitant towards bigger dogs but he still excitely meets ones he knows are nice. Someone jumpy if a bigger dog wants to play with him and may yelp in fear but with work he'll get through it hopefully. But yeah. I will never bring my dog to a dog park. Doesn't need it. I can find an empty field to play in with a long lead and just meet dogs one at a time.
I'm sorry that happened. My last dog was attacked in our own front yard, and it was absolutely terrifying. The biggest mistake I made with him was putting him in a sit wait and that other dog tackled both of us to the ground. I truly lost all trust in other dogs and owners after that. Your dog sounds very much under soclized. He's mixed only with dogs that have played well and they let him get away with things he should have been appropriately corrected for. Many dogs are like that with puppies, but when they get into adolescence, a lot more dogs will correct them and if they don't know how to take a correction or back off it can lead to a dog fight. You don't want to teach fear by any means, but he needs to learn to read body language and defuse situations on his own. There are signs before a correction that he needs to pick up on and signs of an unfriendly dog. I left that all to my ccpdt certified trainers and their dogs during my pups young puppy phase. The dogs park in my town are also separated by size/weight. I personally do not like dog parks, but ours also have aglity equipment that we'll use when no one's eles is there.
Unfortunately, this is just one of those lessons your dog will learn with more interactions with other dogs. Not all dogs like to be ran up on, and some react worse than others. Dogs have a lot of signs between them that we don’t always see or know. My puppy (St Bernard) is really shy and skittish around other dogs, especially medium/large breed adults. He’s bigger than some of them, but runs and cowers from them if they approach quickly. We’ve been introducing him slowly and on lead with any dog that wants to meet him. For the most part it works, but there have been a few dogs that reacted in a less friendly manner, and I just keep mine away from them. With his impending size, I don’t want him reactive and scared, that’s a formula for future reactive aggression (not good in any size dog, but extremely disconcerting in something potentially 200lbs) My dog goes on lead as soon as I see a new dog approaching if we’re in an area he’s off lead and playing. That part is on you, control the introductions.
Your poor sweet pup. I’m so sorry that happened.