So Koda is now 4 months old and has met quite a few dogs so far and the results are pretty consistent. At puppy play they all go wild and growl, bite, run and jump on each other. Which I expected. Now with all older dogs she's met (3 years or above) she goes up to them puts her paws on their face and nips at them or jumps on them repeatedly until they leave or I feel bad for the other dog and restrain her. The other dogs usually make a conscious effort to get away from her or growl at her after a few minutes... I guess my first question would be is this normal behavior? There is never any play bowing or anything like that. My second question is my friend has two boxers both from the same litter they are about 3 years old now. They are both high energy and rambunctious dogs not mean at all but just have endless energy. My friend is coming back from an internship and wants to bring both dogs to my house for some play time. Koda has never met these dogs and I am worried about how it might turn out. My biggest fears are mainly that she will annoy one of the dogs until it snaps at her or that she will get ganged up on since they are a lot bigger and stronger than her. I'm I overthinking this or do you all have any advice you can give me?
I don't think you're overthinking it. If you have any doubts then you can just politely decline the offer of a play date. Or else suggest a brief trial interaction in a safe location first that's not your house (eg small fenced field or similar) so you can more easily call a stop to the interaction and go your separate ways if you're not happy with it. It'd be good for Koda to meet some quiet, slow dogs and for her to have some training sessions around them where she's rewarded for being calm, quiet and keeping her focus on you rather than on the other dog. On lead at first. That's the kind of interaction I'd be seeing out for her, not the Boxer duo.
I agree with Rachel. If you have any doubts then refuse the offer of a play date. Harley gets fed up with boxers as they can be very much in her face and want to play constantly (the ones we've met so far). It would be good if up could meet with some calm older dogs who ignore the puppy. My dog walker borrows Harley in day care when they have a puppy as she is happy to play with pups and is very tolerant, but will also tell them enough with a firm growl.
Thanks so much Naya and Oberon for the advice just wanted to provide an update for you. I ended up going over his house and hanging out with the dogs for awhile they were pretty calm together but really calm when separated for a little while. So we decided to let Koda meet each individually. Both just did there own thing and ignored koda for the thirty minutes they were with her. She was stuck to them like velcro but they didn't seem to want much to do with her, so overall it went extremely well. However I do have a question during their entire time together Koda would jump up on the boxers face and proceed to lick their mouth/jowls. She literally did this the entire time.... this has been her first both dogs off leash play session (with the exception of puppy play). So I'm left wandering is this normal behavior or do you have any advice to redirect.
Harley Quinn would do this ALL the time when she was younger and I thought it was so gross (cat person here). But it was part of her normal behaviour and as long as the other dog was comfortable with it then I can't see it being a problem. As she has grown up (she is 10 months now) it has stopped and she is SO well socialised with other dogs, she is very respectful and well behaved with them. I just wish she would be like that with people...it would save so much embarrasment.
Glad it went well!!! Good news The face licking is just something that young dogs do to older dogs. It's something they grow out of as they get older. Some older dogs are not tolerant of it or grow tired of it in which case I'd intervene but if the older dog isn't bothered then there's no need to do anything.
