So we've been having some trouble with Blitz ever since we got him. I never know which dogs he will get along with. I don't know how he was raised the first year of his life so maybe something happened then? But also the first week we had him he was living with my friends until we got an apartment, their dog (a pit/lab mix) attacked him. He got along with our other friends dog (a male lab) very well. We introduced him to many other dogs and he seemed to get along with them well. Then 2 GSDs and 2 american bulldogs all ganged up on him when we went on a playdate with them. It was 4 against 1. Every dog that we have dog sat or fostered he has gotten along with. My friends female he gets along with great, and he loved Bullet our other dog from the start. I want to be able to take him to the dog park or dog beach and let him run around and play with others but I just don't know what sets him off.
We thought maybe it was a territorial thing so we introduce him to dogs in neutral places other than his home or the other dogs home. It's really hit or miss as far as which dogs he will like and which not.

Any advise??

Kale was pack attacked at a dog park too, but when he was 5 months. He was being overly submissive and the other dogs started antagonizing him. Once he got more confident I haven't had any more issues with taking him to the dog park, it's other people that bring dogs that are always aggressive towards other dogs that I worry about. I just recently (past month and a half) have been taking Kale to our local dog park in hopes that he will play without being attacked and have had much success. I started out by letting other owners know his weaknesses and surprisingly they were all very understanding and willing to give me some pointers and tips on how to enter dog parks, how to take time observing the dogs inside before coming in to get a feel of how the others are interacting, and to never take your eyes off your dog so you can correct bad behavior before it starts (by your dog or other people's dogs). A simple "AHT" or "Hey" will break most dogs concentration before anything starts. Kale doesn't do well with overly dominant dogs, which sounds like Blitz a bit. If I see a dog that is before we enter, I wait for them to leave or we come back at a different time.

I feel like he is more dominant, and so when the other dogs come up to him and try to be dominant he gets agitated. He will get stiff when they sniff him and I've tried the whole "tsst" or doing the whole "touch" thing to snap him out of it but he completely ignores me. He just stands there frozen, and then as soon as the other dog gets too close or makes any noise he growls, and then they immediately bite him and then this huge dog fight breaks out. He in no way submits, he fights back, that's the scary part. He just got fixed about a month ago so I was hoping maybe that would help, but I haven't taken him anywhere yet, our neighbor is watching a little chihuahua and she already has a pit mix... the pit mix and him sniff each other through the fence and get along fine that way, but the chihuahua is a yippie little devil and ran up to the fence and barked and growled and Blitz tried to get at him through the fence - so I figured that was a territorial thing. But all the other stuff I just don't know.

It takes about 3 months for the testosterone to work its way out of the body. But it sounds more like he doesn't like his butt sniffed and he gets tense. I have a friend with a poodle mix that detests her behind sniffed, she plays great with other dogs and her and Kale used to play when he was little, until he sniffed her butt and then she'd attack him. Perhaps you can contact a doggy behaviorist and have a consultation, they may know the proper techniques and areas to work with Blitz to help him not be so tense when meeting new dogs. I really wish I could help more Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in and give you more appropriate and helpful advise.

Ok, I don't want to be negative, but from experience (with Mya) some dogs just aren't made to go to the dog park. Sucks...I know! Believe me when I say that I've tried several times with Mya and nothing works. At the last meet up she got into 3 little fights in a matter of 15min. I've given her several chances (Kristina can vouch for me if she reads this thread) and it just doesn't work out unfortunately. I feel horrible leaving her at home when we take Kody to the meet ups, but she just gets so upset when another dog sniffs her. She snaps.

I hope that Blitz can be worked with! Maybe he's not as bad as Mya, but she's a lost case when it comes to dog parks

Blitz behavior doesn't sound like he's being dominant to me, he sounds scared.

There are two types of "dominant" dogs that I've experienced. The "dominant" most people reference are just poorly socialized, don't know how to interact with other dogs, or flat out scared. Not dominant.

Every truly dominant, or "alpha," dog I've ever met is calm, and confident. They don't snap, they don't attack, they let other dogs approach them, and they do not bully other dogs. When things get out of hand, they are the dogs that correct the situation. They don't start the fights, but they end them (and not always by tearing up the other dog, usually it's simply holding the other dog pinned until it stops wiggling). They have an air of confidence the other dogs notice, and recognize.

Melissa - I was thinking that maybe that's how Blitz is. I feel so bad leaving him away but I figure I know a couple dogs that he does get along with so I can socialize him with them but may just have to be excluded from dog park visits. I still am gonna try once we get back to the mainland a couple times, but I'm not expecting any miracles lol I'm glad I am not the only one whose dog is like this though, at least it's not rare thing and he isn't alone...

Brooke - 3 months? I did not know this! Maybe once it's all out he will be a little easier with other dogs, maybe lol

Riley - That makes a lot of sense!! He may be scared because he just completely freezes and tenses up when they bombard him and get right up in his face/backside. Once the fights are broken up he isn't still worked up or trying to get at the dog still he does really look scared and unhappy about what happened and just wants to get away to the car or wherever else he knows that is familiar. Any advise on how to show him that there is nothing to be afraid of if that is indeed the problem?

Thanks for all your help everyone!