My Pointer will be celebrating her first birthday later this month.  We have survived the first year! 

My question today is about socialization with other dogs.

Pointer are of course taller larger breeds.  I am always looking for other dogs to play with her, but unfortunately most of my neighbors have Shiztus and a Cocker-Poodle mix.   It seems our pup's size and speed worries them.  Last evening, with my Pointer on the lead a neighbor stopped with their small Poodle mix on a lead.  My Pointer lies flat on the ground in submission and a plea to play.  This went on for 10 mins. or so.  Then, my pointer decides...well...I would describe it as a hug.  The little dog was lifted off the ground by our Pointer which had her legs wrapped around her neck.  I know is sounds a bit odd, and it upset the owners.  There was no growling or barking.  Does this sound like an aggressive act.

Here is the other question.  As I said, our pup is almost 1 year old.  Nearly every time we encounter another dog, it is 3 plus years old.  My pup is relentless pleaing for play.  Normally, these dogs are not too interested in the sprinting and ect. our pup is begging for.  This normally results in our pup getting mouthy/nipping around the face and neck of other older dogs.  Is this aggressive or something I should attempt to correct?  She ALWAYS plops flat on the ground or on her back initially.  But, it is the mouthy part I am wondering about.

Sounds as if she's being submissive to other dogs, why not enrol in a class to get some socialization for her, or you could even try agility to channel her exuberence.

We have done some obedience classes.  May start a new class next month.  I was thinking she was too young for agility?

You can start agility training which will be limited to only cetain things and there will be very little speed but you can start on the basics.

It's a shame your neighbours all have small dogs that feel intimidated by her size, do you have any friends who have dogs that you could go walking with? Or would it be too much suggesting you get yourself another dog? I have 2 (whippets) and they run the legs off each other. It's fantastic to see them frolicing around, they don't have to rely on neighbour's dogs for playmates. Just a thought. :-)

Oh the more I think the matter over, I don't think my pup is aggressive at all.  She may not know all the rules of play, that is all. 

I just re-read my post.  Whew, my neighbors must of really have me worked up based on my typing and spelling.  No grades for that I hope.

Having a better day....

Your pup doesn't sound aggressive at all Darling, just a normal delightful playful thing. Your neighbours have wound you up good and proper, don't let them make you feel that there's something wrong with your dog, he sound gorgeous to me. :-)

Darling,
I have a similar problem with my GSD. He's 10 months and is obviously a whole lot bigger than many of the dogs/puppys we meet. He's pretty good at working out who will play though, but he's favorite game is chase, not a favorite with other owners sometimes :D I do wish that I knew someone who had a dog so they can play together, my sister has a collie, but he doesn't play with other dogs -only has eyes for his ball :)
I've found that letting him play with others when the owners are OK and calling him away from other dogs whose owners aren't happy is the best I can do for him at the moment. Besides he needs to learn that not everyone wants to play :rolleyes:

Hi there, went through the same thing last year with my collie.  He eventually got bored and went onto his ball instead.  He now only tends to play with dogs who try to play with him plus we now have another dog so once he's bigger they will have a great time. Doesnt sound at all like your dog is aggresive but certainly think the socialisation thing is a great idea.  As to agility, my collie starts next month.  You can do it provided they are a year old and that way their bones have formed properly.  Just go careful.

Sorry - I know I'm coming in on this very late as I've just joined the forum and have only just started to browse the back-posts.
But just wanted to say that, Darling, I'm so glad I saw your post as my 6 mo Great Dane puppy is doing exactly the same thing you describe and I am experiencing all the things you describe - the disapproval/wariness/fear from neighbours/other dog-walkers, the problems of having a large dog (in my case, a HUGE dog) and trying to find another dog who will play with her. I was so relieved to read about your dog doing the hug/wrestle thing around the other dogs' necks and the wanting to play with other dogs all the time. I thought my puppy was exhibiting nasty dominance behaviour but now, after reading your post, it seems that she might just be a normal puppy after all. She doesn't do the drop on the ground first though :( - she just goes straight in for the wrestle or the nipping/mouthing the other dog's face. And most of them end up going for her with all teeth bared and it gets very horrible and the other owners give me dirty looks...as you say, most of them are older dogs who aren't interested in play at all and don't like having a huge paw thrust in their face or have their heads mounted by a huge, boisterous puppy!
Also, it was a relief to hear that even not so huge breeds have problems too. Sorry - don't get me wrong - I'm not enjoying your problem (!) but I had been worried that I had picked a breed which would especially antagonise dogs because of her giant size. But it sounds like even normal "large" dogs have these problems, so I don't feel so alone after all!

I'm trying now to find large, nice dogs for her to play with - maybe other Danes or big, powerful breeds like Boxers and Rottweilers and such. Unfortunately, all her "friends" in obedience class are small to medium breeds and all MUCH smaller than her, even if they are older than her.
Hope you sort your problem out too -
Hsin-Yi

Glad to hear from you.  That is why I like this forem...someone has always had a similar experience.  I had a similiar experience with a golden retriever just yesterday.  It was a 7 month pup.  Same thing.  It was not interested much in playing.  I let it go for about 10 minutes and then we went our own way.  Maybe if we see them again, next time they will realize our pup is "OK".

Once when walking in the community woods, two owners snatched up their pug and other small pooch when they saw our Pointer and cradled their dogs as if their lives depended on it.  The owners eyes were HUGE as they walked by our dog.  My 6 year old daughter and 9 year old son were with me.  And, I was suprised how hurt my children were by the owner's behavior.  We always took our children to obedience and the children not only played with everyone's dogs, but loved to see all the dogs play together.  But in the classes we took, the smallest dog was a chow and the rest med. to large.