Dog parks
I took my 9 month old over thw weekend for the first time and will NOT be going back. First, the other older dogs played a bit too rough...to the point my pup was crying and whimpering as they mouthed and "played" with him...I got him out of there immediately. At just 9 months he has not developed the defense mechanisms older dogs have and I think wasn't really sure how to defend himself. What kind of behavior did your dog show at a dog park? |
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| I don't really take the boys too much anymore. We suffer a lot of big dog prejudice so it's just not fun for any of us. Clyde and Bear aren't mean and we watch them like hawks-- I never take an eye off either one of them. They've gotten bit by other dogs and taken the blame even though they reacted well and didn't start anything. I think too many people use the dog park as opportunity for human socialization and don't watch their dogs well enough.
I take all theee of my dogs to run around the park and sniff and smell in the evenings after the park is empty but I really don't much care for going when other dogs are there. They're their own pack anyway so they have a good time! |
| I used to go a lot to have my dogs meet and play with other dogs etc. But I haven't gone all summer.
We went to around 10 in the area, and then settled to return to only a couple...Depends on the people and dogs that frequent them, and the general atmosphere. Some dogs are bullies, and when Bosley was a pup I was so protective of him. I didn't want him to have any bad experiences, so only allowed certain dogs near him...Amd Dixie got picked on quite a bit at one park in particular. It is much better to have your dog meet and play with dogs that you know, in your yard or thier yard. But maybe go only at times when there are only a few dogs at the park, and they are well-behaved dogs. We are opening up our own park in the next month or so. I am a volunteer on the committee, but don't anticipate going often...again, depends on the other dogs and people. |
| I do like them, but you really have to watch the other dogs, because their owners may not be. I usually bring my own pack and they prefer playing with each other, which is fine by me. They're great with other dogs, just really tuned in to each other. If a couple of dogs start posturing, I just call my crew and we walk the other way. If you're vigilant and can read dogs well, I think you'll probably be fine.
If I bring just one or two, I walk, they follow. I guess I don't go there so much for the other dogs as for a fenced in place to really run. I avoid the groups of people standing around chatting (I get bored easily anyway) and just keep moving, moving, moving. Kristine |
I would like to start taking mine to one of the new ones in the area. Years ago I tok my dogs to one the dogs were great, but the people started getting creepy. Some of the dog's mamas and daddys were hooking up with other dog's mamas and daddys. They were never the single ones.  |
| I don't mind taking mine but just for walks. We keep her on the leash and if there is a dog that wants to play, we will, but wouldn't if there were lots of dogs. I'm also very picky about what dogs can play with her. I have NO PROBLEM what so ever ending a play session. It's my husband I have to keep an eye on because he'll wait a little longer than I would to pull our dog away. |
| I love them BUT everyone here was right - some people do not watch their dogs. It is important to socialize you dog though and play dates at your house are a great way to do that. As your dog grows more confident they will be able to handle the dogs at the dog park better.
I try to be consciencious about Harry scaring the dogs that are more timid and call him away. He knows this and minds me pretty well plus the owner seem appreciative and they relax more. Most times the dog warms up and starts to play with the "big" dogs. Good luck! |
| The majority of the people I've spoken with, friends who have dogs, trainers, etc all say the same thing...you have to watch your dog!
Also, at the parks there is no way of knowing if the dogs are healthy, vaccinated, have parasites, worms, etc...and then they share the same water bucket and smelling coolies and everything else. I will not be bringing mine back. He gest socialization at obedience class, goes on regular walks with me, travels with me on errands and even comes to my office sometimes. So I think he gets socialized...maybe not?  Raising dogs is harder than raising kids these days  |
| I have never had nor ever will take Dutch to a dog park but I do take her once or twice a week to a dog play group which is held where she goes to get groomed just to keep her socialized and let her run off a bit of steam. |
| I take Bella and JoJo to the dog park regularly. We have met some very nice people with very nice dogs and try to coordinate our time there with them. You are all right, there are people there who do not watch their dogs. But we have been on a sort of schedule where we meet the same people and the same dogs each time and Bella and JoJo love it! Even JoJo, who is deaf and was not socialized at all until I got her at 3 years old loves to go to the park. She does not play with the other dogs but loves to meet other people who tell her how pretty she is. Most of the other dogs leave her alone unless she shows interest in them and then they don't push it.
At the park I go to, if a dog shows agressive behavior or is inappropriate in any way, other owners will approach the owner and let them know. Some owners are interested and try to learn, others are not but then they usually leave. I understand it is a confusing experience, but it has been a wonderful experience for me and my dogs. I love how the dog park gives Bella the opportunity to run free as the wind and figure out her order in the pack. We have had very few negative experiences. Both my dogs are favorites at the park. JoJo because she is so very sweet and just wants pets and lovin from everyone. Bella because she is so active, sweet and wants to play with anyone who is interested. I have had to educate some owners about herding dogs and the way they play, but most have been receptive and have become friends. My dogs and I have had truly enjoyed the dog parks. |
| Maggie goes to a dog park almost every day. She loves it. I agree that you do have to watch the other dogs but it provides a wonderful chance for her to burn energy and develop social skills. |
| My experience with the local dog park has been almost entirely positive. The first time I took Charlie, who was 2 at the time, he was so thrilled he literally ran himself into exhaustion running joyfully from one group of dogs to another. Since then he has gotten into the habit of reminding me at 10:00 AM on Saturdays that it is time for the dog park. Usually, he gets his way.
Charlie is now almost 3 and is the most even tempered dog I have ever had, not allowing another dog to dominate him but refusing to get into fights as well. In fact, he acts like the policeman of the park when he is there. If he hears two dogs getting into a scrap, he runs and inserts himself between them until they stop or he drives off the aggressor and then stands guard by the other dog. Since he is bigger than most of the other dogs, they seem to accept his authority. He finds occasion to do this two or three times each time we go. I have even had other dog owners actually come up and say how they appreciate it and ask if Charlie had been trained to do that. I tell them no, that I think it's just his herding instinct. I'm a little afraid that one day he will come up against a truly vicious dog like a pit bull trained by some idiot to fight. But mostly, I think that such people stay away from dog parks. My only complaint about dog parks is that some of them are over-used and get beat up and that a minority of owners are too irresponsible to watch their dogs and pick up after them. I imagine they are the same people who throw litter out of car windows..not sheepdog owners, certainly. For now we go to the park because it is clearly the highlight of Charlie's week, but as he gets older and is less interested in play, I doubt we will be going very often. |
| I'm noticing that all the people who have had good experiences at the park all have one thing in common - their dogs are dogs, not puppies. So, maybe that's the answer. I also noticed the dogs at the park I went to were dogs and not puppies too. I'll wait until mine is older and then give it another try! |
| I take Simon to the dog park almost every day. We both love it and we know almost all the regulars and their dogs. Simon runs and plays and jumps and runs and runs...its a great way to burn off some of the puppy energy. Like a lot of people here have said, you do have to watch your dog and make sure others behave around him. Some of the dogs people do not clean up after them, but if I or someone else spots a dog going and the person is not watching we do point it out to them and tell them where the bags are. There have been a few scrapes along the way but all in all its been a great experience for both of us. |
We do not have doggy parks wish we did.  But I would worry about the dogs running and not coming back becasue of all the fun. |
| We go to an "informal" neighborhood park very frequently with Fozzie only. It is the same half dozen people and dogs. Everyone has gotten to know one another very well. The dogs know how to play with one another and we haven't had any problems that haven't been nipped in the butt.
We went to an actual dog park today in Deerfield and had a wonderful experience. Each person or family sat on their own bench and were laughing at the dogs playing. The one trouble maker was removed after she humped Fozzie and then Steve  |
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