How do I introduce my dog at the Dog Park?
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| People will maybe have some different suggestions for you, but my opinion would be really to let him just bound in there! You said he plays well with other dogs, which is good, it means he likely understands how to communicate properly with them, which means he likely won't be misunderstood. Two questions for you:
1. Does he have a tail? Dogs with tails sometimes incur more difficulty becoming "friends" with other dogs because it is more difficult for the dogs to read him. That said, if he typically gets along well with others, I wouldn't be concerned. 2. Does his hair cover his eyes? Eye shape, size, etc. is another way in which dogs read each other. No tail and no visible eyes can potentially make dogs a little slower to love him, so if his eyes are covered up you may want to consider a little top knot just so he can make proper eye contact and convey his friendliness a little easier. I also suggest that you do not interfere with the dogs while they are greeting each other, unless you fear that he is going to be injured. Dogs will sniff each others' crotches, and they may make little noises and growls, but this is how they get to know each other and establish the social hierarchy among themselves. It's tempting to say, "Stop sniffing him!" and so on, but you won't be doing anybody any favours. Let us know how it goes - and take some pictures if you can!!!! Have Fun!!!  |
| Have fun at the dog park. I can only offer a few cautions:
1. Don't let him drink from the water at the dog park. Bring your own fresh water. Too many bad bugs can hang around the stagnant water. 2. Watch him and what the dogs around him are doing. If a pack of dogs seem a little too crazy, I'd steer him clear of them. I once saw a pack of grayhounds attach a beagle, it was horrible! Pictures please! |
| What they said, but let me add one thing. Watch closely. If he seems to be getting in a "pack" call him away. I may be putting this wrong but it seems that when a pack...8,10,12 dogs get together there is always the potential for a fight. That being said, let him play and be a dog. Its wonderful when you get home and have a nice tired dog. |
| Good post- a question I have never thought of asking although it's something I worry about.
I find Rufus does much better off leash as he can learn when dogs are saying 'no I don't want to play with you' if he is bouncing around & being too much for the other dogs, they will let him know & I want him to learn those warning signs. On leash he just gets pulled away or tangled up! He is 7 months old, and the other day got bitten on the nose (just a small nip) because he was trying to get this poor old dog to play, I'm glad this happened because he is more careful and gentle approaching dogs now, although he is still very boistrous! We don't have dog parks here as such, so when we meet other dogs the owners are not always expecting them to play together which can be difficult. My advice is to not call your dog off too soon if they are playing, sometimes they bark alot and it looks aggressive when it is not. However keep a close eye on your dog & enjoy yourself! |
Hint of Mischief wrote: My advice is to not call your dog off too soon if they are playing, sometimes they bark alot and it looks aggressive when it is not. However keep a close eye on your dog & enjoy yourself!
That's very true. And you may find that a lot of people are just clueless in reading dog language -- I sometimes think half the fights that occur are caused by the owners. Observe and you'll quickly learn who's the bully, who plays rough (our breed is NOTORIOUS for bodyslamming and just generally being verbally and otherwise obnoxious - if "play" turns into harrassment - and the harrassment is in the eye of the other dog(s), time to move on and find a more appropriate/better matched playmate), who just wants to be left alone etc etc. I can usually tell when the dynamics of a group are not good and somebody's about to start something, and it often does happen within a larger group. That's when you call your dog (while it's still brewing) and cheerfully move on. It's also a great place to reinforce your recall. Step away from the fray, start easy (not when they're in the middle of really intense play), call, reward (that's why I step away -conventional wisdom says you don't bring treats into a park, but I usually have a pocket full of tiny treats - inhalement size - and will slip one unobtrusively to my dog) and immediately release to go back to play. What you're reinforcing is that coming when called is good (quick treat)and does not necessarily mean the end of fun things (if you only call your dog to interupt a good time - he's not stupid - in no time he'll figure out that coming to you is not such a great thing). A recall is the most important thing you ever teach a dog. Teach it well and reinforce it every chance you get. A dog park can be a sneaky way to really bring the point home, because for most dogs running and playing with other dogs is tremendously reinforcing. But it's also just this type of situation where you want the dog to never think twice about stopping in his tracks and coming to you immediately. With that level of control, you can pretty much handle almost any situation you encounter. Me? I don't want my dogs to think a dog park is a free-for-all where they no longer have to listen to me. Sybil and I have enough discussions along those lines as it is 
Kristine |
| All of your tips were so helpful. No Winston does not have a tail, but he does use his booty as his tail that thing moves a mile a mintue! I would love to put a bow or tie in his hair....but i think my fiance would have a small heartattack! hahahaha I think when his hair gets longer i will insist that his hair be pulled back, he is already running into doors! We went to the dog park....the other dogs sniffed him thru the fence first and they all seemed nice. We went into the "room" to take off leashes, and to open and shut the outside door safely so no dogs get out on accident. He bounded in the park and it was wonderful.....all the other dogs took really well to him, i think it was actually a light day, about 4-5 other dogs. All the other owners just thought he was the cutest thing and loved how big he looked. He played and wrestled it was great there was some growling, not on his part, but like you all said that was to be expected...so much more than i could have hoped for. And wonders of wonders he listened when we called to him! Good for mum and dad too...we walked in the door and he just collapesed, he was so so so tired! Yippie!! We will definitely be making more trips, especially when the weather warms up! |
| That's so great!!!!! |
| There is very good advice in this thread! thanks! |
| I remember when I first brought Cassie to the dog park, I was so scared for her, bcs I wasnt sure how she did with other dogs, so I had her stay close so I could keep an eye on her, now when we get there she is so excited, I have to take her lead off before we enter the second gate because she goes crazy!! She'll barrel through the gate, sniffing everyone, saying hi, and she herds EVERYONE!!
As far as the comment about the pack og Greyhounds attacking a beagle.. well, not all greyhounds are safe to bring around small animals, they will kill them. Though dont think bad of Greyhounds, they are beautiful creatures that happen to habe a strong prey drive!! |
| I like the comments on the recall at the park. I work on recalls at home with my dog alot. She is about 80-90% consistent with them, sometimes she just chooses to ignore me when she is distracted and it is SO frustrating! In my obiedience school one thing they really reinforced was that you MUST follow through with every recall - if they don't come when called the first time you must approach the dog where they are and gently "bring them with you" to the place where you called them while saying the word "come" again, then do a focused "sit/stay" and "come" 2 or 3 more times after the unsuccesfull one. Any one heard of this method before? It seems to work because by going to get her and bring her back to where I called her from, i'm able to get her attention. When I give her the sit command, she waits for my next command and almost always comes when I call her. The hard part is when she is far away from me and I call her to come....sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. Its much harder to enforce the recall when she's far away from me....getting to my point...i'm very hesitant to do a recall at the dog park because if she does NOT come, I cannot enforce it easily at all because I cannot catch a crazy playing running sheepdog! I don't want to tell her "come" and let her get away with not coming when called. I know the whole point of teaching recalls is to to use them in just that situation, but she's inconsistent enough with them that I am really hesitant to ruin any good association with the word! I do bring treats to the dog park and "slip" them to her every time she approaches me. I also carry a water bottle which she LOVES to come take sips from in between romp sessions. |
| oh, just another comment - when its time to go, sometimes I trick her by saying, "let's go bu-bye"....that is probably the one thing she loves more than the dog park....going for a ride in the car. She ALWAYS comes running to me when I say those words. So sometimes I chose to do that instead of use the word "come". I also say things like "lets go" and "this way" and she knows those words mean we're going somewhere else and she makes her way over to my direction. I like to use the term "come" for very specific occasions when I want her to drop what she's doing and come directly to me and sit at my feet and wait for the next specific command. I want her to associate "come" with a very serious situation - no doggin about it! |
crazyjeep wrote: oh, just another comment - when its time to go, sometimes I trick her by saying, "let's go bu-bye"....that is probably the one thing she loves more than the dog park....going for a ride in the car. She ALWAYS comes running to me when I say those words. So sometimes I chose to do that instead of use the word "come". I also say things like "lets go" and "this way" and she knows those words mean we're going somewhere else and she makes her way over to my direction. I like to use the term "come" for very specific occasions when I want her to drop what she's doing and come directly to me and sit at my feet and wait for the next specific command. I want her to associate "come" with a very serious situation - no doggin about it!
If that doesn't work you can always yell "cookie" that's my recal with my boy - never fails  |
I have never done a dog park, when folks come to look at my fosters (along with my three) they always say it is like a mini dog park Guinness's recall is awful he stopped coming at age two  I need to work on that but do you want a cookie works fine...........I don't know if that will work at sheepiepalooza so I am going to work on his recall more. |
4dognight wrote: I have never done a dog park, when folks come to look at my fosters (along with my three) they always say it is like a mini dog park
Guinness's recall is awful he stopped coming at age two I need to work on that but do you want a cookie works fine...........I don't know if that will work at sheepiepalooza so I am going to work on his recall more.SUre just use cookie and have 50 OES mob you  |
Has any one had this happen; when Laika was playing with a Golden Retriever she chases him and and tries to grab his neck I have seen this any other dogs too. Well needless to say she was too rough and he had punctures  it wasn't fighting just overzealous I guess. Just wondering if other come across this behaviour. |
grabbing the neck is a dominance move by the dog and should be discouraged (as I keep telling the owner of the golden who does it to Morgan allllll the time  ) |
| Yah believe me I don't encourage it; hard when they are running full tilt. When it gets a little frenzied I call her back to me. But I was very surprise when I heard she sunk in. tsk tsk. I have to constantly keep my eye on that girl; she wants to dominate everything from me to the cats. When it starts to happen she goes to her blankie for a time out. Get her out of the situation. |
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