Dog Park Problem
This week, we were at the dog park every day. The first three days were great: only a few dogs his size: a boxer and a black lab with whom he had a great time running and playing. Also only a few quiet people and as usual he likes to greet the humans first. The next two days were not fun: too may dogs, people throwing balls and losts of chasing. There were also several agressive dogs, one a boxer/pitbull cross who nipped at and actually attacked several dogs during the chase. Willoughby began by running with the pack but then started to try herding the others, barking loudly. The owner of the pitbull cross came to me and said that my dog was "the problem" being too agressive and trying to nip the others. I didn't see this. I called Willoughby over and sat down on a bench while he sat quietly and watched the action. I did see the pitbull cross go after several other dogs as someone kept throwing the ball until he got it away from them and destroyed it. I decided we'd had enough and we went for a walk. We came back to the park and by this time the crowd was gone but Willoughby was really tired so we went home. My question is: If Willoughby really did act too agressively, what do I do? He likes to run with the others and this was the first time that there seemed to have been a problem.He doesn't care about the ball, just chasing the others. The sign outside the park clearly states that toys (I ssume this means balls as well) shouldn't be used as some dogs don't want to share. No one pays any attention. |
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Sigh. You too huh? 
I dont have any answers for you and if you find a solution please let me know. For Tiggy and I its the owners that are the main problem. Balls are allowed at our park and there are a number of dogs that Tiggy plays with who like to chase balls. She is extremely movement reactive, so she too chases after them madly barking and trying to turn them all around and make them come back to their people.  Doesnt matter if there's 10 or 1, if they run she's after them.
There are lots of owners who think its fine and some even like having Tiggy join in (they recognise that she's herding and think its cute) but there are some who call it aggressive and go ape. They are usually the owners who have no idea about dog behaviour. One told me off about my aggressive dog when my dalmo pawed at her dog asking it to play with him. Her dog was very nervous and did the dog version of a polite 'no thanks' and rolled over. That was my dogs fault too. 
I must admit though that there are some dogs who want to play ball and who really dont like having a mad, barking avalanche of hair interfering. I ask their owners to stop throwing the ball for a couple of minutes so I can leash Tiggy and go for a walk (she goes crazy and wont come if there's a dog running back and forward after a ball despite the fact that we are at the stage of off lead work at obedience  ).
My only solution to date is to arrange to go to the park at the same time as the dogs/humans who are happy for Tiggy to play and currently we're not going at all as Tiggy has an injured toe. Tiggy is mad about chasing cats too.  |
| For what its worth, im a little bit anxious about taking Tilly to a dog park (she is still just 4 months old!). At puppy class, she is the biggest dog and also the friendliest. As a consequence, she romps around the yard with the other puppies playing with them and bowling them over if they get in her way. Whilst I can see she is just playing (there is no aggression at all) some of the other parents start getting edgy and remove Tilly from playing with their puppy.
I need to work out how to get tilly be a little less excitable with other dogs and hence a little gentler! |
| Tiggy was the same at puppy class. There were some really tiny dogs at our puppy class, kind of about the size of a rat. Tiggy loved everyone, too much sometimes.
The instructor would do the sorting out at first. She explained how to read the dogs body language and if yours was the dog who was being too much you gently pulled them back saying no and then let them try again if the other puppy wasnt too overwhelmed. If they were too boisterous again then they got a very brief time out and didnt play with that puppy for a while. It was funny, the very smallest puppy was the one who gave it back to Tiggy, he was a chihuahua cross and absoutely tiny but very feisty. Tiggy was in love with him. I would love to see them together now. I think Tiggy wouldnt see him and squash him flat underfoot. 
We were in a smallish space with pups mostly on lead for control though. |
| I read a very nice piece on another list the other day that pointed out that our puppy play groups are more detrimental to dogs than anything else. I tend to agree. dogs need to learn to ignore other dogs more than they need to learn to play with other dogs.
The gist was encapsulated in this quote:"I prefer dogs that "behave well around other dogs" rather than "play enthusiasticly with other dogs". But for some people, the message they're getting from puppy classes is that the two descriptions are the same thing. That's sometimes a good combination, but not a universal truth..." I have worked with multiple trainers and behaviorists and all think a dog park is a BAD idea for herding dogs, especially dogs like OES who play so wildly. You can't blame the other dogs owners for not wanting their dogs exposed to the normal OES play - my husband wouldn't let my two "play" with B until he got bigger than them and he still goes into an automatic submissive down when they get wound up. ENroll yor dog ina training class and exercise his mind working on agility or obedience every day, take long walks and if you have to go to the dog park do so when no one else is basically around If I take my dogs to the dog park now a days its when I know we'll be alone, we work on recalls and fetcha nd come home tired and still focuse don me - not every dog that walks past. |
| Frankie is the exactly the same way. He loves other dogs of any size so much. We have a dog park that you go and get temperment tested first, if you pass then you are allowed in. It's in a very secretive location so people can't just find it and walk in. (sounds funny I know)
They have a pond. Some of the lab owners bring balls and throw them in the pond for their dogs to fetch. It drives Frankie crazy. He chases them to the water line barking like a fool. The dogs usually pay no attention to him, there to interested in there fetch game. We haven't been back since the day he barked so much I was worried we would get kicked out. The rules say no obsessive barking. At day care he loves to chase everbody down herding them into place. At least people there understand body language. Lisa and Frankie |
kerry wrote: I read a very nice piece on another list the other day that pointed out that our puppy play groups are more detrimental to dogs than anything else. I tend to agree. dogs need to learn to ignore other dogs more than they need to learn to play with other dogs.
I think a lot of dogs dont need puppy class. But what about critical learning periods? I have met some dogs who werent socialised with other dogs when they were young and they are now very fearful of other dogs. They are unable to ignore other dogs as they're too scared of them. In particular I know one who cowers as far away as it can get and another who lunges and snaps at any dog that gets too close. They are both ok at home with their owners but they never get to go anywhere as its too stressful for the dogs and the owners. |
| that period is until they ar ewhat 12 or 13 weeks old? I have a dog that was well socialized - went everywhere, was jumped on by every "friendly" dog in town and became the most fearful dog I have ever had. We worked through it and trained and trained and trained and we can go to trials ans shows and blend in anywhere pretty much. But honestly what i wish is that other peopel were training their dogs to ignore my dog instead of rushing her face and saying "he's friendly" I don't care, they are only reinforcing to my d og that there are many untrained unsafe (in her eyes) dogs out there.
Honestly - what does socialized mean? shouldn't it mean the dogs can og out with us and ignore the other dogs? isn't that what we expect of our kids? why not our dogs? |
| I could write paragraphs about this - Patch LOVES the dog park, we are a fixture there. I joined when we lived in a townhouse, it was just perfect for her to run and romp and chase. Patch is a super non-alpha dog; a dog gives her the "Elvis" lip and she turns and walks away, she wants no part of aggression. She is a chaser, loves it. And, it is her nature to nip the ankles and every once in a while a dog will yelp, I don't think so much from the pain of ankle nipping, but it scares them. So occasionally I will get the evil eye from an owner of a chased dog, but rarely. I have found pitbull owners to be defensive because of the stigma, so that could be part of it. I would just nod my head and allow my dog to enjoy all the fun and exercise the park provides.
I preach all the time the excellent socialization tool the dog park provides, it is wonderful. |
Sheepie2 wrote: And, it is her nature to nip the ankles.....I preach all the time the excellent socialization tool the dog park provides, it is wonderful.
somehow those two sentances are in direct conflict with one another.  |
kerry wrote: Sheepie2 wrote: And, it is her nature to nip the ankles.....I preach all the time the excellent socialization tool the dog park provides, it is wonderful. somehow those two sentances are in direct conflict with one another.  |
| I think each dog is different....if the dog park works
for you that is great! We take some of ours and also schedule play dates with the herding breeds so, they are all on the same page. My previous dog Kissy would not do well at the dog park until a cute little westie allowed her a chase! We don't go alot as we pretty much have our own here but, I think it is good for some... 
We only had a small number but, not one issue! |
| Lily and Lola LOVE the dog park. When we first got Lola, she was not very well socialized. She didn’t even know how to do the 'wanna play' bow. Lily showed her the ropes. Now she is much better around other dogs and I think has better 'doggie manners' than she did. That said, I rarely take them now, because she and Lily enjoy running together in our little public park across the street. I was elated the other day though when I took Lola for a walk without Lily. We came across a really cute beagle named Einstein. Lola did her puppy bow and was wonderful with him. I think Einstein fell in love with her. LOL. |
That is a great pix of the dogs at the park. I wonder if they got along so well because they are all the same breed and basically play the same way 
I do not go to dog parks. We had a bad experience there when my first one was not a year old. What I saw at the dog park was dogs learning to be agressive with each other and owners thinking it was "just play"...I don't know. One dog lying on his back with paws up and four dogs biting at her did not appear to be fun. Yet the owners stood there talking saying its all normal dog play
I avoid dog parks. You don't know if the other dogs are ill, whether they were vacinnated, whether they were properly socialized in how to play with other dogs, are they shy or overly agressive....too many unknowns for me to take a chance. |
Many thanks for your thoughtful replies. I have decided that our initial plan is right for us: we'll continue our walks and use the dog park as an occasional treat when there aren't too many dogs or people there. 
I worried if I was an "overprotective mother" and also because Willoughby has to spend time at home alone while I work. We've had a wonderful two weeks in spite of my virus!  |
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