DA dogs and dog parks?

[Gempress]

I just got word that my city is building it's first-ever dog park. Zeus and Voodoo can both be DA towards strange male dogs; they're not suitable for dog parks. But I would love to be able to take the boys for the occassional run in such a big, fenced-in area.

I'm thinking that if there are off-peak times where the park is empty, I might be able to use it to give the boys a run. And if I see another dog coming to use the park, I would immediately put the boys back on-leash and leave.

Think this is a good idea? Or would it be safer to just forgo the dog park altogether? Anybody else do something similiar with their DA dogs?

 

[HoundedByHounds]

I suppose if it's empty...

BUT...

You know they have tendencies and when someone comes you are leaving but keep in mind leaving can be the hard part LOL. Recalling, leashing, and going out the gate takes time and when you leave and the other person enters there might be some issues..many times dogs entering are STOKED and sometimes idiots actually let their dogs go to the gates OFF LEAD which complicates your exit.

I'd kinda scope it out for several weeks and get a sense of good times...and really have that recall down (if you dont...esp around distractions) so leashing them is instantaneous because folks outside won't always wait for you...they will assume your dogs are friendly and fine...you know?

 

[smkie]

IF your dogs are DA this is not the place for you. Please if your dog is DA do not take your dog to an off leash dog park.
IF your dog is DA please begin training and seeking council on how to address your dog's issues. I am not singling you out personally. this statement is to ANYONE that has a da dog and is thinking that off hours exist in a dog park. THEy do not. I have been to our park at the crack of dawn and have seen many others especially pointer and lab people there as well. I have only been to our dog park one time and it ws below freezing where i did not see another dog. No one else knows that you are considering it off hours. IF your dog attacks even one you will be the responsible party that knew before you arrived that your dog had issues. AN off leash dog park is suppose to be a safe haven for dogs that are not da. IT is stated in all the rules to all the parks i am sure if not it should be.

Consider how your dog feels.
Consider the smells your dog will encounter there.
Consider the risk.
EVen before entering the park your dog is going to register the scent of hundreds of male dogs.
IT is not the place to train. IT is the place for the trained.
Please do not take this as offensive, it is merely the truth.
THis is for your dog's safety and happiness as well as all that participate in off leash parks.

 

[Gempress]

Please if your dog is DA do not take your dog to an off leash dog park. IF your dog is DA please begin training and seeking council on how to address your dog's issues. I am not singling you out personally.

Having a DA dog does NOT mean that my boys try to kill every canine in sight! I'm very tired of that misconception. If my dogs were that aggressive, I would not even consider taking them to a dog park.

Here's what my DA dogs do: if a male dog comes close and starts the usual canine greeting rituals of sniffing and such, they tense. If the dog persists, my two get aggresive. It's not even every male dog...I'd say maybe 7 out of 10 gets that reaction. And they ONLY do it when not under my direct control. If I am there to intervene and tell them "no", they will not react. Or, at worse, will only be with a growl and a snap.

They can walk next to a male dog and be fine. They can sit next to a male dog and be fine. Heck, I can take them out in a packed crowd of a thousand strange male dogs and they will be fine. I don't see this as an "issue" that needs to be eliminated. As long as there isn't a strange male dog trying to get familliar with them, they are no problem. I think that's a perfectly reasonable comfort zone. I don't see the need for my dogs to be 100% lovey-dovey with every canine they meet.

That being said, I'm willing to forgo the dog park. I was just wondering if there were other people with DA dogs who were safely able to use dog parks, and what they recommended.

 

[Tankstar]

Depends IMO. IS this going to be a fenced in area with only one exit? Becuase leaving may pose a issues with one exit. We have lots off off peak hour times when there is NO one to be found in our dog park. You can walk by all 4 parking lots and see not a single car.I would be more worried about the sog entering coming charging toward you.Then what? I know when I get to the park I let Blaze of ASAP, becuase he is leash agressive, and I dont want to take a chance (he is 110% opposite offleash). I would scoop the park out. and see about off hour times. I know around here our peak times, 5-7 being highest. I go at the 2-4 group.

 

[Gempress]

Depends IMO. IS this going to be a fenced in area with only one exit? Becuase leaving may pose a issues with one exit. We have lots off off peak hour times when there is NO one to be found in our dog park. You can walk by all 4 parking lots and see not a single car.I would be more worried about the sog entering coming charging toward you.Then what? I know when I get to the park I let Blaze of ASAP, becuase he is leash agressive, and I dont want to take a chance (he is 110% opposite offleash). I would scoop the park out. and see about off hour times. I know around here our peak times, 5-7 being highest. I go at the 2-4 group.

I don't know. I just heard they were building a park. I would definitely check it out first. I'm thinking there will be a lot of off-peak hours because, frankly, this is a small city with not many potential dog park patrons.

I guess it depends on the size of the park and type of gating and areas it has? If there's a fenced area for "special cases", maybe I could use that.

 

[Boemy]

I wouldn't be comfortable with people bringing DA dogs to the dog park, even in off-peak times. If someone comes in without your noticing and lets their dog loose, they will have unknowingly put their dog at risk. And I don't think that's fair to them.

Could you possibly find another fenced place to let your boys run?

 

[Gempress]

I wouldn't be comfortable with people bringing DA dogs to the dog park, even in off-peak times. If someone comes in without your noticing and lets their dog loose, they will have unknowingly put their dog at risk. And I don't think that's fair to them.

That's very true. Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Have you tested your dogs...apart from one another? Many times a dog on it's own is very different than a dog with it's pack. Might be something to consider. If you find that one of your boys is fine alone then there ya go.

 

[Zoom]

I would wait and see what the park is like and how many people will actually use it after the initial novelty has worn off. I've been out to our park many times where I've essentially been the only person there and a few times where that was literally true. Our park is freaking huge though and even if we did see a handful of other dogs, we were all far enough apart that no one paid any attention to the other party.

The boys' DA sounds quite a bit like Virgo actually. She has her space bubble and makes no bones about it, though she generally keeps things to air snapping and walking away, leaving me to body block away the other dog.

 

[release the hounds]

I used to, and truth be told, the offleash dogs that were a little pushy in their greetings had more to be worried about from me, than my dogs.

I eventually got sick of it. So many bleeding idiots at dog parks, at least the ones i've been to. I had zero trouble keeping my dog away from other dogs, not necessarily away, but not interacting. She didn't like to play with other dogs anyway, but we had not other off leash places to go.

90% of the dogs there were under zero control and I got sick of putting my dog in those positions where she had to tolerate stuff till I could get the dog away or give the owner enough of an earful that they leashed their dog.

If everyone used a dog park as a place to exercise and play with their dogs offleash, it would be great, but in my experience, most see it as a place for rull on romper sessions with groups of dogs and they don't have to play or interact or control their dog, and any dog that doesn't like that type of play isn't welcome.

 

[bcmoffatt]

Keep in mind also, that other people may have the same idea as you and take their 'iffy' dogs during off peak times. Some people in my area take their dogs in the middle of the night!

Mochi is a cranky pants at times, so he doesn't go to the park. I've tried to take him during snow storms, in the pouring rain, expecting the park to be empty and there's been other people there!

Our park is large and wooded, so I can't see people coming in. I can hear the gate, but then they're already in... If I could see people coming, I'd be more comfortable.

 

[release the hounds]

I wouldn't be comfortable with people bringing DA dogs to the dog park, even in off-peak times. If someone comes in without your noticing and lets their dog loose, they will have unknowingly put their dog at risk. And I don't think that's fair to them.

Could you possibly find another fenced place to let your boys run?

not to pick on you, but this is exactly the mentallity I mean why dog parks suck.

dog owners should know that all dogs don't get along with all other dogs. It's a fact set in stone. It's also true that dogs deal with things between each other that often times can be violent and cause injury.

So why on God's green earth do people just let their dogs free and run up to any dog they wish at a dog park. What happened to common decency and etiquite??? I mean any other place, you ask the person if their dog is friendly or if you would like to let your dog play with their dog. It's common courtesy.

So why is it ok at a dog park to just unleash and let them run free to do whatever they want with whomever they want?

A dog that doesn't play nice with every other dog, especially ones like it sounds you have Gemp, should be more than welcome at a dog park. They don't seek out other dogs trying to hurt them, they just like their space. You can keep them in their own space and not put other dogs in danger. It is the owners of other dogs that can't control their own dogs, and if that's the case, THEY should stay out until they can or keep their dogs on leashes.

 

[MH<3dogs]

I agree with the above statement. I lived in NY with Midnite until she was 7 years old and dog parks were her only chance to run safely off lead. Midnite has never been the type to play with other dogs or want another dog sniffing her. She also was never the type to attack another dog she would just bark and walk away.

One time we were at our local dog park and it happened to be a very busy day. The moment we walked in we were greeted and Midnite gave her usual bark. All the dogs backed away with the exception of two. Once I finally got the gate closed Midnite and I went to our usual spot to play ball. These two dogs followed us and continued to harass us. After about ten minutes I decided it was time to leave (and so did Midnite) since it was not enjoyable. As we headed back to the gate these dogs began jumping all over Midnite and took her down to the ground causing her to scrape her elbows on the ground. Finally the owner came over to pull them off and so I could get out of the gate. He then told me I shouldn't bring my dog because she was aggressive. Not that his dogs were aggressive I still to this day believe they were just playing but because they were much LARGER than Midnite and their were two of them she left the dog park that day injured. I never brought her back to that park but did find another one that was very pleasant.

 

[Suzzie]

There's no way you'll always have control over your dogs, that's just an accident waiting to happen. What if you're back a ways, don't see me, and I come in and let my dogs go? I get pretty pissed off when something happens to one of my pups because someone else does stuff like that. If your dogs are even slightly DA, the dog park is not the place for them.

 

[Suzzie]

dog owners should know that all dogs don't get along with all other dogs. It's a fact set in stone. It's also true that dogs deal with things between each other that often times can be violent and cause injury.

An excellent point on why not all dogs are dog park material. However, just like in your own home, accidents do happen. If you KNOW your dog might react in this manner - don't take it to a place where it can hurt someone else's pet. Duh.

So why on God's green earth do people just let their dogs free and run up to any dog they wish at a dog park.

Because that's the entire point of a DOG PARK. To let your dogs run around, be insane, and play with other dogs. If I wanted to keep my dogs on leash and limit their interactions and exercise, I would simply take them for a walk. If I could afford a huge farm with acres and acres, I would do that rather than go to a dog park. 99% of people can't. And those are the ones that go to the dog parks. That's kinda the entire point of a dog park. To let the dogs get out and run. Now, if your dog(s) is not tolerant of other dogs, does not have good canine manners, or is otherwise offended by a pack of dogs running rampant over a couple acres - the dog park is not for you. What YOU are looking for is your backyard.

 

[Sweet72947]

Tennis courts and fenced in baseball fields are a good place to exercise your dog.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

most dog parks DO state "dog shall be under voice control and visual supervision" NEITHER is true of most dogs in dog parks Suzzie...I don't think there's a way around that one. If ability to follow the rules is a prerequisites than MANY "friendly" dogs should not be there, either.

 

[smkie]

FOr a dog like VIctor...many dogs run up, touch noses, sniff behinds, run and play. THey are not DA, they are not ra. IF VIctor detects an issue, he boogies fast to another place in the park where there are dogs that do not, and like to play. THere are as many VIctor's in the world as their are dogs that do not like dogs. THe off leash park is a place for dogs like VIctor who can handle this stimulation and not feel threatened. I have a video that would show you exactly what i mean but it takes so long to load and there is problems with the site. IT is NOT a place for a dog that you feel is either reactive or DA. IT is as simple as that.
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=7963&ppuser=2623

raspberries being blown in this dog's ears by her two best park buddies. IF your dog cannot handle this, would not find this funnier then fun, the off leash park is not a place for your dog.

But it is very much so for these dogs. Brownie the curly one found someone's abandoned and dumped pet rat at this park. SHe is that gentle.

THat doens't mean your dog is a bad dog if this isn't the kind of life style he/she prefers. IT just means that dogs that are like this have a place where they can have fun.

YOu know if your dog can enjoy this kind of commaradery (sp?) or not. IF not then please don't go. a pic that will show..

 

[release the hounds]

NO, in your mind dog parks are places for dogs to run and all play together. They are places in which to exercise your dog offleash and under control when you don't have other places (especially in cities) to exercise your dog adequately, not a giant romper session with no control.

If your dogs are out of sight, they aren't in your control, how is that my problem. If your dog is out of control and messing with dogs that don't want him around, why is that my problem? My dogs are under control, the DA ones and the non DA ones. My DA dog sat quietly, (well whining a little) while another pushy dog tried climbing on top and I was trying to body block it. My DA dog will retrieve and come right back to me even when other dogs are nipping and jumping on her. My Da dog will play intently with me, while my non DA dogs play together or with other dogs.

She wasn't always this way, she has the scars under her eye, the scars on her head, and leg, and the couple of dogs in her wake from earlier years (one that her canines punctured the foreleg bone). None of these happened after I got her, but the signs were there and we went to work on them.

I stopped going because of the position other owners and their dogs put us in, not for any fear of her hurting someone or some dog. Too many others weren't fair to MY dogs so I choose not go anymore. Too many others think the rules only apply to others not to themselves.