Dog parks?

[Dekka]

This is why I wouldn't go. I wouldnt' want any of my dogs to 'have to put up with' other people's rude or ill mannered dogs.

THEre was a bull mastiff there that should have a medal hung on him for good attitude. THere was a weimer determined to hump him, i don't know where his owner was or why he was ignoring the behavior.

The whippets would be fine in a dog park.. so would Kaiden (tho he would snark at a dog trying to hump him) If I lived in a city (or had no friends in the country) I would be very torn as to what to do. Likely I would rent out an agility training facility and let them run there with friends dogs....

 

[smkie]

Pepper snarked at the one that tried to hump her. HE stopped and i had two people come up and compliment me on her good behavior. A snark is not a full out threat.Snarking is just being able to communicate that you wish this to stop. Pepper was just fine and she loves the dog park. I have no problem taking her at all.

 

[sillysally]

I think that it can be beneficial for *some* dogs to learn to deal with other dogs that don't have perfect manners. I am able to take Jack lots of places (various public events, parks, training facilities, stores) and not every dog that he is going to come into contact with is perfectly mannered. He's run into a variety of different personalities in the dog park--from dogs that just shouldn't be there to dogs that were great. I think his social skills have only improved by being exposed to different dogs and learning how to handle different situations appropriately. If a dog is just getting obnoxious/aggressive we'll go away from the dog, but Jack has been able to peacefully coexist with most of the dogs there

 

[Dekka]

Kaiden is like that. He snarks and if the other dog backs down thats the end of that.

But too many dogs have died or been severely injured by idiot's dogs for me to be comfortable with my dogs having to defend themselves. With the exception of sport.. all my dogs are 20 pounds or less.

 

[sillysally]

Yeah, I think that if jack were smaller I'd definitely be more wary......

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I used to go when Cider was a pup. It was good.. she got nicely tired, got to socialize as we knew no one with dogs. But the unending ridiculousness we saw was enough. We had to quit going. People who would remove a muzzle from their dogs and then release them into the dog park.. A few HA dogs that went after my roomie. She was hurt though thankfully not badly on a few occasions. People without a clue bringing in leashed dogs and not releasing them, and then having fits when the dogs in the park wouldn't leave the leashed dog alone causing some stellar fights.. Right before we moved a lady had a small chihuahua killed in that park, but most of the dogs there were at least 45 pounds, I still think it was her screw up for having a 3 pounder in there.

These days.. there aren't parks close to us, and Cider is hit and miss. She can play nicely with every dog we meet, and then she can be the ultimate beeoch. Too iffy to take more than one to watch at any one time. Smudge is greta with other dogs, he will snark a warning after a few humps.. but if the dog doesn't stop it will be a full blown fight at least from his side. So if I were to go. It would have to be one at a time so I could have my full attention on my dog. No park is close enough to really want to do that.

 

[Buckshot]

I have mixed feelings on them. I suppose the dogs do fine but I cant really handle the people. I suppose I wasnt well socialized. I find myself just wanting to say "I came here for the dog to meet friends, not me so much" or "How much do you charge for your classes? Because if they are free I dont want one.". I havent been to one in several years just because of the elitist know it all snobs. I have ran into the occasional person who just enjoys watching their dog have fun being a dog and no massive ego they are trying to stroke.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

Dog parks are so different from place to place...so it's hard to say if they are good or not. We have a town park--for town residents only, must be registered and tagged with the town. (not to say others don't make their way in there)--however....I have loved taking my crew there for some off leash time. If I didn't have the park option, poor Baxter would never get off leash exercise. He is a great dog for the park--stays out of any fray, and just likes to run and sniff. Traveler loves to romp and retrieve. Wilson, as I found out is NOT a park canidate--he will go after other dogs. So he does not go unless the park is empty and we have it to ourselves (can see the entrance and exit--it's a small park).

So, my opinion is, like anything else, you have to know your dogs, and you have to be on the watch for any potential problems. Truthfully, you have to do the same if you are out walking your dog, and there is an off leash dog you don't know. Keep your eyes open, watch and interact with your dog--be prepared for potential problems.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I have mixed feelings on them. I suppose the dogs do fine but I cant really handle the people. I suppose I wasnt well socialized.

*dies* That is part of my issue too.. The number of people who comment on my breed. To tell me they are useless, eat children.. have 'weak bladders and pee EVERYWHERE'..

The number of training or breed know-it-alls that I just can't avoid no matter how hard I try. Gets hard to keep ones mouth shut after a while, even though with many of them I know I'll never change their minds, even on things I am far more informed about then they are.. like MY breed.

 

[smkie]

I think that it can be beneficial for *some* dogs to learn to deal with other dogs that don't have perfect manners. I am able to take Jack lots of places (various public events, parks, training facilities, stores) and not every dog that he is going to come into contact with is perfectly mannered. He's run into a variety of different personalities in the dog park--from dogs that just shouldn't be there to dogs that were great. I think his social skills have only improved by being exposed to different dogs and learning how to handle different situations appropriately. If a dog is just getting obnoxious/aggressive we'll go away from the dog, but Jack has been able to peacefully coexist with most of the dogs there

THat's how i feel about it. I do wish our park had a smaller fenced area for tiny dogs complete with their own water source for in my opinion a dog park is worthless without a body of water or at least a fountain. ANd i realllllly wish people would not bring young pups. THat just breaks my heart.

 

[Tankstar]

Each dog park is so different.

The one I go to is a amazing place. with a amazing group of dog owners and dogs. I go at the same time every time I go, and email a few of the people that go to meet up with me. As I dont like to stand around, so we go hiking. I could never excersise Blaze the way he gets excersise out there. He runs like a maniac for 2 hours with his 2 best friends maeve and cody, all 3 just run like goofs the whole walk, wreastling playing chase with each other. I love seeing them all so happy.

Sure dog fights can happen. In all my time bringing Blaze to the same dog park (5 yearsish) he hasnt been in any real serious fights, a few scuffles from other dogs starting junk thats it. But just walking in neighboorhoods he has been attacked on his leash multiple times. No where is safe, be it a dog park, or on a 5 foot leash in your own 'hood.

 

[aivzdog]

Depends on the park, people and the dogs that go their. If one day you go there and you dont like it go back another day because the dogs and people always change.

 

[Toller_08]

I couldn't live without dog parks. I love them, but not all are created equal; some are good and some aren't. I've only been using dog parks for the last year, as I had a DR dog before and it wouldn't have been wise to take her. But in the last year, I've only witnessed a few stupid people and actually have yet to witness a disagreement between dogs either. I go to the little one by my home (not very busy), and sometimes go to one of the city's biggest, but tend to stick near the less busy areas. Which is easy to do, due to the park's size.

 

[Criosphynx]

If possible observe for about 5-10 min before you enter...

som' days there is just A LOT of a$$hat in the water.


go when its not crowded and go to the bigger parks (if you have a choice)


It will vary daily...a good day is reaaally good. A bad day will end up in a screaming match with som' idiot owner.... personally not much different than the walks around MY neighborhood...

 

[ihartgonzo]

It really does depend on the dog park. Some are dirty, some are fairly clean. Some are over-crowded and tiny, some are quiet and expansive. Some have lots of unsavory people and dogs, some have lots of nice people and dogs. And some are a mix thereof.

Fozzie is a very stable, very passive dog who has never been involved in a spat at all... but sometimes, he is noticeably uncomfortable at the dog park and that's when I leave. I used to feel that any stable, non-confrontational dog is well suited to the dog park, but sometimes it feels like only rude, hyper, aloof dogs will tolerate a lot of what goes on at many dog parks. As long as you know your dogs, you watch them diligently, and you leave at the first sign of tension, dog parks can be great. It's when people don't pay attention to their dogs, or make excuses for them or for other dogs, or stay even though their dog is stressed/fighting because they don't feel like leaving just yet, that there are problems.

 

[Paige]

I HATE DOG PARKS

Bandit was attacked by two dogs at one. Both three times his size.

 

[BostonBanker]

I think that it can be beneficial for *some* dogs to learn to deal with other dogs that don't have perfect manners. I am able to take Jack lots of places (various public events, parks, training facilities, stores) and not every dog that he is going to come into contact with is perfectly mannered. He's run into a variety of different personalities in the dog park--from dogs that just shouldn't be there to dogs that were great.

I guess like with everything else, it's just hit-or-miss. I'm able to take Meg lots of different places (public events, hiking trails, stores, seminars, agility trials, etc) strictly because I DON'T take her to dog parks or places like that and try to force her to socialize with dogs that have bad manners. She's an adult female dog who really doesn't enjoy rude, pushy dogs. I had countless people tell me "just let them work it out" or "it's okay if she tells him off". I had a lot of advice to take her places like dog parks, and people made it make sense to me. And Meg got more and more reactive to dogs everywhere we went.

Until I read something somewhere where the author basically said "I see it as my job to protect my dog from rude dogs". I took it to heart. I don't ever force Meg to tolerate dogs who are behaving inappropriately, and I certainly don't put her in a position where she feels she has to correct another dog. And she has become more and more tolerant and comfortable every day. She knows she no longer has to worry that the bouncing lab at the end of the aisle at Petsmart is going to come leap all over her, because she knows I won't let it happen.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to run-thrus at an agility school a couple of hours away. Normally in agility venues, I don't worry much about other dogs bothering us; most agility handlers have their dogs under control and are very aware of the fact that they should just keep their dogs focused on them. But there were a lot of beginners that day, including some who had very tenuous control over their dogs. Dogs left the ring to go visit, dragged their owners around on leash, pulled at other dogs barking, etc. And little Meg held herself together flawlessly. Situations that would have had her snapping and unhappy a year ago didn't make her even blink. So, while I don't doubt that his time at the dog park hasn't been great for Jack (like I said, I think some people and dogs benefit greatly from them), I just wanted to present the other side of your point. Your side is exactly what I heard for years, and if I hadn't had someone make the other point to me, I'm not sure make would be as adjusted and comfortable today as she is.

 

[Bailey08]

If I had a dog park like Tankstar's, I would absolutely go, and as often as possible.

As it is, I live in a large city with small, often overcrowded, dog parks. I took Bailey for a short while when he was younger -- he is extremely dog social, and absolutely loved the dog parks. But there were just too many stupida$$ people who bring dogs that have no business being in a dog park. After a couple of incidents (in which he was fortunately totally unscathed), I realized that if something we to "really" happen, there would be very little I could do to protect him. We don't go anymore.

 

[Swm]

I wanna say thanks to everyone who has shared their stories and opinions about this with me. It has given me a lot to think about and to consider.

I knew it was going to come down to me dragging my husband to one of the dog parks to experince it ourselves. I'm going to catch it when we're in the area of one I'm interested in and have him take me to it. I figured we can go and chill awhile at the park (minus our dogs) an see how the park is.

We do have a couple that says they have a large dog area and a small dog area fenced separately apart from each other. So I'll probably check these ones out first.

My dog gets plenty of exercise in her daily life, and plenty of time to socialize with dogs and owners that I know. I think setting up play groups with people you already know and whose dogs you know is a better idea.

I never thought of this. Maybe I can get a play group started around here. This might be something I can do between dog park trips(if we do it). There is no dog park near us so it won't be something that is done everyday or anything.

 

[smkie]

SUre wish you could come to the one at Shawnee. IT is one of my three most favorite places.