Gem of an encounter at the dog park...
- Thread starter CaliTerp07
- Start date
Now that Katie has to be on leash in the yard--she climbs the fence--dog parks are the only places that she gets to run free. Walks are fine, and she likes them, but running around off leash? Excellent!
We've had a few episodes with stupid people and their ill-mannered dogs, but most owners are sensible. BTW, am I being breedist because I take my dogs out when the guy with the Cane Corso arrives. Nice dog, well behaved, but she just makes me nervous.
We've had a few episodes with stupid people and their ill-mannered dogs, but most owners are sensible. BTW, am I being breedist because I take my dogs out when the guy with the Cane Corso arrives. Nice dog, well behaved, but she just makes me nervous.
You're being one of those sensible people. If the dog makes you nervous, your dog is going to pick up on that -- and that doesn't make for easy going relations between dogs!
Frankly, I'm a little iffy about a Cane at the dog park, but it's one of those situations where you have to know your dog and make the call accordingly.
Frankly, I'm a little iffy about a Cane at the dog park, but it's one of those situations where you have to know your dog and make the call accordingly.
Unfortunatly we had a similar encounter the other weekend. We had just started taking ours to the park near us, they loved it, able to run around and play with other dogs, we though, great every weekend we'll bring them and let them have fun and meet all the dogs and become more socialized.
Well we went the other weekend and as we let them in, noticed that a couple had a small 7 mth puppy in the big dog area as well as another lady had a spaniel and a small poodle probibly under 10 lbs. I kept a close eye on ours as they are all 65 lb'ish, and kept thinking why don't you take your dogs to the other side that is set up just for small dogs or puppies.
Well, the little poodle goes and snaps at our little girl, she snaps back and goes to push her down as she does with her two brothers. Our other two come over to make sure there little sister isn't getting hurt as well as a few other big dogs, a scuffle starts. We get them all seperated.
Lady picks up her dogs, goes outside the park, comes back and yells that one of us in here has a vicious dog as her small poodle has a small scratch and is bleeding.
Duh, that is why they have two sides to the park, even if they didn't get into the scuffel, I was worried that one of mine was going to step on the small dog and hurt it.
So because I have three hunting dogs, that had been good with all of the other big dogs , loved to run with a great dane that was there and pal around with a huge german shepard, my husband say's that we cant go back because someone might do that again and doesn't want to risk one of ours getting snappy or in a scuffle with a small dog.
So just a rant because people can't read signs and follow directions and let your dog run around it the right area for it's size, our dog's are now religated to run in the back yard or go for walks.
Well we went the other weekend and as we let them in, noticed that a couple had a small 7 mth puppy in the big dog area as well as another lady had a spaniel and a small poodle probibly under 10 lbs. I kept a close eye on ours as they are all 65 lb'ish, and kept thinking why don't you take your dogs to the other side that is set up just for small dogs or puppies.
Well, the little poodle goes and snaps at our little girl, she snaps back and goes to push her down as she does with her two brothers. Our other two come over to make sure there little sister isn't getting hurt as well as a few other big dogs, a scuffle starts. We get them all seperated.
Lady picks up her dogs, goes outside the park, comes back and yells that one of us in here has a vicious dog as her small poodle has a small scratch and is bleeding.
Duh, that is why they have two sides to the park, even if they didn't get into the scuffel, I was worried that one of mine was going to step on the small dog and hurt it.
So because I have three hunting dogs, that had been good with all of the other big dogs , loved to run with a great dane that was there and pal around with a huge german shepard, my husband say's that we cant go back because someone might do that again and doesn't want to risk one of ours getting snappy or in a scuffle with a small dog.
So just a rant because people can't read signs and follow directions and let your dog run around it the right area for it's size, our dog's are now religated to run in the back yard or go for walks.
Our dog park has two sides as well, and I personally think that the small dogs should stay in the small dog park. There can be some huge dogs playing rather roughly, and a little dog could get hurt easily.
Suzie is 30 lbs, so she can technically go in either side, but we go to the big one because it has a pond.
People like that make me scared and I would have either left or moved to the small side or closed areas.
Suzie is 30 lbs, so she can technically go in either side, but we go to the big one because it has a pond.
People like that make me scared and I would have either left or moved to the small side or closed areas.
But some small dogs play better with large dogs. For example at the puppy play group I brought Tucker to there was a Schnauzer/terrier mix there that was super rough (he also barked the whole time which was annoying to both of us). Tucker (and all but one other puppy there) hated him. After small puppy play time it was large puppy play time and the owner kept her pup in for that too. The dogs there adored playing with him. Yes the large dogs are not full grown yet but I still think this dog meshes with large dogs better than small ones.
I think it would be better to have a gentle dog section and rougher dog section. That way, regardless of size, dogs would be with other dogs who are better suited to their play style. However that's not something that can be easily regulated and you have to trust people to be intelligent about their dog, and we all know many people lack in the intelligence area.
I think it would be better to have a gentle dog section and rougher dog section. That way, regardless of size, dogs would be with other dogs who are better suited to their play style. However that's not something that can be easily regulated and you have to trust people to be intelligent about their dog, and we all know many people lack in the intelligence area.
I do think that everyone should just follow the rules most of the time. Of course there's exceptions to every rule, but in general, stick to your side. Because it's not fair to the big dogs to have to "soften" their play for a small dog, when they are at the dog park to play and have fun. I hate seeing little 10lb dogs over in the big dog section when there's at LEAST 10+ big dogs in there (and plenty of little dogs on the small dog side for it to play with). I just don't get it. I feel like you're setting your dog up to get hurt. Multiple big dogs (that you usually don't know!) running around with a small dog is just asking for something to happen, whether it happened purposely or not.
Now I do understand some breeds may play better with larger dogs. Stronger dogs, like I often see Boston Terriers and JRT's on the big dog side. That I can kind of understand, I guess. But still.
Jackson gets along perfectly well with big dogs and if I go to one of our local dog parks, and there's maybe 1-2 big dogs in there, I ask if they are okay with me bringing him in (after I've been watching the big dogs interact for 5-10 mins), but even that happens rarely. He hangs out with big dogs that I know, or that are in the family, but I'm always cautious about big dogs that I don't know for the simple reason that they are a heck of a lot stronger than him and could do quite a bit of damage without even meaning to.
Now I do understand some breeds may play better with larger dogs. Stronger dogs, like I often see Boston Terriers and JRT's on the big dog side. That I can kind of understand, I guess. But still.
Jackson gets along perfectly well with big dogs and if I go to one of our local dog parks, and there's maybe 1-2 big dogs in there, I ask if they are okay with me bringing him in (after I've been watching the big dogs interact for 5-10 mins), but even that happens rarely. He hangs out with big dogs that I know, or that are in the family, but I'm always cautious about big dogs that I don't know for the simple reason that they are a heck of a lot stronger than him and could do quite a bit of damage without even meaning to.
lol
There are some crazies out there, and they are the reason I don't use the dog parks here, both are really small. I do, however, love the dog beach. Its long and straight so you can see whats coming and because its not fenced most people have some recall on their dogs.
Quinn is so shy I don't want her having a bad experience and becoming reactive so I'm really careful with her. Last time I took her there she got to play with a 12 month old daschund, first she trotted up towards it, stopped about 5 metres away and waited for it to initiate and they loved each other.
We did pass another couple of dogs that gave her a hard stare, an old kelpie cross that lifted its lip and a little cattle/terrier that sharply barked at her approach.
This doesn't bother me, she's polite enough to understand thats means back off and she just came back to me and continued on. And the other dogs are polite enough that they can give a clear warning and then just continue on.
Next weekend I'm going on a 3 day training seminar with Quinn, a lot of people from another forum I'm on are attending so it'll be so good for her to be able to meet some dogs with some sensible owners. I think it will do her wonders. Plus the place I'm staying is absolutley awesome and has a massive dog park. There WILL be pictures.
Quinn is so shy I don't want her having a bad experience and becoming reactive so I'm really careful with her. Last time I took her there she got to play with a 12 month old daschund, first she trotted up towards it, stopped about 5 metres away and waited for it to initiate and they loved each other.
We did pass another couple of dogs that gave her a hard stare, an old kelpie cross that lifted its lip and a little cattle/terrier that sharply barked at her approach.
This doesn't bother me, she's polite enough to understand thats means back off and she just came back to me and continued on. And the other dogs are polite enough that they can give a clear warning and then just continue on.
Next weekend I'm going on a 3 day training seminar with Quinn, a lot of people from another forum I'm on are attending so it'll be so good for her to be able to meet some dogs with some sensible owners. I think it will do her wonders. Plus the place I'm staying is absolutley awesome and has a massive dog park. There WILL be pictures.
I agree with this, Quinn is very soft. Last week we met 2 tiny yorkies (tea cup yorkies would you believe) one of them was so overconfident and Quinn was so shy despite being like 10 times their size. Then she met a cocker pup who was also kinda shy, I had to ask her to lie down so she didn't worry it too much. She'd love to play with dogs that would give her a chance to find her own way but she hates being followed and approached repeatedly.
Bleh. What an idiot.
I love dog parks, but I don't have a dog park dog. She WILL bite another dog if they aren't reserved and polite like she is. She is content to leave all the other dogs alone, but rather than risk her injuring a dog, we just don't go to dog parks.
That lady needs to learn about playdates for her selective dog. IMO if your dog has some awkward social graces, a dog park is not the place to be. Ever.
I love dog parks, but I don't have a dog park dog. She WILL bite another dog if they aren't reserved and polite like she is. She is content to leave all the other dogs alone, but rather than risk her injuring a dog, we just don't go to dog parks.
That lady needs to learn about playdates for her selective dog. IMO if your dog has some awkward social graces, a dog park is not the place to be. Ever.
People are crazy with their dogs... it amazes me how anyone can be so ignorant to OBVIOUS aggression. D:
The other day, a massive unneutered Pit Bull (the kind that looks like a lot of mastiff and/or am bull is mixed in) comes barreling into the dog park with his owners and their infant. He instantly starts a fight with another Pit Bull. The other dog's mouth is bleeding profusely and his owner leaves with him. We go to the other side of the dog park, hoping to avoid them, but the dog runs over to hump my friend's dog. When he races up to Fozz and gets in his face, Fozzie growls and gives him clear pacifying/avoidance signals. The man says "I think we should leave... he's going to get into it with another dog." The lady goes (while letting her toddler run up to Fozz and vicious dog) "WHY? That other dog is the one growling at him!" the man says "But he made that other dog's tongue bleed!" and I interject "Did you read the dog park rules? Any dog who bites another is not allowed. Even if the other dog fought back. It really isn't safe for your baby to be around, either." Followed by explitives from that bisnatch. No dog has the right to harm another, and the only one to blame for fights are the owners. 100% of fights that I've seen at the dog park are completely predictable and preventable.
That's why I no longer bring Gonzo to the dog park. I bring Fozzie only because he will NOT engage in a fight with another dog, and dogs never have issues with him. Gonzo had a target on him, it seemed. Even though he never fought back, dogs would go after him, dogs who were clearly aggressive and didn't belong in a dog park.
The other day, a massive unneutered Pit Bull (the kind that looks like a lot of mastiff and/or am bull is mixed in) comes barreling into the dog park with his owners and their infant. He instantly starts a fight with another Pit Bull. The other dog's mouth is bleeding profusely and his owner leaves with him. We go to the other side of the dog park, hoping to avoid them, but the dog runs over to hump my friend's dog. When he races up to Fozz and gets in his face, Fozzie growls and gives him clear pacifying/avoidance signals. The man says "I think we should leave... he's going to get into it with another dog." The lady goes (while letting her toddler run up to Fozz and vicious dog) "WHY? That other dog is the one growling at him!" the man says "But he made that other dog's tongue bleed!" and I interject "Did you read the dog park rules? Any dog who bites another is not allowed. Even if the other dog fought back. It really isn't safe for your baby to be around, either." Followed by explitives from that bisnatch. No dog has the right to harm another, and the only one to blame for fights are the owners. 100% of fights that I've seen at the dog park are completely predictable and preventable.
That's why I no longer bring Gonzo to the dog park. I bring Fozzie only because he will NOT engage in a fight with another dog, and dogs never have issues with him. Gonzo had a target on him, it seemed. Even though he never fought back, dogs would go after him, dogs who were clearly aggressive and didn't belong in a dog park.
I think dog parks are a good idea in principle, but in reality, they can be an accident waiting to happen.
Where I live all the dog parks are small fenced areas (and I mean tiny) and having 20-30 strange dogs running around together in a small space at 'peak times' is dangerous IMO. I had my dogs attacked at dog parks numerous times before throwing in the towel and I won't use them now unless they empty.
I often walk past our local fenced dog parks and almost every time I walk by in busy periods I see an incident occur.
For me, the risk of running my dogs with a group of dogs I don't know in a small area outweighs any possible benefits of taking my dogs to fenced dog parks. The reality is that a lot of people are simply ignorant or irresponsible with their dogs and don't have the ability to read their dogs body language to be able to spot when something is about to go wrong.
Where I live all the dog parks are small fenced areas (and I mean tiny) and having 20-30 strange dogs running around together in a small space at 'peak times' is dangerous IMO. I had my dogs attacked at dog parks numerous times before throwing in the towel and I won't use them now unless they empty.
I often walk past our local fenced dog parks and almost every time I walk by in busy periods I see an incident occur.
For me, the risk of running my dogs with a group of dogs I don't know in a small area outweighs any possible benefits of taking my dogs to fenced dog parks. The reality is that a lot of people are simply ignorant or irresponsible with their dogs and don't have the ability to read their dogs body language to be able to spot when something is about to go wrong.
You don't always need to have a reactive dog or dog who doesn't back down for incidents to happen in dog parks. Quite a few years ago now I took one of my dogs to the dog park near our house. I was a new and eager owner and thought I was doing the right thing. He was only about five months old at the time and I thought it would be good for him to be socialised with other dogs in a new environment.
A person came in with a rotty, it spotted my puppy and launched at him, grabbed him by the neck, pinned him to the ground and shook him and wouldn't let go. My poor puppy was TERRIFIED. It wasn't the first time the rotty's owner had seen her dog do something like this.
Because I was really naive, I kept taking my puppy to the park (avoiding the rotty) because I thought he needed to continue being around other dogs so he could become confident around them. He was attacked again by two BCs, and then a few months later, was attacked by two boxers.
He became fear aggressive after that and years later after lots of work, I couldn't take him to the dog park even if I wanted to because he'll never be one of those sociable dogs you can trust around dogs you don't know.
I NEVER made that mistake again and I never took one of my puppies into the dog park ever - unless it was empty or I was meeting a friend there - nothing will ever be worth the risk IMO. I socialise my puppies and dogs with dogs I know and that's it.
A person came in with a rotty, it spotted my puppy and launched at him, grabbed him by the neck, pinned him to the ground and shook him and wouldn't let go. My poor puppy was TERRIFIED. It wasn't the first time the rotty's owner had seen her dog do something like this.
Because I was really naive, I kept taking my puppy to the park (avoiding the rotty) because I thought he needed to continue being around other dogs so he could become confident around them. He was attacked again by two BCs, and then a few months later, was attacked by two boxers.
He became fear aggressive after that and years later after lots of work, I couldn't take him to the dog park even if I wanted to because he'll never be one of those sociable dogs you can trust around dogs you don't know.
I NEVER made that mistake again and I never took one of my puppies into the dog park ever - unless it was empty or I was meeting a friend there - nothing will ever be worth the risk IMO. I socialise my puppies and dogs with dogs I know and that's it.
Exactly... I would NEVER take a dog to the dog park to socialize them. I would not take a puppy to a dog park ever. Only dogs whose temperament and ability to communicate well with other dogs I was sure of. One on one, positive, supervised playdates and small groups of calm and stable dogs are best for puppies and unsocialized dogs.
However, Fozzie is not an unsocialized dog. He has met thousands of dogs and has never been in even a spat. He goes to work with me and meets hundreds of dogs of all sizes in one day without an issue. If there is any good dog park dog, it's dogs like him, who are highly socialized and desensitized and who practice amazing avoidance and clear communication. I see a lot of unconfident, fearful dogs and puppies who get bullied and sometimes attacked at the dog park. It's very sad and I'm sure it causes fear aggression in many of them. My BC can be fearful of other dogs and some just pick up on that and go after him. Which is why the dog park is no place for fearful dogs, just as much as aggressive dogs.
However, Fozzie is not an unsocialized dog. He has met thousands of dogs and has never been in even a spat. He goes to work with me and meets hundreds of dogs of all sizes in one day without an issue. If there is any good dog park dog, it's dogs like him, who are highly socialized and desensitized and who practice amazing avoidance and clear communication. I see a lot of unconfident, fearful dogs and puppies who get bullied and sometimes attacked at the dog park. It's very sad and I'm sure it causes fear aggression in many of them. My BC can be fearful of other dogs and some just pick up on that and go after him. Which is why the dog park is no place for fearful dogs, just as much as aggressive dogs.
But it doesn't matter how good your dog is. The point is that when you go to a place like a dog park, anyone could bring an unstable dog there that could lead to an incident.
My youngest dog (who is now four years old) is practically bomb proof with other dogs, but I still wouldn't take her to a dog park. It's not worth the risk IMO. I never let my dogs run with dogs I don't know, I just fail to see any reason to do so.
My youngest dog (who is now four years old) is practically bomb proof with other dogs, but I still wouldn't take her to a dog park. It's not worth the risk IMO. I never let my dogs run with dogs I don't know, I just fail to see any reason to do so.