Why I Say No To Dog Parks As A Pit Mix Owner

[Amstaffer]

I personaly think that pits should be banned from all dog parks. I got so sick and tired of pits lunging at my rottie mix.!

Using your same logic....every Rott should be banned from the Street because I have seen lots of Rotts who lung, bark and growl when people go by. Off course I don't agree with that statement, I am just hoping you see how you sound. To be honest I have seen more dog aggressive Dalmations and Goldens at the park than Pit Bulls.

many ignorant pit owners

Ah Ha! That is the problem, it always boils down to the owner not the breed. Ignorant owners of any breed are dangerous. At the Big 10 acre dog park on the north side of Milwaukee this IDIOT used to bring his VERY dog aggressive male Dalmation and it never fail to get into a fight each and every time I seen him there. Is it that Dalmations are wrong for dog parks.....no but rather that owner doesn't know his dog (or gets a kick out of his dog fighting) or how to handle his dog.

Luckily I didnt see a pit try to charge a dog that was twice his size. That would be a mistake!

Don't kid yourself....Size matters little. It is luckier for the Big dog. I have owned very large Rotts and love them very much but they stand little chance against a Pit that means business. Just like you wouldn't expect your Rottie to herd cattle as well as a Border Collie.

That is the one major problem with Pits at the dog park, many dogs will mix it up and it is just a display of dominance and they truly don't intend to do any real damage; Pits on the other hand have a tendency to have two modes with other dogs....happy go lucky and Death Match. When some dog decides to mix it up with a Pit they are often going some place they are completely unprepared to go.

On the bright side you can train and socialize your Pit to strongly resist going into "Death Match mode". Sal has been attacked several times (one time a Golden drew pretty good blood) and he is sooo stuck in happy go lucky mode that he just thinks its rough play. I have pulled another dog off of Sal who I think was trying to dominate Sal. Sal was disappointed because it was all a game to him.

Please never say "Ban all XXXX" from XXXX or All XXX are bad because its not right or true. As a Rott lover you should know better than to extol those ideas because you guys are next in the line for the BSL Nazis.

 

[Violet21]

If you are in a dog park thats kind of to be expected. People should not have their dogs offleash anywhere else as far as I am concerned. If you go to a dogpark, you know they will be off.. otherwise, its rude and dogs often act differently when just "cruising around" off leash wherever.

I LOVE the dogpark.. my dog is extremely social and would not be as happy without them. We have never had an issue in 3 years we have been going..

Of course, bringing a squirt bottle in case and knowing what to do in case of a fight is important.

I've never understood why people are so enthusiastic about dog parks. I've owned dogs for 25+ years, and I've gotten so I assume that other dog owners are stupid or malevolent until events prove otherwise. I've just had to beat free-roaming animals off my dog too many times, usually as the aggressor's owner strolls up, leash in hand, a look of wry amusement on their face. This goes, by the way, for everyone; surly teens with Rottweilers and pleasant businessmen with Goldens, mommies with Labs and retirees with MinPins.

 

[Violet21]

uhh.. how would you like someone talking about your type of dog like that??

WHAT is what is ignorant, not pit owners. And yeah, rott's are next in line... you know some people feel the exact same way about them right?

A pitbull is one of the strongest dogs... i don't think the fact hes smaller makes a lick of difference. If in a fight, any fight, they will probably win..

I personaly think that pits should be banned from all dog parks. I got so sick and tired of pits lunging at my rottie mix. It was soo aggravating to see so many ignorant pit owners. The pits would charge at the other dogs, and the owners had to call them off and hold them back by their neck. Any dog that would come in 15 ft of the pit, were prey. This kind of thing happened all the time.

Luckily I didnt see a pit try to charge a dog that was twice his size. That would be a mistake!

 

[Violet21]

The ONLY type of dog I have ever had any even small issue with are the small floofy type dogs. They try to bite at my heels, they are very agressive and they freak me out! Also poodles, scare me a bit. But that doesn't mean I think they should be banned!

But for real If you don't like dogparks, don't go. But don't try to ruin it for everyone who does.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Personally, I think the problem lies more with other people. My dog is taken to a dog park and let off leash. He is very good with other dogs, very submissive and playful. A small group of about 5 dogs go to the park at a certain time. I only allow Tucker to play with these dogs. I know Tucker has a very good recall and so at any sign of trouble we leave. It's more the fact that other people consider it a place where their dog can roam free, out of site and not listen to commands. That's what bothers me. Unfortunately, these people ruin it for us all.

~Tucker

 

[mojozen]

Clarification
My post was more aimed at PIT BULLS or other bully breeds. Pit bulls and other bully breeds are known to be dog aggressive. They also will finish a fight whether or not they started it, and if they cause ANY damage they are the ones who are made out to be monsters (which is bad press for the breed).. thus why *I* think taking to them to dog parks is a bad idea.

 

[oriondw]

Clarification
My post was more aimed at PIT BULLS or other bully breeds. Pit bulls and other bully breeds are known to be dog aggressive. They also will finish a fight whether or not they started it, and if they cause ANY damage they are the ones who are made out to be monsters (which is bad press for the breed).. thus why *I* think taking to them to dog parks is a bad idea.

That dog that wins the fight is portrayed as a monster

Even if it didnt start it

 

[mojozen]

That dog that wins the fight is portrayed as a monster

Even if it didnt start it

orion - my own dog has been in the beginnings of two fights. One was while he was on leash being walked around our old neighborhood at night. We took a short cut between two buildings, and got rushed by 3 dogs who were "playing" off leash (a german shepherd mix, a bulldog, and a pomeranian), while their owners drank coffee about 50 yards away. This was not a fenced in area... it was just a space between two apartment buildings.

They crowded Mojo trying to dominate/mount him, which mojo wasn't having any part of. I was trying to get my dog away from the bunch, and got tripped up by leash and the shepherd mix. I fell into the mix.

Mojo tried to drive away the other dogs, but the shepherd proceeded to knock me off my knees and onto my stomach when I tried ot get up. THeir owners still didn't do anything. I don't even think they knew what was going on.

I started to yell, but at the same time i was trying to get my own dog under me so he wouldn't attack and hurt the other dogs. I could have just let him attack them but I am too aware of the political storm around pit bulls. I finally got mojo under me, and the shepherd mix got on top of my back and started nipping at my neck. While the pom and bull dog dug at my sides and near my face trying to get at Mojo.

The owners didn't do $#!+, they were laughing about somehting, until I started to yell "Get your dogs! I have a pit bull! Get your *censored censored censored* dogs."

They finally came over and hauled their dogs off of me. I was shaking with absolute fear -- Mojo was still very upset, but he had stopped struggling as soon as I put him under my body - he never attempted to bite or scratch me. I got him away from the other 3 dogs, and looked him over. He had a lot of slobber on him, but no blood I could see at the time (i found scratches later).

Because he's such a small dog I was asked if he was a puppy by the bulldog owner? I snarled at them "He's an ADULT pit mix. WHY THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH?! This is a neighborhood pass through not a bloody dog park!"

I was told that they were playing, and I shouldn't have a pit bull.

Fancy that.

Dog owners ARE the main problem ... but my dog was willing to throw down a real fight in order to protect me. I hadn't even had him 3 months, and he was willing to do so for me.

He is a pit mix - he has a spot of dog aggression with german shepherd mixes now (probably because of how that GSD mix above tripped me up). He does NOT go to the dog park because of the other dogs and their owners... and because I don't want to have any more dog aggression triggered. I choose to do so, and I advocate to other pit bull owners to not, because these dogs are under fire.

Be responsible not only for your own dog, but also for the reputation of other pit bulls.

I don't understand other people's choices, but as long as they don't fuel the BSL already coming after so many of this breed, then I can try to accept them.

 

[makenzie71]

I didn't make it through the first post before I got frustrated (because it's actually pretty difficult to read) so forgive me if something along these lines has already been stated:

Anyone heard of Charles Darwin? No, the dolphin on Seaquest didn't have a first name...he's this dude that wandered around the globe in the mid 1800's developing a theory that all life on Earth evolves to promote the species. For example, some nocturnal moths in England once spend 20 years or so changing from brown to grey to match the soot-covered bark of the trees they slept on so that birds wouldn't eat them during the daylight hours. But the birds started getting hungry so they spent just enough time to develope vision sensitive to temperature variations (so they could see the moths easier) for people to decide coal was a bad fuel to burn everyday (thus returning the bark to brown and ****ing everything up for the moths even more). Something similar can be applied to almost all current living things.

Dogs, for example...they haven't really evolved but the people-practices regarding them are constantly changing. At first, people had dogs. Thanks to nitwits raising dangerous dogs and letting them roam around mauling and pillaging at will, people decided that it's propper for dogs in public to be on leashes. Not a bad idea...not that it really ensures the propper behavior of said animal. Then hippies spoke up and said "this is wrong, man, dogs are people just like us and like to roam around and run and be free". Thus hippies built dog parks where people don't need leashes. They forgot about these nitwits raising dangerous animals, though, and gave the very people leash-laws were protecting them from access to the parks, too. So now we've got people who think dog parks are safe going, nitwits with dangerous animals going, and hippies supervising. Reminds me of people who think toddlers are perfectly safe roaming around Wal-Mart.

What would I like to see?

Joints that are breed or size specific. Does this ensure your dog's safety? No, but consider how much damage a beagle vs beagle dispute would inflict as opposed to a beagle vs boxer different of opinion. Plus beagles got short little stubby legs...they look like they're running really really fast cuz those legs are moving 90mph but they really wouldn't be too hard for something like a husky to catch.

I think joints should be run in sections, or on a scedule. If it's big enough the place should be sectioned off into 5 catagories 0~15lbs, 15~35lbs, 35~55lbs, 55~70lbs, 70+lbs and then 25% weights can move between the two (an over-weight min-pin, for example, can go into the 0~15lb section [my aunt had a 16lb min-pin ). If it's not big enough to do that then it should be on a 5 day schedule with the weekends divided up ever 3~4 hours (ex. Mondays and on Sat/Sun from 9am to 12pm, 0~15lbs).

I worry about these parks...eventually somoene is going to bring a really dangerous animal and that animal is going hurt other people's pets or people themselves. Kalee really wants to take her dog to one in Lubbock (she has a beagle, Zoe08 here), but I'm leary because I'm afraidthat either her or her dog might get hurt. I really feel stupid over being concerned, too, because it's not right to have to worry about stupid people doing stupid things.

 

[oriondw]

orion - my own dog has been in the beginnings of two fights. One was while he was on leash being walked around our old neighborhood at night. We took a short cut between two buildings, and got rushed by 3 dogs who were "playing" off leash (a german shepherd mix, a bulldog, and a pomeranian), while their owners drank coffee about 50 yards away. This was not a fenced in area... it was just a space between two apartment buildings.

They crowded Mojo trying to dominate/mount him, which mojo wasn't having any part of. I was trying to get my dog away from the bunch, and got tripped up by leash and the shepherd mix. I fell into the mix.

Mojo tried to drive away the other dogs, but the shepherd proceeded to knock me off my knees and onto my stomach when I tried ot get up. THeir owners still didn't do anything. I don't even think they knew what was going on.

I started to yell, but at the same time i was trying to get my own dog under me so he wouldn't attack and hurt the other dogs. I could have just let him attack them but I am too aware of the political storm around pit bulls. I finally got mojo under me, and the shepherd mix got on top of my back and started nipping at my neck. While the pom and bull dog dug at my sides and near my face trying to get at Mojo.

The owners didn't do $#!+, they were laughing about somehting, until I started to yell "Get your dogs! I have a pit bull! Get your *censored censored censored* dogs."

They finally came over and hauled their dogs off of me. I was shaking with absolute fear -- Mojo was still very upset, but he had stopped struggling as soon as I put him under my body - he never attempted to bite or scratch me. I got him away from the other 3 dogs, and looked him over. He had a lot of slobber on him, but no blood I could see at the time (i found scratches later).

Because he's such a small dog I was asked if he was a puppy by the bulldog owner? I snarled at them "He's an ADULT pit mix. WHY THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH?! This is a neighborhood pass through not a bloody dog park!"

I was told that they were playing, and I shouldn't have a pit bull.

Fancy that.

Dog owners ARE the main problem ... but my dog was willing to throw down a real fight in order to protect me. I hadn't even had him 3 months, and he was willing to do so for me.

He is a pit mix - he has a spot of dog aggression with german shepherd mixes now (probably because of how that GSD mix above tripped me up). He does NOT go to the dog park because of the other dogs and their owners... and because I don't want to have any more dog aggression triggered. I choose to do so, and I advocate to other pit bull owners to not, because these dogs are under fire.

Be responsible not only for your own dog, but also for the reputation of other pit bulls.

I don't understand other people's choices, but as long as they don't fuel the BSL already coming after so many of this breed, then I can try to accept them.

You should've let him kill those dogs Nothing would've happened to him since it was obvious self defense.

 

[mojozen]

You should've let him kill those dogs Nothing would've happened to him since it was obvious self defense.

In Chicago (which is where we lived at that point) there is enough problems with pit bulls who even when they defend their property, or their people, they are being blamed and threatened with being put to sleep. I couldn't take the chance. I kick myself now when i think about that incident - i still shake with the residual fear of it - it lasted only minutes but it seemed like hours. But when I am more realistic, and not so emotional, I am glad I did what I did... protecting my dog who was trying to protect me.

 

[oriondw]

I didn't make it through the first post before I got frustrated (because it's actually pretty difficult to read) so forgive me if something along these lines has already been stated:

Anyone heard of Charles Darwin? No, the dolphin on Seaquest didn't have a first name...he's this dude that wandered around the globe in the mid 1800's developing a theory that all life on Earth evolves to promote the species. For example, some nocturnal moths in England once spend 20 years or so changing from brown to grey to match the soot-covered bark of the trees they slept on so that birds wouldn't eat them during the daylight hours. But the birds started getting hungry so they spent just enough time to develope vision sensitive to temperature variations (so they could see the moths easier) for people to decide coal was a bad fuel to burn everyday (thus returning the bark to brown and ****ing everything up for the moths even more). Something similar can be applied to almost all current living things.

Dogs, for example...they haven't really evolved but the people-practices regarding them are constantly changing. At first, people had dogs. Thanks to nitwits raising dangerous dogs and letting them roam around mauling and pillaging at will, people decided that it's propper for dogs in public to be on leashes. Not a bad idea...not that it really ensures the propper behavior of said animal. Then hippies spoke up and said "this is wrong, man, dogs are people just like us and like to roam around and run and be free". Thus hippies built dog parks where people don't need leashes. They forgot about these nitwits raising dangerous animals, though, and gave the very people leash-laws were protecting them from access to the parks, too. So now we've got people who think dog parks are safe going, nitwits with dangerous animals going, and hippies supervising. Reminds me of people who think toddlers are perfectly safe roaming around Wal-Mart.

What would I like to see?

Joints that are breed or size specific. Does this ensure your dog's safety? No, but consider how much damage a beagle vs beagle dispute would inflict as opposed to a beagle vs boxer different of opinion. Plus beagles got short little stubby legs...they look like they're running really really fast cuz those legs are moving 90mph but they really wouldn't be too hard for something like a husky to catch.

I think joints should be run in sections, or on a scedule. If it's big enough the place should be sectioned off into 5 catagories 0~15lbs, 15~35lbs, 35~55lbs, 55~70lbs, 70+lbs and then 25% weights can move between the two (an over-weight min-pin, for example, can go into the 0~15lb section [my aunt had a 16lb min-pin ). If it's not big enough to do that then it should be on a 5 day schedule with the weekends divided up ever 3~4 hours (ex. Mondays and on Sat/Sun from 9am to 12pm, 0~15lbs).

I worry about these parks...eventually somoene is going to bring a really dangerous animal and that animal is going hurt other people's pets or people themselves. Kalee really wants to take her dog to one in Lubbock (she has a beagle, Zoe08 here), but I'm leary because I'm afraidthat either her or her dog might get hurt. I really feel stupid over being concerned, too, because it's not right to have to worry about stupid people doing stupid things.

You know what, a small hyper boxer charged my dog in a dog park like it was rabid. My dog attacked it, what I believe was in self defence. We got blamed, and dont go to park anymore because of that incident. That boxer was about 30lb and was on 60lb + side of the park... Imagine how i felt..

 

[Brattina88]

You should've let him kill those dogs Nothing would've happened to him since it was obvious self defense.

That's where you are wrong. I don't know about Mojo''s area, but around here they'd say that the "pit has a taste for blood" and figure it would be aggressive from then on out and they would have no choice but to PTS. Self defense would be argued that the other dogs were playing...
It's not worth the risk of adding more media about how awful pits are... not everyone likes seeing dogs fighting and killing eachother. Considering the circumstances I think it was handled pretty well.

 

[makenzie71]

You should've let him kill those dogs Nothing would've happened to him since it was obvious self defense.

Thanks to public opinion...both deserving and undeserving...it's never acceptible to let a pitt attack any living thing. Even being on a leash and under control, had another dog been injured a very minor grievence filed with the city would have force them to put the dog down.

It's actually written as law for any animal...but it'd be looked at like jaywalking if a dog a little more outside public view did the biting.

 

[oriondw]

It's actually written as law for any animal.

Nope.

 

[Amstaffer]

Be responsible not only for your own dog, but also for the reputation of other pit bulls.

I don't understand other people's choices, but as long as they don't fuel the BSL already coming after so many of this breed, then I can try to accept them.

I think about fueling BSLs everytime I meet a new person or dog with my dogs. I am however a very experienced dog owner and know my dogs very well (I am a student of dog mannerisms and behaviors). I agree with much of what you said I just object to linking all Pits into one group.


PS Pit Bulls have tendency towards dog dominance not aggression. Aggression is a behavior they learn through reinforcement. My dog Sal is Dominant with most dogs (except my mom's Cockapoo... lol) but is not aggressive. Dominant does not = aggressive. Sal and his best friend like to hump each (Dominance) but never act aggressive. Sal knows I will not tolerate aggression against any thing.

 

[makenzie71]

Nope.

Not sure where you live, but in the United States any animal, wild or domesticated, that causes damage to another domesticated animal, person or propperty in either offense or defense is considered "dangerous and/or destructive" in the eyes of the Law.

 

[mojozen]

I think about fueling BSLs everytime I meet a new person or dog with my dogs. I am however a very experienced dog owner and know my dogs very well (I am a student of dog mannerisms and behaviors). I agree with much of what you said I just object to linking all Pits into one group.


PS Pit Bulls have tendency towards dog dominance not aggression. Aggression is a behavior they learn through reinforcement. My dog Sal is Dominant with most dogs (except my mom's Cockapoo... lol) but is not aggressive. Dominant does not = aggressive. Sal and his best friend like to hump each (Dominance) but never act aggressive. Sal knows I will not tolerate aggression against any thing.

You're kidding me, right? You don't think pit bulls are/can be dog aggressive? That they are just dog dominant? So basically you are saying that all the other experienced breeders, rescuers, and owners who have witnessed hair trigger dog aggression in pit bulls are wrong?

 

[rottiegirl]

uhh.. how would you like someone talking about your type of dog like that??

WHAT is what is ignorant, not pit owners. And yeah, rott's are next in line... you know some people feel the exact same way about them right?

A pitbull is one of the strongest dogs... i don't think the fact hes smaller makes a lick of difference. If in a fight, any fight, they will probably win..

For one thing, rotties are not dog aggressive. Pit bulls were bred to fight and KILL other dogs, so its not smart to let them loose in a pack a strange dogs.

There are a lot of responsible pit owners, but the kind of pit owners that are ignorant are the ones who let a dog aggressive pit into a dog park. That is very ignorant!!

Rotties were not bred to kill other dogs or people, period. You are talking about BSL, and thats way different.

By the way, I dont think you should start an argument over what breed is the strongest, because there is no proof to support that. Size does matter. If what you are saying is true, then a chihuahua could kill a JRT, because he is smaller than the JRT. Put a fila or a mastiff against a pit, and the pit would probably get crushed. Just my opinion.

 

[rottiegirl]

Don't kid yourself....Size matters little. It is luckier for the Big dog. I have owned very large Rotts and love them very much but they stand little chance against a Pit that means business. Just like you wouldn't expect your Rottie to herd cattle as well as a Border Collie.

That is the one major problem with Pits at the dog park, many dogs will mix it up and it is just a display of dominance and they truly don't intend to do any real damage; Pits on the other hand have a tendency to have two modes with other dogs....happy go lucky and Death Match. When some dog decides to mix it up with a Pit they are often going some place they are completely unprepared to go.

On the bright side you can train and socialize your Pit to strongly resist going into "Death Match mode". Sal has been attacked several times (one time a Golden drew pretty good blood) and he is sooo stuck in happy go lucky mode that he just thinks its rough play. I have pulled another dog off of Sal who I think was trying to dominate Sal. Sal was disappointed because it was all a game to him.

Please never say "Ban all XXXX" from XXXX or All XXX are bad because its not right or true. As a Rott lover you should know better than to extol those ideas because you guys are next in the line for the BSL Nazis.

I have seen a fight between a fila and a pit, and a fight between a pit and an american bull dog. In each of those fights, the larger dog over powered the smaller one. It wasnt pretty for those pits.

Its not just dominance. I seen a pit attack a 3 month old lab puppy, and he would not let go. I dont know if the pup survived or not. The pits that were aggressive would attack, because the other dogs would get too close.

I dont know why you are comparing BSL to banning a breed from a dog park. Its just a park.