armywife
puppy
My Hailee puppy :)
Posts: 30
|
Post by armywife on Jan 28, 2004 2:25:58 GMT -5
They are opening a dog park in my area, and I cant wait to take my pup. But she likes to play rough and "box" I am worried that she will do that and other people will think she is this horrible mean dog.....I cant get her to stop that, and she isnt around other dogs too often so she gets really excited when she sees one.
|
|
|
Post by sibemom on Jan 28, 2004 8:25:36 GMT -5
I have to say I am not a big fan of dogparks. It's not always your dog you have to worry about its the other peoples dogs. I think its better to socialize your dog in controlled situations maybe with friends who have dogs where you have more controll of their reactions. It's up to you. I just dont feel comfortable with a bunch of dogs who dont know each other running lose together. If you do decide to do this make sure your dog has a rock solid "Come" that would help.
|
|
|
Post by Dobemom on Jan 28, 2004 8:28:20 GMT -5
I think you'll find most of us are against the dog park idea. Here are some things to think about: How healthy are the other dogs? Do you mind having you dog sniffed and mounted by every mutt there? Your dog may be friendly, but are the others? ? It only takes ONE attack to kill your dog or have him afraid of other dogs forever. Do you mind having your dog run through poop? Just food for thought.
|
|
|
Post by sibemom on Jan 28, 2004 8:38:23 GMT -5
See Beth that is where I am comming from too. I just would not feel comfortable with Blade running lose with all those other dogs. I keep his kennel area very clean, keep up with his health care, and alot of people dont. Even though my dog is not the aggresor he would protect himself if he had to and then I think "I" would be the one paying the vet bill for the other dog All it takes is one time for a dog friendly dog to be attacked to make it into a dog aggresive dog. Stay away from the dog park your better off.
|
|
|
Post by Richard on Jan 28, 2004 9:46:11 GMT -5
They are opening a dog park in my area, and I cant wait to take my pup. But she likes to play rough and "box" I am worried that she will do that and other people will think she is this horrible mean dog.....I cant get her to stop that, and she isnt around other dogs too often so she gets really excited when she sees one. Run the otherway...go now, fast, don't look back!!.........as the others have noted, dogparks are not what they're made out to be....to be honest, most people don't take the time to train their dogs at all (the smaller ones being the worst behaved) and then they go to these dog parks and let the dog go nuts thinking its a "social club".....wrong wrong wrong....the few times we took Rocky (hey, you gotta try), he was about a year old and was hounded by psycho JRT's, herded by two out of control boarder collies and nearly plowed under by some stupid bulldog of some sort....where were the owners??? Yakking about 100 yards away with their backs to what was going on......oh yeah, how convenient, buddy never saw his dog have a big poop in the middle of the field...he just happened to turn around at the most convenient time... Sorry to go on but unless you're willing to expose your dog to this type of behaviour and mentality of the owners, stay away...invest in some good group (and controlled) dog training lessons...much safer and both of your get more out of the whole deal. Dog parks are not what they're made out to be....as you can see, I am not a fan at all... -Richard
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Jan 28, 2004 12:12:23 GMT -5
I agree with what everyone said above.
|
|
armywife
puppy
My Hailee puppy :)
Posts: 30
|
Post by armywife on Jan 28, 2004 14:07:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the advise, I think if we do end up taking her, we will go on off times. Or when not a lot of people are there. Thanks!!
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Jan 28, 2004 17:08:01 GMT -5
Amber, another good reason to stay away is that Leptospirosis is a very contagious disease that is becoming an epidemic on the East coast, so please, be very careful, and maybe think about getting your pup the vac for it.
|
|
armywife
puppy
My Hailee puppy :)
Posts: 30
|
Post by armywife on Jan 28, 2004 18:23:05 GMT -5
I work for a vet, so needless to say, she has vacs for everything
|
|
|
Post by TrainerMichelle on Feb 24, 2004 18:33:13 GMT -5
Well, do they make vaccinations for bites to the face where half the face is ripped off in your vets office? Thats what happened to my male at a dog park when he was ~13 mos old. He is now dog aggressive to strange dogs and has to be walked muzzled because there are a lot of dogs in my area. He is also very well trained, and was at the time I took him to the park (the come command didn't save him unfortunately). He was not the initiator, he walked too close to a dog 60lbs heavier than him who had a stick, and he was done, it took less than a second, he didn't even fight back. His lower eye lid was torn off from the top jaw of the other dog, and a hole was put behind his ear from the lower jaw. It was not pretty. The physical scars healed, but the emotional ones persited to this day (he is now 5). I still feel upset I took him there, but like Richard, I was temped and disappointed! Even going at off times, all it will take is one encounter with another dog, the wrong one, and your dog may be injured (please consider that people with dog aggressive dogs often go at off times to avoid encounters with other dogs, its where I get most of my clients!). If you must go, I would NOT go at off times (for your own safety too), and keep my dog on a leash until I met the other dogs there and spoke to the owners about aggression. If your dog is not trained, you will not be in a position to call him off of another dog, even for trained dogs thats a difficult one. I don't mean to sound rude, I guess I feel strongly about dog parks, they are not safe places for your dog. I had a bad experience after only going 3-4 times, and I will never go back to one of these. My dogs now have dog play dates with other dogs who I have trained, and temperament tested. As the others have said, not everyone who frequents these parks take as good care of their dogs as I do with mine. Worms are another thing that happen alot at dog parks... Good luck to you, and be careful. Michelle
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Feb 25, 2004 8:38:21 GMT -5
Thats awful Michelle. I knew that Tiny had a dog aggression problem, but I don't think I ever knew exactly what happened. All it takes is once. They opened a dog park near me about a year ago. It is an enclosed 1/4 acre of dirt. That's it. I never went with Reign and I would never bring Petey but I was curious recently so I went to visit alone. First, it was disgusting with poop everywhere. That was shameful. Second what I noticed was that all the dogs were less than one to one and a half years old. There were two adults, an 11 year old Irish setter and an 8 year old crippled lab. I thought that was odd so I went again. It was the same thing.. all puppies. There was one young adult lab, very friendly and a 9 year old very friendly GSD. I decided to go once more on a weekend and it was the same thing. They were all very young dogs. This time there was an adult mix of some sort who was aggressive and bullying to the pups. , an adult dalmation who sat atop the picnic table like he was king of the park, a very friendly adult lab running around and a young adult boxer who was terrorizing any dog who came within 10 feet of him (why was he there?). So you ask, what is your point Nicki?? I do have one. ;D ;D Where are all the 2,3,4 and 5 year old dogs? I concluded that most adult dogs, with exception (labs, goldens, old and crippled dogs) naturally do not get on well with a bunch of strange dogs. And that is why they are not there. That it isn't playtime it is dominance scuffle time for the adults and people can't trust the adults to be "friendly" in this type of situation. I don't think it is natural for most breeds to mingle nicely with a group of unknown dogs. While we may want them too, I don't think it is natural. I think it is dangerous to put most adults in this situation. What do you think??
|
|
|
Post by amyjo on Feb 25, 2004 9:57:08 GMT -5
Nicki -
We do not have a dog park really - but there is a large open fields near my house where dog owners hang out together with their dogs at certain times. They are a loose knit bunch but they have a rule "NO AGGRESSION".
They are a nice group of people and they were really great last year when both my shoulder and my foot were messed up... I could drive Kylie down there and they would throw balls for her and play with her...
It is ALL labs and goldens.. Of the regular group there is 3 chocolate labs, 2 black ones and 2 goldens (one of the goldens will roll over for a cat)- there is also a border collie that shows up on occaison. And recently a german shorthair puppy. While all of the dogs are freindly - most of them are bouncy and "in your face"
Generally I walk through with my dogs and say "HI" and keep going. Sometimes I go 20 yards away or so and practice OB with Kylie it provides for PLEANTY of distraction. But now that Kylie is older and more pushyI never feel very comfortable just turning her loose with all these dogs even though they are friendly. It makes me anxious. Now that I know first hand how fast an attack can happen - it makes me even more anxious.
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Feb 25, 2004 10:13:53 GMT -5
That is so interesting Amyjo. Especially, the breeds that you mention. And I agree with your assessment about letting your dog loose in this situation. I feel the same exact way about Petey. It only takes one second. All you can do is hope that nothing happens. Those odds are not comforting enough to me!!
|
|
|
Post by Willow on Feb 25, 2004 12:27:12 GMT -5
I don't think it is natural for most breeds to mingle nicely with a group of unknown dogs. While we may want them too, I don't think it is natural. I think it is dangerous to put most adults in this situation. What do you think?? If *socialization* with strange dogs is so important when your dog is young, why doesn't it work? Why won't your dog accept every strange dog thereafter, after all, isn't that what socialization is supposed to accomplish? Once your dog is *socialized* with other dogs, you don't ever have to worry about your dog not getting along with other dogs, right? I think you are correct, Nicki. Strange dogs are not *member's* of your dogs *pack*, so naturally they are not going to readily accept them, and it's just going to lead to trouble if you try to force them to *socialize* with other dogs. It may work to let your dog play with dogs you know get along with other dogs, but I have seen this backfire too. Things can change in an instant, because you cannot predict with accuracy how each dog will react at every moment. They are a living creature and not a programed robot, and even robot's can *short circuit* and not behave as programmed. I have two dogs, but even the years when I only had one, I felt we, the humans in the *pack* were all the play buddies my dogs needed. They do not need other dogs to play with, and I would rather have just one dog at a time. They bond to you better and it just makes life a lot simpler than having a *pack* of dogs to contend with! If I ever get back down to one dog for whatever reason, I will not get another one to replace it, and am looking forward to that day. As much as I will hate to lose either of the dogs I have, I wouldn't have two again, eventhough my dogs get along wonderfully and we have no *pack rank* issues etc.
|
|
jessica
puppy
We Luv Puppies!
Posts: 38
|
Post by jessica on Feb 25, 2004 20:27:29 GMT -5
we have dog parks here too. i take my pups at least twice a week. i've never had a problem with any of the dogs there. i'm pretty laid back though, if a mean dog comes in, i let them work it out among themselves. but i really haven't seen aggressive dogs in our dog park, besides its against the rules! i also have my pups current on all their vaccines so i don't worry about them contracting anything. also, our park re-sods the grass every january, so it is in great shape year round. twice a week they treat for fleas and such. not sure how all the dog parks are run, but ours here in fl i believe is top notch. theres not a charge to get in either, and i've heard people are charged. i can't imagine that. i absolutely love taking my pups to the dog park. i feel it gives them room to run and play and LOTS of socialization. if every dog was socialized from birth, their wouldn't be problems with fighting really. thats my 2 cents
|
|