Dog Parks

[greekblue]

I was wondering if all dog parks are fenced and safe to work on my dog off leash. Where did you teach your dog to walk with you off leash? Also, how about other dogs who are there at the same time? How about if another dog is aggressive?

Do you clean after your dog at the dog parks, or they have cleaning services for that? I will carry with me plastic bags always just in case, but I was wondering how dirty it becomes with poo as some owners might not be responsible to clean up after their dog.

[Beryl]

I do dog parks when I know others who are there -- like special meetups. Some dogs can be vicious but they are generally not allowed to be there. I always make sure they are current with spot-on flea protection. You clean up after your own dogs in most of the parks I've visited.

[greekblue]

Thanks Beryl. You let your dog off leash there, right? Are they all fenced or depends on the dog parc and area?

[Camz]

I personally have not had good experiences with dog parks. However, unlike Beryl, I did not go to a special meet up. I just went for Orchid to be socialized.

The first two times were O.k. Orchid was finally overcoming her distaste of other dogs not her same breed, LOL! However, the third time she was attacked by a bully breed mix of some kind.

The owner of the bully breed had NO idea what to do, so my boyfriend had to get a big stick to get the other dog off of Orchid.

That was our last trip there.

Now, all of Orchid's play dates are pre-scheduled with playmates that are pre-approved, LOL!

Some would say I'm too protective, but I've invested alot in my dog and I don't want to see her harmed because of some irresponsible owner who can't control their dog.

If you want to teach your dog to walk off lead, my suggestion is to take obedience classes rather then trying it on your own in a dog park.

[greekblue]

Camz, I do not think you are overprotective. I ask sooo many questions about everything because I worry a lot too. And guess what?? My puppy is not here yet, and she will only be 7 weeks & 2 days when I get her, so it will be loong time before we even get to a dog park or anywhere outside the street. I just want to know things and be prepared before she even comes to me. Now, how overprotective is that I just love my doggie too much to risk anything.

[Beryl]

My guys are small (under 13 lbs) so I only go to small dog parks. You'd think it makes a difference but small dog parks can have the same risks as the others.

Someone with a puppy that is of a big breed doesn't want their dog at the large dog park so they think it is ok at the small dog park. A large breed puppy is pretty big and can hurt a 6lb dog! It is young so it doesn't know its own strength.

Also, you can get a Jack Russell or even my Boo (min pin) in there and if you don't control it, the dog might act crazy. I often leave Boo because he does act nutty sometimes. If I'm in the mood to "manage" him, he gets to go and after 10 minutes or so, he is OK.

There are lots of organized meetups going on so you might want to look into them and plan your trips that way.

Also, Carnz is right about taking your dog to obedience classes to teach him to walk off-leash. However, you still need to keep your dog on leash whenever you leave your property. You do it not just for YOUR dog but for the other dogs out there who are not properly trained.

[Rivsky]

I take my dog to fenced parks all the time - most of them are just general parks though which allow dogs off lead and not designated dog parks.

We have a dog park here but we don't go there - there are way too many dogs in a confined space and River isn't comfortable in that situation so we go to other places.

I agree with definitely attending some obedience classes with your pup but I started working River on a long line (you're better off in a not so busy park doing this though so you don't get tangled off) and I just let him roam to the end of the lead and every single time he came back to me whether I called him or not he got a treat. I also took him out with my sister's dog a lot who is excellent off lead so he learnt a bit from her. Eventually I got enough courage up to let him off (with my sister's dog the first time) and he's really great off lead now - and we no longer need the food treats mainly because he's now ball obsessed so keeps coming back for that!!

The one thing I was told that really stuck in my mind was you have to make sure you are ALWAYS more interesting to your dog than whatever else is going on around you - which can be tough but when it works there's nothing better!!

Sounds like your puppy is going to a wonderful home and good on you for doing so much research

[greekblue]

Thank you all very kindly. Yes, I love my puppy very much and I have not even see her yet. I have almost everything ready for her, crate, food / water bowl, potty training items, bed, soft baby / puppy blanket, and toys!
I know I am crazy!! She does not come until August 20, but I am sooo impatient!

[IceyBlueSibes]

You're not crazy at all! You're actually making the right decision in researching everything you possibly can until she gets there

We take our dogs to an off leash dog park, but we try to go when hardly anyone is there. Main reason -- once the crowd comes in, there are many many "cliques" that come and they've been pretty rude to us before because we don't go there often. But, Denali is a LOUD player. She's so boisterous that almost everyone thinks she's fighting with the others when she plays. We've had so many people freak out and leave, that we just don't feel like having Denali get a bad reputation. Yes, we still tell them "She's fine" and she never does it to the other dogs -- only ours -- but they still end up leaving. They don't like to really play with the other dogs, just mostly get a few good laps around the park and then they're ready to go home.

I think a dog park would be completely up to you. I wouldn't choose a dog park for training, but a fenced in park that allows dogs may be good. The only reason I say no dog park is because you just can't predict what types of dogs/owners are going to be there. Maybe when your puppy is older, you can practice your commands and such while there (good distraction), but I wouldn't start my training there.

Obedience classes I think would be a wonderful start for recall/off leash training! It's a controlled setting, and I would assume an area that is safe for the dogs to be off leash.

And in all honesty -- Kelso was trained off leash the minute he came home with me. It was probably the easiest way, however I was lucky he was a dog that didn't want to be left alone (wussy dog ), so he followed me outside everywhere. I praised him constantly when he stayed by my side. I wouldn't recommend this for a new dog owner though. LOL Just something I had done that seemed to work for me, but it all completely depends on the dog.

Lugar, well... I'm assuming someone trained him to stay in the yard when outside, or he's just so focused on what I'm doing that he'd rather stay with me. If he sees a person down the street, he'll look at them, but the minute I say "Ah-ah, Leave it" he will ignore them and mind his own business. Now if I have his toy... that's a whole 'nother story. LOL Nothing gets passed his toy obsession!

[Kuchi]

You're not crazy. You're just being a good parent.
I haven't had a bad experience at dog parks, but I train off leash in my backyard without distractions first. And coming when their name is called is a must at dog parks. Some have areas for big dogs and little dogs. I didn't take Kuchi to them until after a few sessions of puppy kindergarten and daycare.

[Shelties]

I think dog parks are accidents waiting to happen, there are owners out there that don't even pay attention to their dogs and let them do whatever they want. When i lived in Arizona someone told me a story of the dog park that i took casey all the time, someone's chi got killed by a rottie. Now the Rottie was just defending himself because this chi would keep jumping up at the dog and i don't think this dog didn't realize how small this dog was and ended up killing it after grabbing it by the neck. Fortunately everyone that saw this was standing by the rottie's owner side and said it was the chi owners fault for not controlling it, she ( the chi owner) lost her case in court and the rottie and his owner walked away.

Ever since i heard that i have never touched dog parks since, casey has nearly been bitten by un-ruly dogs before even if he was just minding his own buisness...

When i want to train my dogs i just now take them to pet stores, and to be socialized sometimes i take em to farmers market ( some allow dogs and some don't so make sure you check first) even home depot....

[mom2cocoa]

I also do not like dog parks at all! I agree that it is not a question of if something bad will happen, but when. It always amazes me, because when we put large groups of people together in one room to socialize or whatever, there is often conflict. And we are talking about animals here!! Of course there are going to be problems. I took my dog to the dog park from the time she was about 4 months old until about 18 months old and I regret it. Never will I take any dog to a dog park again.

[LilacDragon]

Since you are about to become the mom of a large breed working dog -you need to know that if anything happens your dog will automatically be accused of being the instigator. While more of a problem for bullie breeds and rottie owners, you will find that since you are going to have a HUGE black dog it will happen to you too.

I have never set foot in a dog park and never will. Because I also prefer those large breed working dogs and am not willing to have someone accuse them of something they didn't do.

I do, however, make liberal use of family members' fenced in yards and the occasional tennis court.

[StephanieandTeddy]

I use off-leash areas (I won't call them dog parks because they are so huge) between 2-5 times per day, year round. I've done it for 10 years and have VERY rarely seen a problem.

I think it depends on where you live...the size of the area you are going to...and if the other dogs there are "regulars"...or if all sorts of strange dogs are showing up all the time. It's also crucial to keep moving on the trails....standing around in play-groups is where the trouble begins. Assume leadership and get the dogs to follow you and stay out of trouble...

That said...dog parks are no place to train your dog. Train somewhere else and use the parks to socialise, or pass through...or give your dog a good run..

I also have found that three is a crowd...it usually ends up in bullying. Let your dog play with one dog at a time...keep moving...and enjoy the space!!


(Oh yeah...and it's up to you to pick up after your dog! )

[greekblue]

Thank you all for the great input. When I was saying training, I meant along with obedience classes -- just extra. But I think you are right when you say about big dogs been blamed, and about accidents. I am afraid of these things too as my dog is a working HUGE - to - be dog with Rottwieler in the genes. Thank God rarely people know that. Her dad is 125 lbs and her mom 115lbs.
I think I will try to take her there only at times when almost no one is there, if possible.