The dog park experiment

[loreleipup]

Lorelei used to have issues with dogs she didn't know. When I lived in Connecticut Lorelei was attacked by a pit bull (I love the breed but my neighbors were incredibly irresponsible owners), thankfully she came out with one bite that only punctured the skin. Since moving to Virginia with a lot of training and being around many friendly dogs she has improved a lot.

Lorelei has been going out with a great dog walker who takes her with a bunch of other dogs to a dog park a few times a week. I have seen videos and gotten reports back that she is great with other dogs and runs around and plays very well with all types of dogs. I have been really jealous because I never get to see first hand how much fun she has, so I decided it was time for me to try to take her to the dog park myself.

I was pretty certain she would do well so I did some research on the best way to approach it and gave it a shot. Well we get to the dog park and she seems a bit nervous but is happy to play fetch and such. The only problem, she didn't play with other dogs at all. She just came right back to me, and would just stand next to me until I threw the ball again. Anytime a dog would approach her she would sniff them and then ignore them. The second time I took her it was pretty much the same but she became a bit possessive of a random tennis ball (it was at the park already, I didn't want to bring anything from home because I thought this could happen) and stood behind me with it while I talked to some other owners. She snapped at a Jack Russel who approached her. Lorelei did no damage to the little dog, instead the Jack Russel took advantage of how close her head was to the ground and got some good nips in before they were separated. I left right after and haven't been back.

I really want to be able to take her to the dog park, like the dog walker does, but even though I researched it before hand I felt a little clueless as to what I should do. No where did I read about a dog that wouldn't leave their owners side. Any advice?

 

[70X200]

Maybe it was just the difference of having you there rather than your dog walker? Thinking along the lines of an emotional attachment to you but not with the dog walker.......just thinking out loud here.....maybe someone else has a better guess.

 

[Luvmydoberman]

Maybe she considers the other dogs that the dogwalker brings as part of her pack and feels more secure with them around? Or maybe she is trying to protect you. Sorry, but these are just speculation. I've never brought my dogs to a dog park so I've never really seen dogs interact at one.

 

[MyBuddy]

Maybe she considers the other dogs that the dogwalker brings as part of her pack and feels more secure with them around? Or maybe she is trying to protect you. Sorry, but these are just speculation. I've never brought my dogs to a dog park so I've never really seen dogs interact at one.

I'm thinging along these lines too. I've never been to a dog park and never intend to but the suggestions you got so far are what I thought right away. Just like when Cesar works with a dog and then gets a different reaction from the dog when the owners appear. There's just a whole different set of emotions, energy and such when the one that the dog is attached to is there. Sometimes its a better reaction....and sometimes worse. In your situation, I would be very wary and cautious. It didn't sound like a good experience and I would be so afraid of it escalating. Maybe sometime you can go unobserved by your dog when the walker goes and just watch? See what goes on when you are "not there"?
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[loreleipup]

I was worried she would have a different reaction with me there instead of the dog walker. She has been going to the park with him for almost a year, and it took me till last weekend to try it for myself. I was hoping there was a way I could act that would encourage her to play. I stayed calm, even when she got in the tussle with the Jack Russel. Dog parks have a reputation for irresponsible owners, but I was pleasantly surprised by almost all the owners, only one didn't have a clue how to handle her dog. I think it might be a lost cause, but I don't want to give up on it too quickly.

 

[BrittanyG]

It may be because you are hers so she felt a need to be more apprehensive to dogs coming into your space. I have the same reaction with Hera. When it's just me taking her to the field I take her to she is a lot more possessive and less friendly towards others even people, which is a 180 from her usual loves everyone self. But if I bring a friend or my bf she doesn't mind one bit who comes into the area and will play with any and every dog she meets.