Skatchkeb
Notable member
Ecollars can be amazing for this if used correctly.
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Thoughts on dog parks?
- Thread starter biaham876
- Start date
Ecollars can be amazing for this if used correctly.
Good advice! It's really hard to undo something. As a puppy, YOU should be the most important and interesting thing out there!
Maja Rocks
$ Forum Donor $
I am going to resurrect this thread.
For those thinking about "The Dog Park"
I have taken Maja to the dog park a couple of times and she was well behaved, focused on me and under control.I can't say that about all of the other dogs or even most.
What I have observed is there seems to be two types of owners with 2 types of dogs.
A) Responsible owners with well trained dogs and that understand that all dogs need to be under their owners control at all times and they also need clean up after pets as soon as they poop.
( Just the Park Rules sign says)
B) The total opposite...
Clueless owners that have zero control of their dogs and think that the dog park is the place to just let their dog run wild and run up to and try to play with every dog it comes across.
Their dogs are never trained or under the owners control. They never come when they are called and NO does not compute. They think it's OK if their dog chases your dogs toy or even runs off with it. And often don't clean up after their dogs when they poop because they have their face buried in their phone and are not watching what their dog is doing.
Last time I was there a woman's lab mix runs up Maja jumps all over her and then when Maja dropped the ball in her mouth the lab mix ran off with her ball... WTF?
Then the owner clueless and smiling says "Hi...Is your dog friendly? Does he like to play?
I lost it and responded "NOW you ask me?"
"You are damn lucky that she not he is a puppy and yes likes other dogs.
What do you think would happen if you ran up to every single person in this park and gave them a big kiss and hug uninvited and without their permission?
She looked at me puzzled.
"Do you think sooner or later eventually somebody who doesn't like to be hugged and kissed by complete strangers might just haul off and punch you in the face?"
She is now speechless ...
So I continued "Lady sooner or later your dog is going to run up to the wrong dog or try to take it's toy and that dog is going to do the canine equilvelt of punching your dog in the face and it's going to be 100% your fault. Contrary to your belief folks are here to play with their dogs not yours. Get a f*cking clue"
Then I took Maja's ball away from her dog & put it my pocket.
I put Maja on her leash and we went home and haven't been back since.
So my experience is the dog park is the perfect place to expose yourself and your dog to moron owners and their untrained out of control dogs.
I will also add if it full of people that are clueless and don't train their dogs they probably don't vaccinate or worm them either. So it probably is also a pretty good place for your dog to be exposed to disease and parasites too.
That was it for us and the dog park
Luckily we have a really nice neighborhood park with a soccer field about 1 block from our house that is almost always empty until the kids get out of school. So that is where I take Maja. And because its a neighborhood park most of us that use the park know each other...Those of us who bring our dogs ask each other if your dog would like to play. Or they keep their dog on a leash till you're finished with your off leash play and training and then take their turn.
No more dog park for us.
MR
For those thinking about "The Dog Park"
I have taken Maja to the dog park a couple of times and she was well behaved, focused on me and under control.I can't say that about all of the other dogs or even most.
What I have observed is there seems to be two types of owners with 2 types of dogs.
A) Responsible owners with well trained dogs and that understand that all dogs need to be under their owners control at all times and they also need clean up after pets as soon as they poop.
( Just the Park Rules sign says)
B) The total opposite...
Clueless owners that have zero control of their dogs and think that the dog park is the place to just let their dog run wild and run up to and try to play with every dog it comes across.
Their dogs are never trained or under the owners control. They never come when they are called and NO does not compute. They think it's OK if their dog chases your dogs toy or even runs off with it. And often don't clean up after their dogs when they poop because they have their face buried in their phone and are not watching what their dog is doing.
Last time I was there a woman's lab mix runs up Maja jumps all over her and then when Maja dropped the ball in her mouth the lab mix ran off with her ball... WTF?
Then the owner clueless and smiling says "Hi...Is your dog friendly? Does he like to play?
I lost it and responded "NOW you ask me?"
"You are damn lucky that she not he is a puppy and yes likes other dogs.
What do you think would happen if you ran up to every single person in this park and gave them a big kiss and hug uninvited and without their permission?
She looked at me puzzled.
"Do you think sooner or later eventually somebody who doesn't like to be hugged and kissed by complete strangers might just haul off and punch you in the face?"
She is now speechless ...
So I continued "Lady sooner or later your dog is going to run up to the wrong dog or try to take it's toy and that dog is going to do the canine equilvelt of punching your dog in the face and it's going to be 100% your fault. Contrary to your belief folks are here to play with their dogs not yours. Get a f*cking clue"
Then I took Maja's ball away from her dog & put it my pocket.
I put Maja on her leash and we went home and haven't been back since.
So my experience is the dog park is the perfect place to expose yourself and your dog to moron owners and their untrained out of control dogs.
I will also add if it full of people that are clueless and don't train their dogs they probably don't vaccinate or worm them either. So it probably is also a pretty good place for your dog to be exposed to disease and parasites too.
That was it for us and the dog park
Luckily we have a really nice neighborhood park with a soccer field about 1 block from our house that is almost always empty until the kids get out of school. So that is where I take Maja. And because its a neighborhood park most of us that use the park know each other...Those of us who bring our dogs ask each other if your dog would like to play. Or they keep their dog on a leash till you're finished with your off leash play and training and then take their turn.
No more dog park for us.
MR
That actually is a pretty good Example of what's happening out there! But she was so clueless I don't think she got it. Because she is one of these....
But, quite honestly, it's almost like going to a playground with kids. When you bring a toy, somebody's going to grab it to play with. I can't imagine being in a group of dogs and throwing a ball. It's not just your dog that's going to go after it. I've never been to a dog park, but I assume that when people go, It's to let their dog off-leash. Probably the only place that they have enclosed that is large enough to let their dog run. And I'm sure that they also are hoping that they will find a friend to play with. The part that a lot of people don't understand is that it might be the first place that your dog ever encountered another group of dogs and suddenly you realize your dog Is not as well trained as you thought. Or you realize he does have some kind of aggression towards other dogs. Or you find out that there's some owners that you'd rather not be around.
Doberman Gang
Hot Topics Subscriber
Well, the ball stealing is really pretty much fair game, I have to say. Further, I really think it IS okay to let one's dog run around and decide which dogs to play with/sniff/bother. It's the nature of an open dog park.
That said, yes, one should ideally follow their dog and be ready to intervene effectively at all times. Is it possible to really follow one's dog around? In many cases, of course not, as they dash off across the field. Personally, I am always sort of just moving in whatever direction my Dobe is, and my gaze is at least peripherally on him and my mind is laser focused on what's going on with him.
I stopped taking Oji to the dog park when he was, I think, in his second year. He is a rather dominant punk who plays exhibiting typical Doberman roughness. Play looks and sounds like fight to the uninitiated. It's too much for most folks. Really, Oji doesn't like to play. The one thing he likes to do besides SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF the ground is CHASE!!! That's the only time he really gets exercise at a dog park is if a dog wants to run from him. Unfortunately, he sounds viscous when he gets close to his "prey" and he's prone to body checking them at speed which can send them tumbling.
Anyway, just some thoughts.
That said, yes, one should ideally follow their dog and be ready to intervene effectively at all times. Is it possible to really follow one's dog around? In many cases, of course not, as they dash off across the field. Personally, I am always sort of just moving in whatever direction my Dobe is, and my gaze is at least peripherally on him and my mind is laser focused on what's going on with him.
I stopped taking Oji to the dog park when he was, I think, in his second year. He is a rather dominant punk who plays exhibiting typical Doberman roughness. Play looks and sounds like fight to the uninitiated. It's too much for most folks. Really, Oji doesn't like to play. The one thing he likes to do besides SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF the ground is CHASE!!! That's the only time he really gets exercise at a dog park is if a dog wants to run from him. Unfortunately, he sounds viscous when he gets close to his "prey" and he's prone to body checking them at speed which can send them tumbling.
Anyway, just some thoughts.
But yeah, one of the worst example I've seen is a couple of guys who showed up – each with a Pit Bull – and after letting their dogs loose, they stood just inside the area of the gate smoking cigarettes and chatting. They were oblivious of what their Pts did from the second they unleashed them!
BamMoMoMommy
$ Forum Donor $
I'm gonna be really lazy here and do a C&P of a post I left on 1/21/20 in this thread:
Dog parks
It is frustrating to not have the luxury of a fenced yard or even a private area to exercise dogs. I miss the large fenced yard ( and doggie door) we had to give up a couple of months ago…and the guys miss it more than me…no doubt.
At this point a dog park/common area for dogs is the only option we have to get the boys out too cut loose.
A lot of the things mentioned in the article are common exposures anywhere you take a dog.
Parks/Public areas overall can be land mines of not just "dogs created" issues...but human created issues and irresponsible, inattentive owners.
We used to walk our boys in various places around the West Bank New Orleans area....and just about every time.... came across dog messes..some people are just slobs...people with dogs off leash.....dogs on leash that weren't under control. Our dogs are trained to step behind us when we are coming up on other dogs.
Our vet there warned us to avoid a common public open air walking path(not a dog park)....it was known to be an area that dogs picked up all kinds of odd health issues.
The way we work with dog parks...what works for us and has for well over a year now...and might help others who are in similar circumstances:
Our phones are put away....we don't even look at them when we have the guys out. I have lost my cool over people who are looking at their phone over watching what the dog is doing (have the same issue with parents who are locked in on a phone over being honed in on kids.)
Check Google...see what the reviews for the park are like. Many now days have Facebook pages with information about the park and some sort of contact person for the dog park.
If you don't think you can trust your dog...then don't do it. We aren't using the dog park for Bam, our youngest right now with some behavior issues that cropped up.....I don't trust him...or me. Better safe than sorry.
We never go right into a new dog park with the boys. First we walk the area to check to see if it is clean. As we do this....we look for holes that could be tripping hazards, scrapes of toys and trash that have been left.
If there are dogs in the area, we watch the owners, we talk to them...from outside the fenced area...with the boys on lead. We watch how the dogs inside respond to our dogs outside.
We make sure the dogs inside are well behaved and under the owners' control.
We don't go into a dog park that has more than one owner(or a couple) and we don't go in if there are more than two dogs inside..... period.
We don't take them off lead until we know the enviroment is a positive one.
Once off lead we are moving with them..not sitting on a bench or hanging out on the side.
We don't let them "go wild" inside the dog park. The still have to obey commands and we work with them IN the park to keep them in that frame of mind.
We don't let them roughhouse with other dogs, we don't let them roughhouse with each other if there are other dogs in the park area.
We don't get out toys if there are other dogs in the park...nor do we take in treats. If someone has toys out or treats...we don't go in. If they get out toys or treats...we leave.
We have.... on many occasions pulled up and realized...nope...not today.....it was obvious the owners either weren't paying attention to their dogs..or the dogs were out of control. We have gone into the area without our guys...and mingled with the other owners and dogs to see how the dog reacted to us.
The upside to using the same park regularly, you get to know other regulars and we all look our for each other and our dogs. We get to know the dogs also.
Our dogs are on a vaccination regimen since we use doggie day care and travel with them so much. They are up to date and they are healthy. If we think for any reason they aren't feeling well, then we do the same thing we did with our kids...we keep them home, in our yard.
Nope..it isn't the perfect way to get dogs out...but sometimes......it's the only option.....well..the other option is not having them...but...can't imagine my life without my boys.
Dog parks
It is frustrating to not have the luxury of a fenced yard or even a private area to exercise dogs. I miss the large fenced yard ( and doggie door) we had to give up a couple of months ago…and the guys miss it more than me…no doubt.
At this point a dog park/common area for dogs is the only option we have to get the boys out too cut loose.
A lot of the things mentioned in the article are common exposures anywhere you take a dog.
Parks/Public areas overall can be land mines of not just "dogs created" issues...but human created issues and irresponsible, inattentive owners.
We used to walk our boys in various places around the West Bank New Orleans area....and just about every time.... came across dog messes..some people are just slobs...people with dogs off leash.....dogs on leash that weren't under control. Our dogs are trained to step behind us when we are coming up on other dogs.
Our vet there warned us to avoid a common public open air walking path(not a dog park)....it was known to be an area that dogs picked up all kinds of odd health issues.
The way we work with dog parks...what works for us and has for well over a year now...and might help others who are in similar circumstances:
Our phones are put away....we don't even look at them when we have the guys out. I have lost my cool over people who are looking at their phone over watching what the dog is doing (have the same issue with parents who are locked in on a phone over being honed in on kids.)
Check Google...see what the reviews for the park are like. Many now days have Facebook pages with information about the park and some sort of contact person for the dog park.
If you don't think you can trust your dog...then don't do it. We aren't using the dog park for Bam, our youngest right now with some behavior issues that cropped up.....I don't trust him...or me. Better safe than sorry.
We never go right into a new dog park with the boys. First we walk the area to check to see if it is clean. As we do this....we look for holes that could be tripping hazards, scrapes of toys and trash that have been left.
If there are dogs in the area, we watch the owners, we talk to them...from outside the fenced area...with the boys on lead. We watch how the dogs inside respond to our dogs outside.
We make sure the dogs inside are well behaved and under the owners' control.
We don't go into a dog park that has more than one owner(or a couple) and we don't go in if there are more than two dogs inside..... period.
We don't take them off lead until we know the enviroment is a positive one.
Once off lead we are moving with them..not sitting on a bench or hanging out on the side.
We don't let them "go wild" inside the dog park. The still have to obey commands and we work with them IN the park to keep them in that frame of mind.
We don't let them roughhouse with other dogs, we don't let them roughhouse with each other if there are other dogs in the park area.
We don't get out toys if there are other dogs in the park...nor do we take in treats. If someone has toys out or treats...we don't go in. If they get out toys or treats...we leave.
We have.... on many occasions pulled up and realized...nope...not today.....it was obvious the owners either weren't paying attention to their dogs..or the dogs were out of control. We have gone into the area without our guys...and mingled with the other owners and dogs to see how the dog reacted to us.
The upside to using the same park regularly, you get to know other regulars and we all look our for each other and our dogs. We get to know the dogs also.
Our dogs are on a vaccination regimen since we use doggie day care and travel with them so much. They are up to date and they are healthy. If we think for any reason they aren't feeling well, then we do the same thing we did with our kids...we keep them home, in our yard.
Nope..it isn't the perfect way to get dogs out...but sometimes......it's the only option.....well..the other option is not having them...but...can't imagine my life without my boys.
BamMoMoMommy
$ Forum Donor $
That dropped...LOL....there are jerks and jackasses everywhere.....I had more issues over the boys/people/stupidty on the street we just moved from..then I have ever had using a dog park
That is an incredible regimen and incredible standards there! You are playing it about as safe as possible! I admire your will.
I agree on the toys and treats thing – fights waiting to happen. Sometimes, though, strangers will actually try to feed other dogs treats!!
Here's a huge one for me: Bringing children to dog parks. Think about that one. Yes, I have done it, but I had my girl in my arms the whole time. Many people let their kids loose in the dog park AND then proceed to bury their gaze in their phones as the kids do who knows what. Children at face-level with many strange dogs mingling together?
My first Dobe was bad with kids. He would nip kids and teens. I would sometimes drive to the dog park, needing to let my boy blow off steam, and find kids there. Talk about angry. I would sometimes just pop a muzzle on him, but of course that drew the wrong kind of attention and plenty of it.
I agree on the toys and treats thing – fights waiting to happen. Sometimes, though, strangers will actually try to feed other dogs treats!!
Here's a huge one for me: Bringing children to dog parks. Think about that one. Yes, I have done it, but I had my girl in my arms the whole time. Many people let their kids loose in the dog park AND then proceed to bury their gaze in their phones as the kids do who knows what. Children at face-level with many strange dogs mingling together?
My first Dobe was bad with kids. He would nip kids and teens. I would sometimes drive to the dog park, needing to let my boy blow off steam, and find kids there. Talk about angry. I would sometimes just pop a muzzle on him, but of course that drew the wrong kind of attention and plenty of it.
BamMoMoMommy
$ Forum Donor $
LOL..thanks......it's not so much will..it is more about not wanting the mad Vet ER dashes....as it is the boys keep my Care Credit card flamin' hot with just their basic upkeep/known health issues.
Bingo!!
Truth is..I treat the dog parks the same way I treated parks when our kids were young. There were times we pulled up to the park and one look at the kids playing...or the parents....and I was
"UUUUHHHHH--NOPE----- this ain't happening today!!"
I get that...our dogs are always muzzle trained....it's a "better safe than sorry" sort of training in case they even need to be muzzled by a vet or tech.....but the comments we get when we are working with them during the training...or if someone spots the muzzle....MY GAWD you would think we were using a staple gun on the boys' mouths.
I guess we have been very blessed when it comes to finding dog parks that weren't like the ones I am reading about here on site. I truly did have a lot more trouble with idigits in my neighborhood that we moved out of. Had a neighbor throwing her dinner scrapes over a common fence cuz she thought Mo wasn't fat enough....and the issues go down hill from there.
When it comes to my boys..
I just roll like my Marine son in law.
Head on a swizzle......and ready to posture like I am the biggest, meanest bad ass on the block!!
I had to laugh at that. Because it's a perfect description of me when I'm walking my dogs and watching for coyotes or other dogs or anything that might harm us!Head on a swizzle......and ready to posture like I am the biggest, meanest bad ass on the block!!
BamMoMoMommy
$ Forum Donor $
Yes.
Maja Rocks
$ Forum Donor $
Sorry and with with all due respect I disagree. If you take your kid to a playground and think it is perfectly ok for your kid to run up and take another kids toys away them and run off and play it without their permission you are one of the "problem people". In my book it is simply common courtesy and basic manors.
Our dog park Rules say "All dogs must be under the owners control at all times." Owners are responsible for their dogs actions. Yep I am big on everyone following rules especially in public places.
Our dog park is huge. Easily about the size of 20 football fields. The area closest to the parking lot is compleatly fenced in and it's understood that area is pretty much a "free for all anything goes zone" It takes up about the front 1/3 of the park. But the rest is not fenced and open space where people work and play with dog off leash away from the "crazy zone". So its pretty easy to find a large space away from the other dogs. This is where people go to play fetch or frisbee with THEIR dog and way from the others. It has a walking path that surrounds it with at least a dozen long hiking /walking trails going off in every direction in to the surrounding forest and down to the river to let your dog swim.
cheers
MR
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Maja Rocks
$ Forum Donor $
crypticintent
Hot Topics Subscriber
I have a dog park that a frequent. It’s actually two different ones, one that is highly wooded the other is very open. Usually one or the other isnt crowded. There are some dogs we know very well, but any new ones become high alert.
The non-wooded dog park has some flooding problems during rain storms, which means Ezri gets full running time with no one else. I also typically can’t get her out there until after dark, so we are the only ones out there.
The best part I’ve had, the work we do out there alone has greatly translated into paying attention even when other dogs are around.
We also are big fans of baseball fields, but that is hit or miss if our city puts locks on them....
The non-wooded dog park has some flooding problems during rain storms, which means Ezri gets full running time with no one else. I also typically can’t get her out there until after dark, so we are the only ones out there.
The best part I’ve had, the work we do out there alone has greatly translated into paying attention even when other dogs are around.
We also are big fans of baseball fields, but that is hit or miss if our city puts locks on them....
Maja Rocks
$ Forum Donor $
Thanks Bam Mom for the link & GennyB for posting the article.
The article should be a sticky and IMHO is must reading for anyone trying to decide if the "Dog Park" is a good idea..
Dog parks
I had already made up my mind against taking Maja to the DP for the reasons I posted.
But this article made me aware of so many more issues that I had not even thought about.
Thanks again Bam Mom & GennyB
MR
The article should be a sticky and IMHO is must reading for anyone trying to decide if the "Dog Park" is a good idea..
Dog parks
I had already made up my mind against taking Maja to the DP for the reasons I posted.
But this article made me aware of so many more issues that I had not even thought about.
Thanks again Bam Mom & GennyB
MR
