Does your dog have to like Dog Parks-the short answer is "NO"!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I am absolutely convinced that Quincy's happiest moment is pulling into the parking lot of his favorite dog park-his excited bark tells it all, unless you count how he runs exuberantly into the throng of dogs seemingly yelling "Hey guys, here I am, let the fun begin!"  

But-maybe this is not the place for all dogs.  The following article is an interesting take on trying to figure out if what you think your dog should like is really what your dog does like!  

Your thoughts on this my doodle friends?

http://www.robinkbennett.com/2013/07/21/my-dog-got-kicked-out-of-da...

[F, Calla & Luca]

I haven't read the article yet but I don't like dog parks so my dogs don't get a vote : )

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

LOL- all the more reason to agree with this article!

[F, Calla & Luca]

OK, I do agree now. My two have a large yard and can run around with each other when they chose to. At dog parks Luca on occasion would interact with other dogs but I saw too many things that were disturbing and we haven't gone since one dog harassed Calla a few years ago. She actually snapped at the dog, I didn't blame her, and we left and haven't been back. The dogs have done fine at doodle romps at the beach but they still mostly are involved with each other or humans.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna loves the wide open dog park we go to.. but I don't think she'd do well in doggie daycare.  She gets nervous when there are 2+ dogs around her that she doesn't know and tries to hide.  I think the many-dogs-in-close-quarters situation in a doggie daycare would be very stressful for her and might cause her to get defensive.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I will volunteer!  

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

That sounds wonderful:)

[Carol and Banjo]

I have to admit I'm relieved to read this.   We've already established that Banjo doesn't like dog parks....he's the dog who wants to play with the other dogs'  owners...or sit happily by my side watching the other dogs play.   Last winter I was excited to have him romp the beach with DK's Daphne, Lucy and Bailey....again, he spent the day planted by my side.  In April we had him down on Long Island with us babysitting the grandchildren for a week....it wasn't until the last day that he really played with our "grand dog" Carlos.    I was so excited to see the two of them tearing around the backyard just having fun chasing each other!    I hated to leave!   It seems that Banjo is a "man's dog"....not a "dog's dog".    He's wonderful meeting and greeting people and dogs.....but he prefers the people over the dogs for sure.  

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

I have two very different dogs....neither like the dog park

Zoe:  Social butterfly, loves other dogs, loves people.

She loves to go on hikes and go anywhere outside the home.  It's always a fun adventure for her.  She loves the beach, parks, mountains, etc.  She loves "GOING" to the dog park because it's just another adventure for her BUT once she is inside the gates she rarely romps around and plays with other dogs.  She likes to sit with me and observe more than she likes to run around with the dogs.  She is a very friendly dog and very social so we thought it was odd at first but realized she likes play dates, one on one fun, guests, meeting new people/dogs, and going out.  She does not like being surrounded by too many dogs at once.  We think she may be a little shy when it really gets down to it because we noticed she LOVES to play with dogs once she gets to know them.

Bender:  we can't figure him out yet but we just know he does not like dog parks or any where that has too many dogs.  It makes him nervous and he is much more comfortable hanging out at home and playing fetch in the backyard.  walking even stresses him out but thank god that we have trails by our house so he's more in tune with nature and us than all the other people walking if we were in a regular residential area

[DJ & Chance]

I don't like dog parks--too many dog owners do not control their dogs, and accidents are waiting to happen.  About 4 years ago, I was thrown into the air by a black lab that hit me below the knees, running full force, as I stood looking at the view on the edge of a small hill.  When I landed, I broke two bones in my ankle.  Not good.  The dog's owner didn't even come over to help or apologize.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Well that's reason enough! 

[DJ & Chance]

And, the nurse in the emergency room told me that her little dog was killed by another dog in the same dog park.

[Pat and Traveler]

Awful!  I'm just not a dog park person--and stories like this just make me more certain that it's good to stay away from them.