First Trip to dog park

[Kimberly Keenan]

So we finally got to take Bailey to a dog park. Bailey is 1 1/2. We are a little behind because we wanted to wait for her to get spayed and then we had the snowiest winter ever. We were so excited because she loves to run and run.

Bindi, our other dog, is a mama's girl and when we go to the dog park she sticks by my side, most of the time. I mainly do it for her to socialize & be around other dogs. Bindi & her cousin are 30 lbs or less & Bailey is little dog trapped in a big dogs body. She is 50 lbs.

So when we go to the park Bailey has to go to the big side of the dog park. Well, of course Bindi had to be with me & I wanted to be on the big side with Bailey & my daughter even thigh my daughter is an adult. We go in the park and we only go about 50 feet and these two huskies go at Bailey. They grab her & pin her to the ground by the neck, poor Bailey starts to cry & this brings other dogs over. I grab Bailey while holding Bindi's collar & I give my daughter Bindi & I take Bailey out. My daughter took Bailey & started walking her & I went in the small dog side with Bindi. Later we brought Bailey on leash on the small dog side & she sat their so well. After the park started to clear out some, my daughter started walking Bailey on leash inside the park around the fence. Som of the dogs came up to her & she let them smell her. The park finally only had 3 dogs and the one owner said we could let Bailey off leash since they had big dogs at home. Bailey was so gentle with the dogs. There was a little poodle and she played so good with her.

So as we were in the dog park the huskies took down at least 3 or 4 more dogs. They didn't break the skin but I still feel this is a little rough & so did poor Bailey. We are going to go to another dog park with a friend, she goes to a park & the dogs are not as rough during certain times so we are going to try it again at that time.

Are we over-reacting or is that rough play? Because my sister overheard some say "if she's afraid she has no business being here."

What do you think?

Sorry to be so long!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

No, you are not overreacting. For some reason, there was a Husky at our dog park too, that Fudge had problems with. We stopped going to the dog park, because eventually Fudge stopped liking it and there are too many people that shouldn't have their dogs at the park. Bottom line... it is your job to make Bailey feel comfortable and safe at the park and if you were worried, it is nobody's business what you do with your dog. I feel you did exactly the right thing. If there is a place to report those dogs, I would, and least there would be some record of a complaint.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

No, I don't think you were overreacting - and you did the right thing by following up a bad experience with a good one.  We don't go to dog parks. It's too unpredictable. Our first visit with a dog "crowd" turned out badly. These people got together everyday, the dogs got along, and we were invited to join them.  A standard poodle was confrontational at first but no one expected that the "pack" led by the poodle would go after Finn.   But they did.  Finn tried to outrun them (and was impressively fast) but ended up on his back with the poodle at his neck and an Aussie nipping at his feet. The rest just joining in the excitement!  My son and I sprinted for the dogs. My son got there first and with some effort he pulled the poodle off.  Finn was shaken but not hurt.  Everyone felt badly but I don't blame the people or their dogs.  Maybe if my guy had stood his ground instead of running we would have had a fun morning but my point is you never know how dogs will react to each other.  We spent about 20 minutes sitting with a  big gentle golden doodle who had not been part of the fiasco. The poodle owner said we should have let them go, they were determining pack order but even after Finn surrendered, the poodle wasn't letting go. My son summed it up - no way, that was getting ugly, fast.  Now we stick to dogs we know, 1 or 2 at a time, small dogs, or doodle romps. Doodles seem to "get" each other.  I've often found that large dogs of other breeds don't like Finn and he gets the bad end of the deal :( It mystifies me.  I wonder if others find that or if it's just my doodle.        

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Cheryle, I posted about dogs being " attracted" to Enzo a few weeks ago. Never fails...a dog will single her out. Few weeks ago, it was a very large mix, Bob, who would not leave her alone. She is extremely submissive and just rolls for them....a few have said that dogs can sense she is an easy target. Thankfully, Bob's owner, finally took Bob and left, after trying without success to move him across the dogpark from us. It was about to get ugly, so this was a good thing.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ro, I remember seeing that.  It's hard to figure out.  Finn's never been submissive but he's not confrontational or reactive either.  Sometimes I think his doodle play style -- he'll play bow and run in big circles --he loves to run -- is a red flag to some dogs.   I'm glad Enzo was ok.

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Not overreacting at all!  That's why I don't like dog parks, generally speaking.  Although I do have to say that I had a husky who was fine with other dogs.  I think the problem is the owners who don't control their dogs, or should know better than to bring aggressive dogs to a dog park.  And the fact that there were 2 of them did not help at all.  Sorry you had a bad experience and hope that Bailey is ok!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

This is exactly why we have chosen not to take Yogi to a dog park. He can hold his own pretty well with bigger dogs, but I'm afraid he'll be injured. The parks are big and there is no way I could be near him if help was needed. If the other owners are not dependable then it ruins it for everyone. There was a pit bull mix in Yogi's intermediate puppy class that was so rough, we pulled yogi out of the play area once this dog came in. We let them play the first few times, but the pit kept pinning him, and the owner kept saying to his dog, ok, ok, you won!

[Kimberly Keenan]

We've been to this dog park before but since Bindi is a smaller dog we could be on the small dog side. The dogs there run and chase each other but don't try to pin each other.

We also found out the two huskies were siblings so I'm sure that's why they worked as a team.

The park we will try next, like I said it's more restricted since there is a membership. My friend said she takes her Kota there at certain times when the dogs are not aggressive. She did say there even times where there are only doodles there.

I didn't think I was over-reacting but I wanted to hear from other's with their experiences.

Thanks!