Won't Play at Dog Park

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Saturday we went to Columbus to meet up with several other DK members for a Romp! Lucy and Sophie, when in the company of other dogs (like a dog park or Vendor Event like DogFest) are just slobber machines. (Think Hooch from Turner and Hooch)! They also don't play. They will run back and forth between DH and I, but no playing like they do in their backyard at home or with dogs that come to their house. It seems to be outside their comfort zone. It isn't like we haven't socialized them to other people and dogs, that is about all we have done every week-end since we got them. They have been through training, to play dates with our trainers other dogs, to Bark in the Park, BarkFest, you name it, we have gone. They play like crazy in their own back yard. We took them to a dog park several times last summer and fall, but they wouldn't play. We ended up just fencing our back yard and now they play there. Meet a dog walking and Sophie is a nut wanting to play. Put her in a dog park and she sticks to me like glue! Any thoughts on what I might try to get them more comfortable in this environment? I hesitate to just keep taking them to a dog park because Sophie especially just stresses so much!

[Julie B.]

My dog does not play at dog parks either... she would rather fetch her ball. I have tried going and not bringing out the ball but then she just hangs around looking at me. I have found that she is very particular with what dogs she likes and it takes her awhile to warm up to them. Not sure whether you can correct this because I think it is just her personality. She also tends to be a submissive weenie dog so I think dog parks really intimidate her. She is always looking to be "attacked".

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

My labradoodle, Fenway, is absolutely ball obsessed and will drop a ball at your feet and wait for you to throw it the entire time we're at the dog park. We don't even bring a ball, but the park has some around so she alwasy finds one. I used to try to ignore her so she might go play, but she'll just find another victim and drop the ball at their feet and then sit patiently until they throw it. Gets them every time so I just can't win. I figure oh well it tires her out and she enjoys it. I finally just gave up, but when she was younger (before the ball obsession) she would play with other dogs. Not sure what happened???

[Adina P]

Mine don't play either (3 and 4 years old). When Rosco was a pup he played lots...but now he prefers to sniff around, mark, and destroy whatever toy remnants he finds. Thule also prefers to fetch and gets annoyed with other dogs that interfere with her fun.

Remember socialization isn't for getting dogs to LIKE playing with all other dogs...it's for acclimating them to other dogs. I don't think this means anything bad about how they were socialized or that you didn't do enough.

Also Thule gets very slobbery at dog parks and romps...probably some stress, probably some excitement. I've noticed it on Rosco a bit now and then. They are still both uber-excited when they get to go, but I rarely take them anymore.

[Heidi]

Bear drools really bad at the dog park. I can take on a long walk and he doesn't drool, but the moment we hit the dog park he's dripping. I bring papertowels with me because it so gross. I think he's nervous, he was a shy dog and still is to a certain degree. But he loves to play and run with the other dogs so we still go.

I have noticed a few dogs that frequent the local dog park that don't intermingle with others. They are nice and get along with others just fine but rather keep to themselves.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My Springer pants and slobbers so much his ears get soaked. Yucky. He just sniffs and sniffs. He might chase a dog or two but mostly he just loves to run the perimeter and sniff. Our lab mix sometimes plays with smaller dogs like rat terriers or Parson Russel Terriers, but mostly he stays near "his" people. Ned does it all. He sniffs, chases, runs, sits, whatever. He might wrestle if there is another dood his size.
I think if they are in a large fenced area and seem to be enjoying themselves, you have achieved the purpose. I have noticed that the more often they go, the more likely they will play with another dog. Slobber, slobber, slobber.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh I always have something on hand to wipe their faces. Saturday they completely drenched the bandanna I had so I brought out some papertowels and they were literally so wet I could wring them out! It really is gross!

[Kathie and the gang]

Winston just wants to have little dogs chase him. He greets all the people and then the dogs, and then he seeks out the small dogs for a game of chase. He really doesn’t want to play anything else; he walks away from any other kind of interaction. He rarely plays with other dogs the way he plays with Freya at home. He is not interested in the ball like his housemate Freya. She could care less about other dogs as long as they leave her ball alone. Just don't mess with her ball. I take them individually to the dog park unless I have another human with me, just easier that way.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Well, I thought both Lucy and Sophie were friendly, playful and social. I am just the observer though so what do I know? You noticed your dogs, whereas, if you had not pointed it out to me, I would not have been able to tell they were acting different. They were beautiful girls. Ann said the same thing about her boy, and I thought he was a fluff ball of joy. Funny though, I thought Spud looked stressed. I can even see the stress in the pictures.
All in all, it is like going to a music concert. Sometimes we dance or other times we sit and listen but we are still enjoying ourselves. Just the mood. Maybe the next discussion should be: Does your doodle show moods?

[F, Calla & Luca]

The drooling is interesting. The first time I noticed it was with my son's standard poodle. We took him to the dog park and he slobbered so much I thought he was sick because we had just had him at the vet for a vaccination. He wandered around not having that much to do with the other dogs. Luca didn't have all that much to do with the other dogs when I took him to the dog park either. At home or other places my two play well with each other and individual dogs that visit. they are always eager to meet other dogs on walks or at the vets.

[Julie B.]

I would have to say that drooling by a doodle is definitely a sign of stress and anxiety. I think that you can work to acclimate them to the dog park situation though. Don't you see other times when the more you expose your doodle to a strange place, person, experience the better they get at handling it. The key is to create a positive experience. Go to the dog park at off hours when it isn't real full, supervise your dog's interactions and be there for him/her to guide and prevent other dogs from mauling them and try to make it as fun as possible.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well I guess the good news is I don't have the only "non players" or "slobberers"! They just love to run and play so much when they are in their own back yard that it seems odd that they wouldn't want to do it at the dog park! But, I guess it is ok. I just wish at least they could go to places (on leash) with other dogs and not get the slobber faces .... maybe in time that will happen. Thanks to everyone for all your input!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Gordie did not slobber like this until we got Ned! Guess what his stresser must be? hmmmmm.....