What does your Doodle do at the Dog Park?

[Jennifer Tramell]

We took Webster to the dog park this past weekend.  It was his first time when there was a full park of dogs to play with.  I was surprised at his behaviour.  Usually with his doggie friends he runs full steam, jumps, wrestles, and plays, plays, plays.  At the dog park, he just did long trots around the perimeter (leading a parade of curious doggies), stopping to sniff and greet various dogs.  He didn't "play" much, and actually kept running to the gate when other dogs surrounded him.

 

We were in the "Large Dog" section and my "little" doodle was by far the biggest dog there - a good head taller then the retriever & shepherd mixes. 

 

Also, how well does your dog listen to you when at the dog park?  I'd love to hear others dog park experiences.........

 

[Kathie and the gang]

Winston wants the smaller dogs to chase him at the dog park. In fact if he can't get that to happen he then hangs out at the gate greeting all the newcomers. It is almost like he is asking/interviewing who likes to play chase. Understand he wants to be chased; he really isn't interested in doing the chasing. Freya just wants to play ball and not interact with the other dogs. I take the two dogs in separately; Freya is not overly fond of small dogs so she needs more supervision. Also she is very protective of Winston and tends to take issue with other dogs that seem to be bothering him. So life is easier if they take turns playing at the dog park.

[Linda]

When we first started taking Webster to dog parks, he loved playing and running with the other dogs. A little over a year ago, we started throwing a ball with the Chuck-It. Now he's completely obsessed with the ball. He runs very fast with everyone in the park admiring his speed. Even though I do take him in the park without a ball some times, he'll go find one and do nothing but stand around me or anyone who will eventually throw it for him. The only interaction he really has with the other dogs now is when they chase after him. He also has started growling when they want his ball. Nowadays the routine is: 15 min. or so of running/fetching and then we go for a walk on leash. He seems to enjoy the walks as much or more than being in the dog park with other dogs.

A side note - we've had to discontinue our play days at PDX (doggie daycare) because he ingests very large rocks which make him sick for the next few days until he vomits each one. We hope!!!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely LOVES the dog park. We haven't been going though as it has a drainage ditch through it that he loves to get into and turn into ablack mud soaked legs with a sheep poof on top. There is also weeds there that stick into his fur and are really hard to get out. They look like little oval seed pods with two little tails on each side that grip on the fur. Worse than burrs!
He doesn't listen really well either. He does really well for the most part but after he has been running full steam with huge strings of slobber hanging from his mouth he refuses to drink the water that is there and prefers the ditch water. Once he decides he needs cooled off we can't get him to come or stop he's gone in a flash full steam.
He is so funny there too. Once a new dog is at the gate he comes from where ever he is in the park to do his "walmart greeter" role. I swear he should be wearing a greeters penny!
He is thrilled to death to find another wrestler too. Not all dogs like to wrestle. He has found that out. But when he finds one game on! Usually we stand around and laugh together with the other owners. Sometimes they draw a crowd. Otherwise he is doodle with ADD when hes at the park.