Dog Park?

[Donnie]

I just found a dog park in one of the bigger towns about an hour away.  Are these a good place to socialize your dog?  McGee just doesn't have any friends around here he plays with, and has never been exposed/socialized to other dogs but once or twice.  I think he'd really dig it, once he learned how to get along with other dogs.

[Camilla and Darwin]

You are going to get differing opinions on this. Some people really don't like dog parks. I personally still take Darwin to a few and I think they have been very important in his socialization. He was attacked once at a dog park, and it was very frightening. When I looked at reviews of the park later, there were numerous people saying that the park had a lot of aggressive dogs that frequented it. I wish I had looked that up before going.

I think you have to check out the dog park, see what kind of dogs and owners go there, and make a decision from there. We have about 3 parks that we feel comfortable with, because the dogs are well behaved and the owners are very aware of what their dog is doing. Another thing to consider is whether or not your dog gets along well with other dogs. If your dog is aggressive, or even shy and timid, it might not be a good idea to go throw them into a big group of dogs. Perhaps starting slow, with a daycare group or an obedience class would be better.

For Darwin, we took him to dog parks as soon as his shots were through, and he is very comfortable around any dog that he meets. I think this is partly his personality. However, I do think that our frequenting dog parks has been beneficial to his socialization, for sure. 

Bottom line, I feel that if you do your research on what dog parks to visit and at what time, the risks are minimal. I also feel that the benefits are huge. But it may not be right for every dog. Definitely look into doggie daycare, many dogs love that and it's a more controlled environment. 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I second everything that Camilla just said.  Rooney goes to our dog park every day, and loves it but even in a private dog park he was attacked.  Bottom line - do your home work.  I would also look for other dog activities closer to your home like an agility class or a playgroup.  If there isn't one - start one!

[Jodi and Stella]

Ditto on Camillia and Jane's reply. I have heard, at least in my town, that it is best to take your dog in the morning. It seems the owners that go early are more responsible and have better control of their dogs.

[Holly St Pierre]

Be mindful too, many dogs go to parks that haven't had all their shots.  I know of several dogs that have picked up kennel cough & gardia (not sure of spelling) from our dog park! 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We have been taking Luna to the dog park every weekend (apart from her post-spay recovery) since she was 12 weeks old.  She is now 7 months old and it's her absolute favorite place and she is now very good at greeting both dogs and people.  

  Keep in mind, all my comments are for an open-area "woodsy" dog park that is basically woodland trails but designated for off-leash dogs.

 

A few things to be mindful of that Camilla touched on

 

- Scope out the place before you let your dog off-leash.  Talk to the people there, ask them if there are specific times of day where the aggressive dogs tend to be around.  At my dog park, most of the well-behaved dogs are around in the morning and afternoon and aggressive ones during the midday especially weekends.

- When McGee is new to the park don't let him wander into packs of dogs.  Start out with single dogs and owners first, then he may start to feel more comfortable about established packs.  Packs of dogs can be more aggressive because they know they have their buddies to back them up.

- Make sure the recall for your dog is VERY good!  Also - call your dog back on occasion just for a hello and a treat to make sure they know that "come" isn't only for "we're going home".

- Don't let the dog off leash until they are very far from the road (if it's a fenced dog park this is a non-issue).

- If a dog is beginning to show signs of being aggressive, don't be afraid to pick up your dog or otherwise take them away from the interaction with the aggressive dog.

- IF your dog is attacked - don't put your HANDS in the way of the aggressive dog - take your leash, wrap it around the aggressive dog and pull the dog away.  That way if they turn to snap at you, they will only get leash.

-Growling is not ALWAYS aggression!  Many breeds (boxers and german shepherds come to mind) tend to be very growly when they play.  If the growls escalate and your dog yelps (or starts to escalate their growling) then it is probably time to end their encounter.

 

We really love our walks in the park, and Luna loves them even more!  She gets lots of fun and exercise and mental stimulation playing chase, wrestling and "keep away" with sticks.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I agree with what every one else said to, the only thing I would add is that an hour away is far. Gas prices are expensive and it is sort of out of the way to go.

 

I do not bring Jack to a dog park unless they have separate areas for little and big dogs. In my experience, big dogs are a lot of fun to play with, they love to wrestle, chase sticks, and romp.. Jack loves to as well, but he is 11 pounds so when a big 70  pound adorable puppy wants to just play, he knocks the crud out of Jack. Not on purpose,

 

The little dogs I have found are snippy and not wanting to play. My solution. I made my own dog romp park in our neighborhood, All well behaved dogs are invited. We have a lot of big dogs that come as well, but we as owners worked together to teach the dogs to play together, first just by walking them side by side on leashes etc.

 

Bottom line, is dog parks can be great if your dog is able to hold their own, and also be in a safe place. I enjoy the social time with my neighbors and Jack loves to play with his friends.

 

 

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would not let my dogs go to a dog park and put them into a pack of dogs I didn't know.  I would be too concerned that they would have a bad experience that would "undo" all the socialization that I've done and could, in fact, be dangerous.  They go to daycare once every week or two.  All the dogs there have been pretested and approved and there are several trained workers constantly walking around and observing behaviors.  I feel way more comfortable with this "controlled" socialization.  I think there are some people who have local, neighborhood dog parks where the other dogs are know, and to me that's a different story.  I would be comfortable with that setting.

[Lorraine Bromley]

We love it. We used the setting as a training area and not a free for all.. So now he goes and comes when called doesn't hit the stream run off ect. Now we just let him go and he is the wall mart greeter of the dog park.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ditto, ditto...I don't take Gracie Doodle to dog parks because the one we have is horrible.  It is dirty and there are nothing but aggressive dogs and bad owners.  I took her there once and never again.  She won't even go in through the gate!  My daughter who lives in another town takes her dog to the dog park every afternoon.  She has made wonderful friends who all get together in their homes and have parties and the dogs are always included!  Her dog has done just fine there.  It is all about the owners and keeping an eye open at all times.  There is body language that you can watch for.  A tail that is straight up or over the back and the dog is walking tall is one to keep an eye on.  When we visit our daughter and take Gracie with us, she goes to the dog park with us but won't leave our side.  Just really check them out and the owners too.  Also, depending on what time of day it is dictates the type of people who are at the park.  In the late afternoon or early evening it is all the working people.  During the middle of the day it is the stay at home people usually.  Weekends can be a free for all!  Good Luck!

[Donnie]

Aaaah! More confused than ever. :) Seriously thanks for the replies, after reading this and about Rua I don't know what to do.  McGee doesn't meet other dogs well when on leash so I can't keep him on leash.  I don't know how he does off leash cause he hasn't been close to another dog since last summer when he was still puppy, so I don't know if it's the leash or if he is just not socialized.  The place we do our classes at is a daycare, maybe I can leave him there for the day before our classes that evening.  Guess I should talk to our instructor.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Maybe a better place to start with your dog is at a doggie daycare. A good doggie daycare will evaluate your dog and see how he does with other dogs. Plus it is a more controlled setting and people are there supervising the dogs.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have read and also Cesar Millan has said that dogs do much better OFF leash.  Or at least if your dog is on a leash and the others are off leash your dog will feel very uncomfortable and threatened.  They know they can't run or defend themselves because of the leash so when a group of dogs approaches, your dog can act aggressive or unsure.  That is one of the reasons they tell you to remove your leash as you enter the dog parks and no dog should be on a leash while in there.  That way they all have an even playing ground.  We have a little neighbor dog who joins our neighborhood dogs every afternoon for some play.  For the longest time the owner was afraid to let her off the leash.  She would cower or bark the entire time he stood there.  We finally got him to take her off the leash and she is just so happy and as tiny as she is, she does just fine with my 75 lb Gracie Doodle.  It is like night and day a dog on a leash and off a leash.