Dog parks?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I just discovered that there is a dog park very close by and with Jace old enough to go I thought that would be a fun thing to do with the weather being so nice here now. It sounds super nice and is brand new, but I was wondering what everyone's experiences with dog parks have been and if they're fun, or chaotic. 

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I have had no problems with the dog parks in my area.  If you want to do a test run go on "off peak " hours..maybe during the week.  Fri, Sat and Sun are nortoriuos for being busy days...

Have fun

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

less than perfect weather days are also a good day to find a fairly empty park.  If you can deal with some cold or drizzly weather, you usually have a better shot of finding less dogs in the park.  My brother and SIL talked me into going to a huge park here (for the first time) on Easter Sunday which happened to be warm (almost 70) and Sunny (it is Seattle and that is very rare).  SIL said most people would be in church and it wouldn't be crowded...riiiiight  :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Many of us do not like dog parks and we have had lots of discussions about this. I never take my dogs anymore because of owner in attentiveness and overexuberant or aggressive dogs. But I am lucky because I have two dogs who can play in a fenced yard.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We have a new dog park that we've had mixed experiences with.  We've been a number of times when the other dogs there were balanced with attentive owners.  Other times we've been there, there have been dogs who did not belong in that setting and were reactive.  I always get out of the car and check the dogs in the park and how they're interacting....if it's a pretty calm group we go in.  If not, we leave.  If a dog enters while we're there who doesn't interact appropriately, we also leave.  It's also important to be sure that your dog enters the park in the right frame of mind....crazy, excited energy can trigger problems.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

But Jane after you spend 45 minutes sitting in the parking lot trying to get your dogs to calm down enough to get into the park, there could be a whole new group of dogs in there :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LOL....that has actually happened. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

;o)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

you could also try walking him around outside the dog park area and work on getting him to focus on you (treats help) before going in. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

There are a lot of dog parks out here and we have gone twice now and I find it hard to relax (I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm trying to watch 2 dogs at the same time).  In addition to watching Jace, keep an eye on the other dogs in the area.  Even if a dog isn't acting aggressive with Jace, if you see a dog acting aggressive with any other dog you might want to leave the park for a while.  Better safe than sorry.  A lot of the problems that I have seen at the parks here (or heard about) come from an owner not watching/controlling their dog.  Also keep an eye out for any owner not paying attention to their dog.  A responsible owner will always have their dog insight and under their control.  And while you are busy at the park watching Jace, the other dogs, and the other owners, make sure that Jace doesn't eat any feces that are sitting around or drink any standing water.  Oh one more thing....have fun lol  :)

 

I'm sure you have Jace UTD on his shots but make sure he is current on his bordetella (spelling?)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree, with two dogs it is not relaxing.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Definitely be sure he has his vaccine for kennel cough! Both of our dogs got it at a dog park. There is water sitting out for the dogs and they drink it and catch the cough. We don't go any more. There were some inattentive owners with aggressive dogs that made us nervous and we just decided it isn't worth it. We do have two dogs that get a good run each day and play with one another. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

oh I just thought of something else.  When you are in the park, call Jace back to you periodically and pat and praise him when he returns.  That keeps him under your control but also teaches him that good things happen when he comes back to you.  If you only call him to you to leave, he will learn that coming to you in the park = leaving the park and you will be THAT person following your dog around the park trying to get a leash on him.  Not fun (trust me, I've been THAT person lol).