Does your dog have to like Dog Parks-the short answer is "NO"!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I am absolutely convinced that Quincy's happiest moment is pulling into the parking lot of his favorite dog park-his excited bark tells it all, unless you count how he runs exuberantly into the throng of dogs seemingly yelling "Hey guys, here I am, let the fun begin!"  

But-maybe this is not the place for all dogs.  The following article is an interesting take on trying to figure out if what you think your dog should like is really what your dog does like!  

Your thoughts on this my doodle friends?

http://www.robinkbennett.com/2013/07/21/my-dog-got-kicked-out-of-da...

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

bringing a toddler with a stuffie to a dog park?  yikes!  that's just asking for trouble! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Oh DJ, that's awful.  Not even an "I'm sorry, can I help you up?" What is wrong with people :(  

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

My two love the dog park and we are fortunate to live in a town with a beautiful, grass field! It's so large (9+ acres) that its easy to avoid the dogs you want to avoid. Milo starts crying five blocks from the entrance because he's so excited. They both bust through the gate yelling, "lets get this paw-ty started"! Usually causes several chuckles from the humans to see two with so much excitement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know that we call them our furkids and refer to each other as doodle moms and dads, but there really is a difference between human kids and dog kids, lol. If your child is unhappy or uncomfortable around groups of other kids, that's a concern and something you might need to work on, because they have to go to school, gym class, recess, etc., and they have to interact with other kids there. Dogs really don't have to like other dogs. They just have to be able to tolerate the presence of other dogs at the vet's office and other public places. And adult dogs don't have to play with other dogs, either. As we have said many times, "socializing" as it applies to dogs is an entirely different thing than "socializing" as it applies to humans. A well-socialized dog is simply one who is comfortable in human society, not a dog who loves spending time around other dogs. 

JD loves to go anywhere where he can play fetch with a human. He has absolutely no interest in other dogs. He ignores them. We go to the forest preserve "dog parks" which are just huge fenced in sections of the forest preserves where he can run and fetch off-leash, and where we can hike the trails together. If we pass another dog, there is little to no interest. We stay away from the congested areas where the dogs are chasing each other and the owners are ignoring their dogs and "socializing" with one another, lol. And we totally avoid the small dog parks that are essentailly like a big fenced yard. Nothing there for us. 

For what it's worth, JD's dermatologist's opinion is that "No dog should be going to dog parks." 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Although we had an "incident" with Quincy at one park we went to, all of our other adventures at another park have been positive.  He is still a puppy and still loves engaging other dogs in a good game of chase, so for right now, the dog park is a positive.  Actually, I will be just as happy if and when he gets that out of his system and just wants to go for a swim or a long walk with us.  But for sure, he loves running with another dog right now,and it seems the best way to allow him to run and exercise his puppy energy.  

that being said, we have been on hiatus since our vet mentioned that there was a wicked doggie germ going around in the area and advised us to keep Quincy out of day care and dog parks! 

[Christine & Camus]

I take Camus to a park where there are other dogs, but it is not a dog park - its a people park.  He loves it and I love to watch him run and play.  I do not care for fenced in, official, dog parks.  Having too many dogs in a fenced area seems to bring out the worst, which leads to fights and other aggressive behavior.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I love this article and this is how I have always felt about Fudge. She started out going to daycare and liked it, but then when I would drop her off, she started shaking. I am convinced something happened there. I would watch her on the monitor and she just sat in the middle of the room. I stopped taking her. She is not a dog park dog, either and will never go to a romp. I was sad about that at first, but really who am I doing all that for....Fudge or me? She is good at the pet sitter's....likes her dogs...loves Vern...loves my DD's dogs. All is good.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would love to see how she would do with a couple of lovely doodles : )

[Gail and Bailey]

The dog park that I take Bailey to is a members only park.  To join you must provide vet records and pay a yearly fee and a fee for the code to the locked gate.  There are about 100 members but my friend and I go during the day and we are alone most of the time.  We may occasionally see about 3 or 4 other dogs and owners that we have become friendly with.  Our dogs absolutely love running and playing chase with each other in the 3 acre area.  Bailey is in heaven when we are there!  However...there have been problems in the evening when there are lots of dogs present......which is the reason we only go during the day!!   I would be very uncomfortable putting Bailey in the midst of a bunch of dogs that we did not know.  I am sure she would love it as she is a total social butterfly and loves other dogs of all sizes.  She has never met a dog she doesn't like!

[Pat and Traveler]

I got so scared last time we were at a dog park!  It was an indoor dog park, and it was about 9 a.m. on a weekday.  I couldn't see what dogs were there as you go through a corridor to get into the dog area.  The other times I'd been there, there were maybe 7-8 dogs with their owners.  This time, we went in and there were maybe 20 big dogs, with one attendant.  Granted, all these dogs have been 'tested' for ability to get along with others, but I'd arrived at what must have been daycare time for working dog owners, and we were immediately surrounded by a huge, milling pack of dogs.  Trav was pressed against my leg, snarling, warning the inquisitive dogs to keep their distance. Then I had trouble getting out, trying to get the gate open and keep the other dogs from escaping while getting Trav and me through it.  Not fun!     

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I hate dog parks and so does Gracie Doodle!!!  I also am not fond of the irresponsible people who frequent dog parks...at least here where I live.  

[Jennifer and Jack]

When Jack was a puppy, I was still working and he went to daycare. It was best for all involved. He has plenty of play time, plenty of social time and he loved it. He would cry when I would pull up in the morning to get out of the car.... He just loved it and I was so happy because to me him being socialized was extremely important.

Daycare kept dogs separated by size.. Jack never learned to play real well with big dogs that have high energy. He is fine with older big dogs..

Anyway.. now that Jack has matured, he for sure prefers not to play at dog parks or go to daycare. He is for sure a humans dog, where Molly is a dogs dog.. She could play all day with other dogs... though she never had the full on experience of daycare for extended periods of times.

I would not bring Jack back to a dog park ever unless it was just for small dog time, which they have at my moms but since I know he doesn't like it, we don't go there. my mom doesn't bring Jack.

I think that it is really important to respect your dogs personality and choices.. As you can tell I am not someone that is super into being the only one with a say, I control almost everything with him but where I can respect what he likes to do, and let his personality shine... that is what I do....

Just me... first time dog owner.. I don't have expectations of Jack other then decent manners .....from there we just do whatever....but the long way to the answer is Nope, no more dog parks for us. Jack prefers going elsewhere.