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...

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Two thumbs up for this article, Lori!  Finn loves his playdates, but he's happiest one or two dogs at a time.  He's more of a people dog, so if we go somewhere where there are a lot of dogs, he's always ends up saying hello and then sits by my side.  Our first "dog park" was our last.  Lovely people.  Lovely dogs.  But in a pack, the dogs that all knew each other behaved like a pack.  Finn was (uncharacteristically) terrified from the get go and I was intimidated enough by the "oh let him go, he'll be fine, everybody gets along," and unleashed him.  Well, Finn started to run the minute I unleashed him and although he's fast, the pack ran him down and several of us had to pull two or three dominant dogs off of him.  People have said, oh they wouldn't have hurt him, but I don't agree.  They don't know. These are dogs, not toddlers. And stuff can quickly spin out of control. Luckily, no lasting effects.  My vet told me that he sees more dogs hurt in dog parks than any other kind of injury and that's when I figured out, I should be listening to my dog.  He's well socialized, not reactive, behaves well in crowds, and he loves people and other dogs -- so why does he have to be a dog park dog?  He doesn't.  That said, we might try a doodle romp at  the beach because the open space and similar play style might be something he'd enjoy.  So that one hasn't been crossed off the list yet :)          

[Sally S Miles]

Very good article - best I have read in a while on the subject.  Dog parks are not for all - we can all easily find reasons not to go (my preference - as many have stated various reasons) - and yet they keep popping up.  What scares me about dog parks is people gabbing/phone/reading while dogs run amuck - done, no way.

 

I really like that this article points out the individuality of each animal, we all need to remember that. 

We do have a new dog park in our town, it apparently took a lot of work to get it "ok'd" and there were actually classes held on general behavior at such parks.  Maybe - once upon a time? Maybe - if I knew all who showed up? Maybe -

That may work for some, but the high percentage of folks who think their dog is better than a lead or worthy of being 'turned loose', or who have other things on their mind - I intend to keep a distance.   I have studied a whole slew of daycare options, still not satisfied.    Even after being told that my dog gets along with all the other dogs, I lean with Jennifer and Jack =  let their individuality shine through and a dog park is not on the agenda.

 

 

 

 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I love this post.  My daughter has a dog park and we have taken her Stevie there many times and I always feel bad that there is no park or day care around here for Meg.  We have a very large fenced yard for her and we play ball or Frisbee several times a day as well as playing in the house but still I have felt a bit guilty about not having that experience for her. So now I can let go of that guilt, besides I already know she is a very happy and well adjusted dog. 

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

I like the park near me because seeing the dogs run free brings me joy.  My two LOVE IT!   I snapped this picture at the last doodle romp...these are all doodles running toward me.   As you can see, the park is massive so very easy to avoid dogs you don't want to be near.   Not many people "stand around and socialize" either...many go there to walk the perimeter and get in a good walk with their dogs...

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Looks like such a lovely spot! And the dogs look very happy as well! 

[Lynette Main]

Good article..  None of my Doodles have been to the Dog Park this year.There are some nasty ones there and I won't put my babies through that...

 

[Heather & Brinkley]

Brinkley loves off-leash play but I noticed that he started to get panic-stricken one day when I was dropping him off at daycare. I spent the entire day worrying about him and when I picked him up he seemed almost panicked to reunite with me. He doesn't mind when I leave the house to go to work all dsy but if I hand his leash off to anyone and turn around to leave he gets so anxious... So we've stopped daycare. Instead I bring his friends to him for play dates and he had a ball. It just isn't worth it to see him worried. (And we've stopped dog parks a long time ago- too many potential problems)