Staying safe around playing dogs

[carmel lowry]

Joey is good on recall now and we can let him off lead to romp around at his own speed. When we

meet other dogs the running games start which is great for the dogs but I am wondering how can

I train him to give us a wider berth !  I had a golden labrador who was wonderful never jumped up on people but who managed to break my ankle, she ran back and did not stop in time, I got a brake and dislocation that required surgery.  The result was when my leg was better I never wanted to be the one to take her out off lead. I now lightening is unlikely to strike twice but Joey ran back yesterday at back full speed between my legs nearly taking me out.  Any suggestions on how you can train dog to respect human personal space !!   

[Camilla and Darwin]

Pat that is awful! I hope you feel better quick.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I don't know of any way to teach playing, running dogs to give you personal space. It's got to be you hanging on for dear life. Good luck with that! We have one 90 pounder and one 75... it's dangerous here on a regular basis.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Yeah, it is crazy at times and you need to watch out--they will not be watching and there is no way to guarantee they will--bending your knees helps avoid injury, but I like the idea of standing close to something that they have to go around--

[Christine & Camus]

No advice on teaching them to honor your personal space, but I've learned never to stand alone.  If the humans stand in a group it seems the dogs are less likely to play at your feet.  That being said, standing next to a tree is my best defense.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Dangerous around here too! Boris likes to hide from Riley between my legs and the two of them charging towards us at full speed is akin to the Bulls running in Pamplona LOL

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

My 2 wrestling is the worst! They're like an oncoming locomotive sometimes and I just have to jump out of their path. I find sitting (if there's a chair handy) works wonders, and I like the idea of staying close to a pole or tree or other solid structure when outside.  

[Suzanne & Jack]

I have to be careful with Jack since he runs toward me full speed and leaps for me to catch him.  At 90 lbs. I don't think that will happen.  I have found that when we're at the dog park if the people are standing close the dogs seem more likely to run into someone.  

[Christina Jake's Mom]

I have a cautionary tale as well. 

I'm still in a "boot" following a September 9th incident with my Jake and his best buddy Hank.  Jake was 9 months at the time and weighed in at 72 pounds and Hank 11 months at 65 pounds.  I was out on the trails near my house with the boys and Hanks mom.  We leave them off leash and they run like crazy the entire time we are out there.  We had just turned around to head back to the trail head when I turned and looked behind me to see both pups racing towards me down the narrow trail neck and neck nipping at each other.  They only had eyes for each other and to my surprise PLOWED into the back of my legs at great speed.  I went down and heard the snap of my ankle and knew immediately something was broken.  (I was never good at word problems but the force of a 140 pounds of dog plowing into you at a speed of 20 MPH (give or take) is significant force.)  The poor EMTs had  to hike in and carry me out on a stretcher. My ankle was broken in two places and I'm still NWB two months later following ankle surgery where I now have a plate and nine screws.

Of course I still adore my dog even though not being able to walk is a major inconvenience. It has also meant significant expense in having to pay for his private day school which comes and picks him up by bus and takes him to play school during the week. I am also in the ridiculous position of having to hire a live-in nanny for Jake when my husband is traveling. While I can let him out to potty and call him back, I can't walk him very far.

In the meantime, we are taking advantage of my husbands latest business trip and had Jake "snipped". We needed our "Mary Poppins" here with me anyway while hubby is away to take Jake for walks etc. so it has meant there are two of us to keep an eye on him when we take off his detested cone of shame. He goes to the doctor on Monday morning to get the stiches out and right after that I see the ortho with hopes of being able to start taking the "boot" off for longer periods of time.

I have never owned such a big dog as my Jake -- now 11 months and 76 pounds -- and I poo-pooed peoples warning to be careful at the dog park.  I was not cognizant of just how much power a running dog has.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a scary tale. I live in fear of something like that and try to get to tree or something ASAP when they are barreling along. They basically are off leash only in the yard.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

They are both adorable!  but then not so much if they are headed straight for you at breakneck speed! I hope you get a good report next visit and get to start weight bearing and walking very, very soon.  

[Bonnie and Kona]

This is an utter nightmare! I hope you heal and are very quickly back to full strength. The dogs are darling even if they are wildly crazy on a trail!

[Pat and Traveler]

Yikes!  Hope you'll be up and around soon!  They look like such angels.  :)