Dog Park Drama

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

I live close to one of the greatest dog parks in the SF Bay area.

I was so enthused about being able to take my dog there.

I also have been going to a few small local fenced-in dog parks.

Georgia is 5 months old.

She LOVES other dogs. Some dogs are obsessed with food. Some with balls. Some with people. My Georgia is obsessed with dogs.

Lately she has been going after more than she can handle. I'm not sure how to deal with this properly so as not to create fear in her, but also keep her safe.

She gets scared when some of the dogs play too rough. Yet she keeps inviting it. She squeals and her tail goes between her legs and she is on the ground belly up and you would think she is injured but she isn't and she will bare her teeth and act tough while in this submissive position. She has started to get more scared and yelping even before it gets to that point. This often can bring out the aggressive nature in the wrong dog where as they don't back down--which is my fear.

There was one instance last week where she went into a new dog park and was scared and overwhelmed by all these new dogs approaching her. But I let her and them work it out and she was fine and happy and part of the pack within about 15 minutes.

I guess I want to train her to be "street wise" in these situations. And to play nicely. I really want to not have to worry when we go to dog parks. Every dog owner's dream. My last dog had serious aggression issues with other dogs and we could never go to dog parks, so this time a prayed for a dog that loved other dogs. Be careful what you wish for I guess.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Not my dream. We haven't gone in several years after I realized that there were many problems ranging from sick, aggressive and unsupervised dogs. We just were at a local park. We looked at the dogs romping around in the dog park area and kept walking. I think my dogs get enough dog play with each other.

[Chelsie]

I'm not really sure what the best advice is, but I know my doodle loves dogs too! We do go the dog park and he loves it. However, I tend to only go when only a few dogs are there. Sometimes it can get a little crazy with lots of dogs and Sam begins to act nutty. I only stay if the park has about 4-5 dogs. If there ever are unsupervised, sick, or aggressive dogs I leave or talk to the owners about it. I think the dog park can be great, you just have to use common sense when going because not all of us have another companion for our doodle. I wish my older terrier/chihuahua mix would play with Sam but he has no interest! At 5 months old your puppy isn't very old and still needs to develop her confidence. Try going when it isn't busy. If there is a friendly dog there, ask their owner to meet you there at an off time.

[Judi, David & Maddie Irishdoodle]

Maddie and I tend to go early in the morning when it's quieter and people tend to be more attentive and it's usually the same dogs and owners. We totally stay away late afternoon because the owners have been at work all day and the dogs have been cooped up at home. They seem to be more wound up and rough then.

[Christy&Riley]

I'm too chicken to go to the dog park alone. I will only go with my husband...for my safety and Riley's.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Nancy, too bad you are in Richmond. We go to our Dog Park in Foster City between 2 and 4 on weekdays and it's a Doodle Fest!!! Lots of Doodles and retrievers who all play wonderfully together. The people that go are local and very responsible. They pay attention to their dogs. Sometimes you get the aggressive dog that shows up but if that happens, we leave. We do not go on weekends because it gets too crowded and a different crowd shows up. That is an accident waiting to happen and I won't put my dogs in that environment.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

That was a dream of mine, but I've let it go :)  Finn's level and style of play overwhelms some dogs, tees off others, and too many dogs at once overwhelm him.  He loves to start the "chase me" game but sometimes gets in over his head.  Sick, unsupervised, unsocialized and aggressive dogs gave me a knot in my stomach and it's not fun for my guy. He has "friends" of different breeds and we arrange play dates. So far, he loves it when we get together with other doodles.   I think Chelsie's suggestion is a good one, especially since Georgia is young and you want her to keep having positive experiences as she grows.     

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm pretty ambivilent about dog parks and can take them or leave them. It does seem to present it's own set of problems with little to gain for the most part. My two stay together most of the time we go, which negates the socialization reason for going, and it is so dirty, and sometimes muddy, that it means a bath when we get home, not to mention what they had been stepping in while there just makes me want to sterilze their paws before they even get back into the car. Then you add the other dogs drinking out of their little cooler, slobbering all over them if they are droolers, the one aggressive dog who comes in and ruins it for everyone and it all just starts to become more of a hassle than it's worth. Mine have gotten diarrhea and lately picked up a few fleas which thank goodness I bathed them when got home and found them right away.

My Murphy has developed a protective aggressive behavior at the dog park and only there. If other dogs come around me or Bella he acts like he has to protect us and barks and lunges at other dogs. I have worked with him while its happened and then finally thought...why am I even bothering putting him and me through this? So we go for a nice long walk or a drive which they LOVE, and they play in their big back yard together. THis all may sound a little nit picky, but after 5 years of trying to enjoy the time and effort at my local dog park, I think I am just tired of it all. Hope it works for you and helps you get the dog loving, playful dog you wanted.

[Deborah Brown]

Is there a time of day when there are less dogs?  You don't want her to be in situations where she is overwhelmed.  Even if she invites play, it sounds like the play is getting to rough and aggressive for her.  I understand that you want her to learn to play nicely but she needs to do the learning on a small scale.  It worries me that she seems to end up in dangerous encounters.  Dogs do get hurt and traumatized at dog parks.  It only takes a moment.

[Pat and Traveler]

I had to laugh at the "dog owner's dream."   I've so been there!  Trav absolutely loves going to dog parks--me, not so much.  Not al all, actually.  It was a hard dream to give up, for reasons mentioned by others.  I know they are wonderful for some people, though.