Taking a puppy to a park for socialization

[Lucy & Ellie]

We have taken Lucy to the park a couple of times for socialization.  She does pretty well.  I just wondered what you are supposed to do exactly though.  She is an excited puppy and I try to put her in a sit when someone wants to pet her.  She sort of does it!  Should I make her keep the sit?  (assuming my goal is to have her in a polite sit when being greeted).  She also sniffs hands all over with her mouth open... so hands can snag on those teeth!  She's not trying to bite.... but it's still not "polite."

I'm just new to all of this puppy stuff and I'm wondering what my goal should be at a park.  Oh and she is 4 months old now!

[Tammy and Violet]

Violet is almost 1 1/2 and she drag me over to whom ever we see walking or parks...I failed at the sit stay...:( .........,,,,,,,I wonder if she ever will get it ? ..my fault I know ...

[Adina P]

Sitting for greeting is ideal, but the dog park isn't the place to teach it until you've taught the heck out if it in less distracting situations.  I consider dog parks more of a free-for-all where you do your best to keep your dog out of trouble, but you're not going to get much training done there.  Not till your dog is older and you've done a lot of obedience work outside of the park.

[Susan Dingess]

Hi,

My puppy is 4 1/2 months old and I took her to the dog park 4 times. There are 3 sections to the park..., 35 lbs and under; middle one sorta whatever you think and 3rd large dogs. 

The last time we were there I took her to the middle area because there were some very little dogs in the little poundage area. Thought since she was 20 lbs. she might be in conflict with the tiny dogs. She was traumatized in the middle area and then I took her to the smaller poundage area and she was still in a trauma. The trainer with whom I am working-Bark Busters-said she is too young to go to the park 

HTH

[John Wang]

Boomer's just around 4 months.

We make Boomer sit in order to be pet. We practiced heavily when he was younger with friends and family, and other humans at the dog park. He gets really excited and will sit, but as soon as people start petting him he'll jump up. We ask people that if he does that, they put up their hands and stand up. He immediately sits down again. This is because once he's 55 lb's, we don't want him doing that to strangers or my parents.

We keep Boomer on a leash until it's evident that all the dogs there are friendly or uncaring about his presence. He'll strain a lot to try and get to them, which is normal. The first time we went an Akira attacked him really viciously. We've gone back twice after a month and additional training, and now he plays nice (and no signs of the Akira!) with all the other dogs.

Once we're sure the dogs are friendly, we'll focus his attention back on us, make him do a trick or two, then free him to play with the other dogs. This calms him down a little, and lets him know that he should still be mindful of us. This is his MOSTLY unrestricted play-time. He can run with the dogs, but he should always come back to us when we call him (HV treats) and we will immediately intervene if his play-fights become one-sided in either dog's favor. (Usually he gets beaten.. ha) If he ever barks (thankfully never so far) we will immediately pick him up so he knows he's not allowed to do that.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Tammy, As long as she is successful in doing so, Violet will continue to drag you wherever she wants to go.  Violet needs a stronger collar so that you can gain control. I suggest either a corrective collar or a prong collar.

[Tammy and Violet]

I have a prong collar and have tried all collars with her..I cant get her to settle down or listen to me  .. look at me at all to sit or settle before we greet people/ dogs .. always a work in progress...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My dogs are always a work in progress also. 

[Michele & Kallie]

It sounds you are talking about a regular people park not a dog park.If thats the case, yes, if you are going to stop and let people pet her, its best for her to sit first. Get down at her level to keep her sitting and not mouthing them if necessary.It's great to get her out as much as possible and practice walking and sitting and other good manners.If its at a dog park I wouldn't focus on sitting as much and just let her run and have safe fun.

[Lucy & Ellie]

Oh yes, you are right.  It's a people park!  I don't think I'd be as concerned with her at a dog park.  But when we take her to the people park, the point of bringing her is hoping she will get used to people coming up to her and all....

Thanks everyone!

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

I was thinking the same thing that Adina has stated.  Personally, I am not a frequenter of dog parks but prefer making arrangements for Hurley to play with other dogs at a home.   We have doodle romps here in the Vegas area at dog parks and that I am okay with as I know the other people and their dogs.  Not knowing the training level or attitude of strangers and their dogs just makes me uncomfortable.  That being said it is a time for the dogs to run and play and to get to make four legged friends under your watchful eye.

As for the sniffing hands with the mouth open, that is very normal.