How to Host a Doodle Romp ?

[Laura Wyant]

Have about 8 people with doods willing to get together for a play date(s) in the Eugene, Oregon area.  But first, shouldn't we agree to what our rules should be?  How big an area for the number of doods? Is mixing sizes & ages a good idea? what do we need to know/do?  HELP!  Advice wanted, please email: [e-mail]   PS now have  a FB page for our group: Oregon Doodle Dog Romp 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Rules? We don't really have rules when we have a romp, other than that all Doodles should be friendly to others and play nice. But thats not really a rule. For the most part I have rarely seen a Doodle (at a romp) that was not friendly. Some play harder than others but they all seem to work it out. I have three minis and they do just fine playing with the bigger ones so size or age isn't really a consideration. Age is a factor only if a puppy is not old enough to have had all the required shots. If someone has a Doodle that is a bit shy, that one tends to know their limits and hangs back a bit. In my experience, Doodles tend to play a bit differently than other breeds. They always seem to know their own kind and they like to group together. Of course there will always be an exception to the "rule" but thats really an owner issue as they should be aware if its not something their dog can handle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Here in Southern California, we meet about once a month at a dog park - very casual.  Organizing - in the sense of calendaring it, seems to fall to a couple of people, but often someone posts in our So. Cal. group - "Hey, when is the next romp?"  Or "When is a good date for the next romp?" Or "I'm going to be in San Diego, anyone want to meet at Fiesta Island or Ocean Beach?"  All very low key.   It has evolved into a lunch and the romp.  Whoever can, meets at a local outdoor eatery before the romp to chat and eat.  Then we meander over to the romp and meet up with those who chose just to come to the romp - often held at a nearby dog park. The dog park is open to the public - we just commandeer   a section. These are more of a  Doodle Get-Together or Play Date and perhaps not what you are looking for.  It might be a good way to start if there are only 8 of you.

So . . . . .   We post on doodlekisses, some cross-post in their FaceBook groups.  People who come can sign a sheet with their e-mail addresses so if they aren't a member of dk, they can get notified of an upcoming meet-up.

Rules are simply good manners.  We have had as many as 30 doodles at some romps, and as few as perhaps 8.  If you have a non-doodle dog, you are also welcome to bring it. All sizes and ages of dogs.  Here is a link to one of our romp albums. 

[Laura Wyant]

It appears that most established Dood groups meet on a

monthly basis, some for 60 min., some for 90 min.

Some groups move their rendezvous from place to place.

 

Some groups made rules for the protection of all, such as:

 

1.  Your dog has been socialized and is well-mannered

     and interactive with other dogs. Aggressive dogs must

     be removed immediately.

2. Your dog, if 10 months or older, has been neutered.

    *not sure about this rule, certainly no pregnant/in heat*

3. He/She has received the full round of shots from your vet,

    current on de-worming and flea/tick/heartworm medication.

 

4.  RSVP and contact info required in advance

     (incase of changes)

 

Bring your doodle, some water/dish and doggie poo bags;

a chair to sit in; and (non alcoholic) beverage; possibly

bring a "time out" or "their safe place"  kennel ??

Each dog must wear, visible from several feet away,

some way to tell the look-a-likes apart, such as a

unique colorful bandana. 

 

should there be limiting of

the dood's size; age; and limit number attending ??

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

The rules you have posted are generally the rules of the dog park where we have our romps on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. We usually set ours up for about 2 hours and anyone can come and go at their leisure. I have found that you really don't need to place any limits. The more the merrier! And we always allow other dogs in the same family even if they are not a Doodle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I can't imagine telling someone that they had to put a scarf or some identifying thing on their dog. 

I wouldn't insist the dog be 10 months.  Keep younger pups closer to you if you perceive a problem.

I  assume that  dogs have had  shots but that is the owner's responsibility - do you really want to police vet records? Keeping YOUR dog immunized and utd on flea/tick meds is your responsibility, but overseeing others isn't your problem. If you are in a public dog park, are you going to go around and ask others for proof of immunization, flea/tick meds?

As a group, if a dog misbehaves, the owner could be asked to leash it for a time out - our group does this automatically if a dog gets over excited, starts humping, chases another dog too strenuously. We all behave responsibly.

Bottom line, if you aren't comfortable, don't feel your dog is safe, just leave.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Nancy, the bandana thing is a little much..lol. A lot of Doodles do look alike but that is the fun at a romp. Seeing the sea of look-a-likes having so much fun together. Rule#2, about the 10 months, is not an age requirement. It's a requirement that males be neutered if they are over 10 months old.. I know the dog park that we go to requires males to be neutered by 6 months or they are not allowed in the park.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You mean Laura.  Mandatory bandannas for id purposes is not my idea.  I was at a romp today and there were at least 6 white doodles, 2 almost identical red doodles, lots of apricots of all sizes, 2 chocolate minis . . . .

[Adina P]

If you're meeting in someone's private property, it makes sense to have rules or requirements for attendance.  But, if you're meeting in a public dog park, really you can't impose rules beyond what the park requires.  I personally wouldn't limit the size, the size will work itself out.

For me the toughest part, was finding a fenced area because that really is the safest way to do this.  Once we got a dog park that took care of the fenced area.  You might be able to rent an indoor area at a doggy daycare or other venue if necessary.

[Laura Wyant]

My plan is to hold a romp at our place, not in/at a public dog park. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

One of our So. Cal members has done that.  She treated it like a pot luck party. She has the most beautiful and huge yard.  It was private and by invitation because of our honored guests. I did personal (e-mail) invites and asked for RSVP replies. There was a specific time, but no thought was given to excluding non-doodles, requiring shots, having age or size limits. Perhaps we were ignorant but it was assumed that the dogs were up to date on everything and owners would supervise.  I think we had about 15 dogs. They all got along beautifully with no behavior issues at all. Some people and some dogs swam in the pool, some of us took pictures.  We all watched the dogs and chatted.

[Adina P]

One year I held a romp in someone's backyard (a dog owner who volunteered...she only had boxers but was a friend).  Because I was afraid of liability and to keep her safe, I did have waivers signed and asked for people to bring something from the vet (I think? It was several years ago).  So if you are opening this up to strangers and you are concerned about it, I think it's okay to play it safe, but don't have too many "rules."  Then once you get to know some regulars you can decide how to proceed.

[Laura Wyant]

Since I'm no longer able to continue with my horse business, last year my doctor told me to "Get a dog"!!  Took awhile to find the right dog, a Goldendoodle puppy.. Am to old and tired to get into a dog business of any way or kind, so I  figured we could use our facilities and invite new doodle friends over to play with us.  We have a small 30x48 ft indoor arena; a 50 ft diameter round coral; a 1-2 acre front field; and a hillside 15 acre pasture with an.....ahem..... "water feature"   Of course, it's all fenced in, to some degree or 'nother, depending.