Toby - a little timid at the dog park

[Sandy]

Toby likes to go to the dog park. He is excited to get out of the car, excited to get off leash, excited to start running around. However, he gets intimidated very easily. He will get run over, and then run to us and hide under our legs. Or he will just get scared and run between our legs. He likes little dogs mostly, or dogs that have basically his same personality - other non-boisterous dogs, a little Scottie dog, or any calmer type dog. Should we keep going? Is it damaging to him to be "scared" at the dog park? Or is this perhaps just a phase he's working through (he's 8 months old). We've only gone to the dog park 4 times. Mind you, last night we met a Newfoundlander puppy (7 months, 98 pounds) and Toby and he were quickly best buddies. So it's perhaps more personality than size that Toby assesses. Anyway - should we continue to go? He really, really needs the exercise or he becomes naughty at home. What do you all think?

[Debbie and Thomas]

Our dog met a 1 year old Newf pup at the dog park near our cottage in Midland. They hung out most of the time we were there. Not much running though-they just played together. It was great.

[Stella]

I agree with Jane. Go during the day when it is less likely to be busy and just keep an eye on him. You definitely don't want to go late afternoon / early evening when all the crazy dogs that have been home alone all day get there!!! The more opportunities he has to meet other dogs the better, as long as he isn't getting overwhelmed. He will soon learn how to stay away from dogs he doesn't like, and as long as he isn't getting picked on by anyone he'll be fine.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Do keep going somewhere for Toby to meet more dogs and people. He will get more confident as time goes by.

[Kyoko]

I totally agree with everyone. Keep going!!
Charlie seems to sense something from the other dogs.
One day she played with Greatdane puppy (huge) and the other time yelped away from the other Greatdane. ( He did not do anything to her) She seems to find other dogs with spunky, energetic personality as her to play with.

But still, when she gets uncertain, she stays near me, hides behind me, or when she is nervous about another / larger dog, she hides under the picnic table! But more we go, more she seems to be comfortable with the situation.
I keep close eye on her, and stay close, so if anything is to happen, I'm close enough to help her.

Leaning the command "Come" helps, too. Once a large dog start to chase her with a grow. She seemed panic. But once I called her to come, she came straight to me running, and the other dog left her alone.

[Sandy]

Thank you all. I agree that we should keep going. I'm hoping his confidence will grow as he does. I feel a difference in his hip and leg muscles from the numbers of times we've gone already. I wish we had a nice dog park closer, but we'll do the drive a couple of times a week for his sake.

[Gail & Max]

Doggie Day Care is another alternative...The one that we go to does a temperment test before they can play with the other dogs and then they put similar dogs together (personality, size,) and dogs that have any anxieties are kept separate. Max loves going there, I can hardly shut off the truck and he's ready to jump out, he LOVES Doggie Day Care! He only goes on Saturday but well worth the $20 for 8 hours

[fergie11]

I had trouble with Fergie when she was younger. She was always so submissive - not timid - just submissive. She'd spend the whole time on her back. Don't worry though. I did stop going until she was maybe 10-11 months. She did much better then. Now she's 14 months and does great there.

[clancy's mom]

Everyone knows how lovable doodles are, but when we took Clancy to the dog park he didn't want to play with the other dogs -- just wanted to visit the people and get petted. And it's not like he doesn't get any attention at home. My husband is home with him all day and when I get home from work, I make sure to give him plenty of loving. He really didn't get any exercise at all at the dog park. Maybe the mix of dogs that day was just not to his liking, but I think he thinks he is a person and that's who he wants to socialize with?!

[Chris & Boys]

Absolutely keep going back. The first couple of times I took Fozzy to puppy socials, he would hide behind me. I think most of the dogs there were weekly regulars and the dogs had all gotten to know eachother. After the third time he was fine. Just don't baby him when he hides behind you. Either ignore him or start walking so he investigates his surroundings instead of just hiding. I no longer have this problem. Now Fozzy is the most playful dog at the park.

[Tara]

We went to the dog park for the first time today. Our Sadie seemed to have a similar experience. She played for a minute or two, then ran back to us, then ran for another minute and then back. She would also run up to dogs and then run away from them before getting the chance to play. I'm glad to hear that other dogs started out this way too. We'll have to go some more and see what type of progress is made.

[Sandy]

We have continued to go back. Toby is getting less fearful, but he definitely knows which dogs he wants to play with, and which ones he doesn't. He has actually learned how to see if a dog will run with him, and definitely takes a lot of pleasure out of the fact that he's off leash, and can RUN. :) When I want to leave, I just tell him we're going in the car, and he comes right over. All in all, it's been mostly a positive thing for us.