Simply Grand

Oh gosh YG, the idea of grabbing at an unknown GSD's collar makes me I wonder if he was just clueless or thought he knew what he was doing and could "dominate" her. I guess if he regularly jumps over the fence he may not have thought to ask first although doing that could freak many dogs out. That's the kind of circumstance though where I think it's really important for us to speak up as soon as we see something concerning, so (obviously in an ideal world) I would have said hang on a sec, let me get the dog as soon as I saw the guy on the fence. Like I said before, I think we have to expect that some people will do dumb things in these parks and manage accordingly.

Oh it sounds so lovely WM, his very own little girl :)

Thanks for the greyhound info guys, great to know

The other thing is we all make mistakes and sometimes things happen that aren't anyone's fault but get our hearts racing. Like I said yesterday, I should have known better than to let Quinn get that close to the ACD, and the other week she had another fight (again all noise, no damage) with a dog I knew guarded sticks who then got hold of our ball and snapped at Quinn to,guard it when Quinn just happened to be standing there (she didn't care about the ball but she did care about being snapped at). I should have thought the other dog might guard the ball and kept my dogs away but it just didn't occur to me. Lesson learnt! So share your own mistakes too and we can all learn.

Yes, I think with things like this and lots of other things, if we are going to use these parks we need to be realistic in our expectations of how other people will behave. Other dogs WILL join in when balls are in play There WILL be kids running around If you take food in other dogs WILL show interest in you If you pick a dog up other dogs WILL be interested Some people WON'T be able to recall their dogs Some people WILL bring in dogs that really shouldn't be there People WILL have dogs on lead in off leash areas and some other people WILL think that's a bad thing Some people WILL laugh and let their dogs do inappropriate things Some people WILL go around giving advice to everyone else when they are actually totally clueless So basically I think we as responsible owners need to be prepared of all of that and manage our own dogs accordingly. And that's kind of the idea of the thread! Come in here and whinge to people who understand about the dumb things other people do :)

twodoggies, I think you are exactly right that some dogs do feel vulnerable on lead and because they can't escape they do resort to aggression. I guess for me the ideal situation would be to work with your dog to get it to the point where rather than show aggression it turns to you as the owner when it feels vulnerable and defers to you to sort out the situation as there will be times when the dog has to be on lead so what happens if it's worried then? But I understand that that kind of training can take time and as long as you are following the rules and your dog isn't causing problems then it isn't anyone else's business how you manage it. In the case of the ACD with Quinn, she was aggressive off lead and apparently worse on lead so while I could leash Quinn and easily move her away and stop her from focusing on the other dog, they relied on sort of herding their dog away and she was still intently watching Quinn until we were well away. What worries me is if they come across another dog like theirs neither party can necessarily get hold of their dog to de-escalate the situation. But again, that's not really my business.

No, this is people who not knowing why your dog is on a leash,in an off leash area, immediantly start to complain. Apparently your dog should never be on lead in an off lead area! That just strikes me as guilty conscience then! "I can't deal with my dog on lead so how dare you have yours here on lead!" Another peeve of mine is dogs in parks without collars and/or people without leads for them. Quinn's ACD "frenemy" (being polite) who I mentioned earlier is apparently worse on lead than off when it comes to her aggression - when we were moving them apart today one of their family suggested putting her on lead and the others said "no she's worse then".

Wiggles, I think it actually does depend on the reason why the dog is not let off leash in the dog park. If the on leash dog is being trained or socialised but is ok with being approached by other dogs if it happens then of course people have no call to be b**ching. And I don't like the idea of "just let them off and let the dogs sort it out". However, if the dog is on lead because it is reactive or doesn't tolerate being approached by other dogs then I am not sure an off leash park is the right place for it.

So today's update - After further dog park chatter today it turns out that the two dogs in the serious fight yesterday were both in the tiny fenced "airlock" between two gates (ie you close on before opening the second to prevent escape) WITHOUT THEIR OWNERS! I don't know exactly how that happened but apparently the one that had been muzzled - the one that was injured and taken to the vet allegedly - has been a problem at the park before and a couple of weeks ago ripped an ear off another dog. The story is that the owner of that had taken off both lead and muzzle and left it in the airlock and somehow the other dog ended up in there as well and somehow managed to come off better in the fight. Apparently a guy who was aware of the previous attack by the dog that had been muzzled said to its owner that he should not have it off lead and unmuzzled due to its history was told to f*** off... Then the fight happened. It always scares me when I see people pile into that confined space with multiple dogs, to me it's just asking for trouble even with friendly dogs to put them in a crowded confined space like that. I'll often loiter around until the area is clear before going in or out and ask people to wait if they try to come in if I'm already in there. We saw Quinn's ACD frenemy from yesterday again too. She was fine near Quinn (both off lead but no direct interaction) on our first pass in a quieter area of the park but snapped at another dog, a small Pug, who didn't appear to have done anything but I didn't see the details. We then came across her again back at the busier area and I didn't keep Quinn away when I should have and they fought again (no damage done). Quinn was good and came straight to me when she saw that I was close enough to intervene thank goodness. She had a wet patch of fur behind her ear but no damage. The ACD's owners said it happened because their dog doesn't like her family patting other dogs and a family member had patted Quinn. So obviously my dogs will never be close to that dog again.

Definitely Mim, it's unbelievable to me that people do that. I will edit my Definite Nos list to include sitting in the car while your dog is in the park. If I see that happen I decide I can treat the dog as though I'm responsible for it as technically it is abandoned so I will move it, tell it off or do whatever I see fit if need be (not hurt it obviously) :D . I'm often tempted to put the dog in my car and take it to the pound as abandoned but haven't done that yet.

So I will start as we have had a crazy couple of days at my local dog park. It's a great park, huge, with walking paths, grass, bush and ponds with a big fence all around the outside. It has been pretty trouble free since we first started going around February but this week we have the start of warm weather. Longer days and school holidays so there are some new dogs and people around that I don't know every well. Yesterday there was a group of kids set up with a table selling lemonade and donuts right in the middle of the busiest part of the park near the main entrances. They were also eating KFC, had no adult with them and had an older dog with them under their table who apparently got grumpy when other dogs approached. I steered clear although my dogs were dying to go over and investigate the delicious chicken (their favourite thing) smells but yeah, not gonna happen in that sort of situation! I didn't actually see anything happen while they were there but I suspect the unusual activity and smells had an effect on what came next. As I was walking around at one stage I heard the sounds of a dog fight coming from the main entry sort of area of the park but it didn't go on for very long so I didn't think much of it. Later though as we got back around to the main area where people congregate people told me there had been a serious fight between two large, strong dogs, one muzzled, the other not and the muzzled one had been badly bitten around the eye and had bled everywhere. That dog had been rushed off to the vet and the other dog was a off in a quiet area of the park on lead with its owner calming down. The weirdest thing was though that for the rest of the time I was there (another cal of hours) many of the dogs, even those who hadn't been there when the fight happened, were really unsettled. Dogs were coming in highly aroused and there were three additional close call fights while I was there with dogs who various regulars and owners report do not normally behave as they did. The first on was actually with my Quinn and a cattle dog, the other dog I hadn't met before although other regulars I know there told me she was ok, but she came in very jumpy and with lots of vocalisation going on. Quinn has had issues with a few different cattle dogs before as they are generally not the type of dog to back down if there is a disagreement and neither is Quinn, so I was extra alert but any dog that had entered like that I would have been concerned about so i put Quinn straight on lead and moved all my dogs away until things had calmed down. After a while we moved back closer, Quinn still on lead and the cattle dog snapped at her, Quinn went back but I saw it coming and was already moving her away so there was just some serious noise while the ACD's owner got her away, but no contact. Not long after there was a serious rumble between two Labradors, with a bunch of other dogs running in as well. Apparently no injury there but it took a good two minutes to separate everybody and both owners said their dogs had never reacted like that before. Third was another Lab who I'd do know and have never seen a problem with and another regular dog who can be a bit of a rough player but I haven't seen trouble with before either. So four fights in one day, it's more than I've seen the whole previous 7 months we've been going there. I'm sure the added arousal was because of the smell of the blood (there was a lot) no doubt exacerbated by the food smells lingering in the air and all the dogs were that bit more on edge. Crazy day. To avoid this being the longest post ever I'll do today in a separate one.

Dog Parks Etiquette and Tips Ideas and Opinions from Experienced Dog Park Users :) Please note there is a whole lot more useful information throughout this thread that is well worth reading. People will always have different opinions on what is and is not appropriate in any situation so the information in this post will not cover everything. It will generally be limited to things that ensure the immediate safety and welfare of all dogs in a dog park. Further discussion is welcomed in the thread. General information Dog parks can be a great resource for exercising your dog, exposing them to other dogs, people and things, and building your bond with your dog out in public. However not all dog parks are created equal and not all dogs are suitable to attend them. Please think carefully before you take your dog to a dog park. Be aware that however well you can control your own dog and the situations it gets into you cannot control everything and everyone else. There is ALWAYS RISK when attending off lead dog parks and the consequences can be serious. Think of your dog and others and carefully weigh up the risk vs benefits. All dog parks, even off lead ones, require dogs to be "under effective control" of the owner. This is a matter of law, not just etiquette. If your dog injures a person or another animal in a dog park the same laws apply as anywhere else. This means you need to be confident you can control your dog effectively before you let them off the lead. Even if your dog is no threat to anyone off lead, you do not want to be the person who cannot get hold of their dog when you want to leave. Trust me, it is really frustrating for you and embarrassing when you are fruitlessly chasing your dog around for 45 minutes and they keep just out of reach. So invest in some training beforehand, build a good strong recall first, and your experience will be much safer and much more enjoyable. Entry and exit Do not let your dog stand at the entry gate when other dogs are trying to enter. This can create over arousal that can lead to fights. Check that no other dogs are close before you open gates. Some may bolt out and be lost or injured. Try to avoid letting your excited dog straight off lead to charge into a group of other dogs. Excitement in a group of dogs can trigger fights. Food and toys (resources) Many dog park rules state that food and toys should not be brought into parks. This is because dogs often value these items highly and will guard them from other dogs ("resource guarding") resulting in fights. Many people do so anyway and if managed well problems can be avoided. Be aware that either your dog or other dogs may guard a toy or ball and the safest option is NOT to throw them unless you are alone or know for sure that none of the dogs present will guard the ball/toy. Never throw food onto the ground, especially in a group of dogs. This can easily trigger a fight, and some dogs may eat things they should not be eating. Don't feed other people dogs without asking first. They may be on a specific diet or training plan. Be aware that your dog or other dogs may guard treat pouches and the like from other dogs as well as actual food items. Do not ever bring bones or long lasting treats into a park and give them to your dog. One way or another there is bound to be a problem! Other dogs Dogs have different play styles, depending on their breed, age, size and individual personality. Please respect that your dog's play style may not be suitable for playing with all other dogs. Watch your dog and call it away if another dog or owner is at all uncomfortable. Some behaviours are generally considered rude, threatening or unacceptable by dogs. These include humping or mounting, nipping, pinning down, standing over, shoulder charging, staring and stalking. Whilst these behaviours may be tolerated between certain dogs they can easily trigger fights so it is safest NOT to allow your dog to demonstrate these behaviours at the dog park. Some dogs just don't enjoy being in a dog park situation. If your dog is timid or frightened of other dogs carefully consider whether they should be there. It is unfair to your dog to put it in such a vulnerable situation. If your dog is very selective about which dogs it gets along with and snaps, snarls or bites at dogs it doesn't like it is risking the safety of your dog and every other dog there to take it to a dog park. Be aware that taking a bitch in season/on heat to a dog park is very dangerous. It is likely to trigger unwanted mounting, fights with your bitch, possible unwanted mating and even fights between other dogs in the vicinity. Definite Nos! Do not drop your dog at the park and leave or sit in the car! If your dog is in the park you need to be there with it. Always pick up after your dog! It is gross, unhygienic and selfish not to. Do not allow your dog to run around off leash and approach others outside the park if it is an on leash area! Just because people are in the vicinity of a fenced park does not mean they intend to enter and allow their dog to interact with others. Do not leave gates open, even a bit, ever!

As a regular dog park user sometimes incidents occur that I'd love to discuss or purely vent about but that really aren't worth starting a thread about and don't really need to clutter up any other threads. I know there are a lot of members who don't like or use dog parks and probably don't want to read about what happens in them also so if we have one thread anyone who wishes to can ignore it and anyone who does want to can be involved. The other thing is we often have new members starting threads asking about dog parks and the same things always come up so with one thread it could all be in one place, and as new members won't have access to Off Topic I though General was more appropriate. I thought we could have 'etiquette and tips' all together in a post so newbies can have a read too. I'll set it up and add any suggestions as we go. If anyone has any major objections I'm happy to cease and desist but let's see how it goes :)

I cannot believe anyone thinks it's ok to let your dog run up to and stick bits of itself into other people's cars!!!

Absolutely, and you have every right to do so, whether your dog has serious reactivity issues or not. I have said before that I think if people take their dog to a fenced, specific off leash dog park they have to expect other dogs to approach theirs BUT that doesn't mean if a dog is approaching in a way that concerns you you don't have every right to move away/intervene/physically block, whatever you need to do. I've yelled and grabbed other dogs before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if necessary. And if you are in a shared or on leash area then even more so you have every right to tell people in no uncertain terms to keep their dog away.

What an adaptable little guy Zac is :)

Quinn's latest trick, after the fridge, oven and cupboards have been locked off, and I've learned not to leave dishes on the bench for her to reach, she has moved on to the kitchen drawers. Sigh...lucky I love her because seriously

Will they not be old enough for a bit of tablet like Milbemax or something in mince by then kirty? I can't remember the liquid product we used for shelter puppies right now but it was white and apparently yucky and went everywhere too! Tablets are way easier in my experience and at 1.5kgs / 6 weeks ish could you use 1/4 - 1/2 a toy/small breed tablet each?

Having seen Lappies herd, I am sure they bully the reindeer by yelling at them!! That's very funny :laugh: Lol, that's what I say about Shelties herding sheep, at least my Sheltie - the sheep must just go " ok, ok, we'll go where you want, just shut up!"

Why would she think that? Because there are a whole bunch of cops there and the street is cordoned off? I really don't get the issue, if you get back to your street to cops everywhere and a cordon and they say you can't come through now you go ok, and wait don't you? Maybe if it had been hours you'd try and find out some info buy it doesn't sound like that was the case here, and even then, you don't go around assaulting people.

Oh god, it was that crime seen Certainly don't blame the cops for not prioritising getting that woman to her house right then.

Oh my god. Sometimes I really question my decision to move here! ETA on the plus side, at least she picked up the poo in a bag =/

I really like them as a breed. I haven't known a whole lot of them but I can't actually recall meeting one I didn't like. My friend has a highly spoiled one but he's still a nice little dog :)

OmG stop it! So adorable, I think I may have to add Griffons to my breeds to own one day list

Hahahaha corvus! I find it equally annoying and hilarious :laugh: it was so funny when I was packing up the kitchen to move last December, she was standing up on her hind legs following me around the bench and EVERYTHING I went to pack she would poke or pull like "what's that?" "why are you putting that in there?" "Can I have that?" "Why are you throwing that out?" I'm sure I could hear her saying it!