Prydenjoy

I'd suggest an easy walk coupled with lots of training. Berri used to be highly reactive and pull and lunge at other dogs (he's small, but the problem was still the same). I started at a distance, giving lots and lots of rapid fire rewards when we were in sight of something he would have lunged at. Gradually we could get closer and closer, now he's so much better, if he slips I simply say "watch me" and he gazes into my eyes and ignores whatever it is that would have set him off. Worked a treat, with the help of the easy walk you could manage the strength of your dog in case he slipped, but primarily focus on lots of positive training and you'll get there

Thanks, I think I'm going to need a whole lot more re training than Berri!

Do you lose points for maintaining eye contact with your dog in a trial? We have our first trial next weekend and I just can't seem to function without eye contact! But was told I'm not meant to be looking at the dog, rather should look directly ahead. I really struggle with it, as eye contact is one of my most loved things in obedience.

I would leave before I saw a dog put on a lead, I do understand the park is for the dogs. However I do wish people would put their dogs on a lead when they were bullying other peoples dogs, that is just curtosy. It isn't fair that one person should have to leave because another persons dog isn't behaving itself.

Boosting the immune system may prevent secondary infections though, yeah? Skin problems can lead to all kinds of other problems as one of your bodies natural barriers isn't working. Also, nourishing the system can help repair of damaged skin, yeah? I guess it goes hand in hand nourishing the bodies repair mechanisms and immune system?

I had my suspicions about that... Still cute to boot though. I used to walk an Akita, one of the most magnificant dogs I've ever met.

Made my heart go all fluttery, then made my eyes go all teary ETA: Makes me worry Akita's will become an "in breed" and get into the hands of many a wrong person. They are certainly not a breed for everyone, and "mass production" would be devastating in this breed (as with any breed). I have to admit, the story made me fall in love with the breed, perhaps one day I will own one, but not at least for another 10 - 15 years when Meika is older (I do miss having a big dog and have been looking into all sorts of different breeds for one day when the time comes).

Thanks for the clarification. Berri used to be extremely dog aggressive (fear aggressive), took a lot of hard work to get him out of it!

So true, I find the majority of people, even "doggy" people, don't quite get the need for socialization. Sad, very sad

The saddest thing is that many people buy these pets because they feel sorry for them, thus opening up another spot for another puppy and so the cycle continues. It's hard for people to turn their back on something they feel pity for, but in this case they have to! GAL, very interesting... Nothing like a blatant lie on national TV huh? I'm still stuck at trying to believe or comprehend the fact that they actually allowed registered dog breeding businesses. I mean, seriously, WTF???

What is D.A? Defensive Aggressive or something like that? That's what I've been working on with Berri, building an association between other dogs and lots of goodies. He's come leaps and bounds but other dogs like the one that always tramples him set him back. He doesn't behave aggressively to other dogs like he used to before I started taking him to the park. I went to a quieter park yesterday but there is an un meshed gate (stops the big dogs, not the little houdinis like Berri) into a neighboring paddock full of rabbits, Berri did a runner for a good 40 minutes! Wont be going to that one again, shame, it is a really nice area (might get onto council about that gate). That's the park we first had a run in with that dog, so I stopped going there and he started going to the one we were going to!

There are a lot of area's that are not designated leash free area's that many people allow their dogs off leash (they are right next to the off leash areas) I'm considering using, but on the same note I do have to wonder why they are using these areas instead of the designated ones, are their dogs not well socialised etc... I do wish I could just leave Meika at home and go without her, it would be so much easier!

Oh what a cutie. I would be absolutely devastated if one of my baby's was stolen! Hope he finds his way home soon.

Our pet shop used to just have "for sale" notices on the wall for puppies and kittens etc. They've crossed over to the dark side now, but at least they show pictures of the parents of the pups they sell, and often the picture will be of the mum with her pups all cozy in the house (not looking stressed like they've just been dumped there for a photo). Still, wouldn't those pups be better off all cozy in the house until they find their new homes? Nothing like meeting the parents of the puppy you are just about to bring home!!

There's a pet shop in Tamworth that I get physically ill every time I go there and see the condition the dogs are in. Even the ones kept in better conditions, it's no place for a pup to be, especially right in the peak of its critical socialisation period. Staring at glass all day in such an abnormal, unhomely environment.

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson is a FANTASTIC book full of ways to solve problem behaviors, as well as heaps of ideas for mental stimulation and other preventative measures. Can't recommend it highly enough.

If it's an issue that bothers you and you are working on it then good on you (I admire people who make an effort to manage their dogs behavior), but I hardly think someone should be at a dog park and expect for every single dog there to be trained not to jump. Accidents happen. My guys are <4kg, so I really don't think most people have a problem when they jump up (most people actually encourage it) I was told by someone the other day "It's ok, let Berri keep barking", that is the one thing though that I do try to stop him doing. Not because I have a problem with it, but because I have a problem with other people who seem to think it's their duty to yell at him when he barks.

The only food I bring is for MY doggies I admit it is hard to watch the kids and the dogs closely enough, Mango is a little dream and is usually off lying on her back getting tummy rubs from everyone at the park, or shadowing around the Great Dane which, for some reason, she thinks is the ants pants and he thinks the same of her (I'm sure she'll be stolen by him one day lol, his owner even said, much to her surprise, that she's finally met a little dog that she could take home). Berri is who the food is for, every time a big dog comes near me I feed him - He used to be very posessive of Meika and I but now accepts other dogs crowding around us because he knows it means good things are coming his way. That's why I love the dog park so much, it's helped me get Berri well socialised and friendly. Meanwhile though, Meika is a full of energy toddler who doesn't want to stop, I spend my evening shadowing her around, keeping her out of the dog water etc. I know that kids can be alien like to many dogs, which is why I keep such a close eye on her AND everybody's dogs, reading their body language the whole time. I don't know anybody with dogs and kids that I could do a swap with. My brother lives across the road from the dog park, unfortunately he has mental illness, I can't even go in his house for cigarette ash and broken glass, let alone Meika I'll keep thinking of my options, I know it isn't ideal to have Meika there but the dogs are getting a lot out of it and it's my wind down at the end of each day. Maybe it will have to be a combination of on leash walks, dropping her off to a baby sitter, and taking her to the dog park only occasionally.

It would be good if the MDBA got involved in a follow up story to provide people with a starting point to track down really good, responsible breeders. Not many people know about them, even when buying from a "breeder" most people will just call up about that puppy in the newspaper (hows this, Poodles of all sizes and ages for sale in our local paper last week with an out of town number, does that scream PF or what?).

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park... If they escape the yard and jump on someone walking down the street that is a different matter! My trips to the dog park are for the dogs, not so that the toddler can run an uncontrolled muck. If there is an issue with a dog there jumping on her (which there hasn't been, because I don't make it an issue) I would just leave. I guess if a dog were to be over exhuberant with my baby they would probably be too much for my little dogs anyway. I wish we had a big dog park and a small dog park here, it does feel sometimes like it is predominantly a big dog place.

I agree that it's not whether the pups end up in shelters or not, it's the emotional wellbeing of these pups that concerns me most. Instead of being raised in a family environment for much of their critical socialisation period they are pissing in their beds with little to no human interaction, bred from parents who have undoubtedly not had any form of temperament testing, not to mention health testing. There were a lot of "breeds" in the story that I couldn't even tell if they were supposed to be purebreds of some kind or mongrels, breeding for type and temperament just goes out the window. Steve Austin

Oh I knew that (having a blonde moment...)

Thanks for the bump, I didn't see this thread before. Good point, never thought of that! Probably a silly question, but what is DD?

Wow there are a lot of thought provoking posts from both sides of the story. Just to clarify, if I were to wait until I could go without Meika the dogs would be getting walked once every month or two. If I can go without Meika I do, but it isn't an option, one walk every month or two wouldn't be fair on the dogs! By no means do I expect dogs not to behave as dogs do at a dog park. If Meika gets bowled over she usually gets up laughing and I'll have a laugh with her as I pick her up from the ground. When I used to take her in the stroller she had a cookie on her once or twice and when someones dog stole it no body was concered because that's what dogs do, right? She wont stay in the stroller now though, she screams and crys and just wants to get going, she's not a sedentary toddler, just as the cheeky Paps are not sedentary dogs. I do have issues with one dog that always pins down Berri and makes him cry (the owners just stand there watching), I try to leave when I see that dog come but I usually don't see it until it's barrelling up to the dogs and knocking Berri around. The "gang" that are usually there are fine with Meika, I guess I'm more worried about strange dogs turning up. I'm trying my hardest to socialise the dogs, Berri wasn't as socialised as I'd have liked him to be and I don't want Mango to be the same. Most of the dogs there are fine, but this one dog!! I think I might stop walking there anyway, if not for Meika's sake for Berri's. It's a shame, it's supposed to be a place everyone can enjoy. There are some nice on leash areas that I might consider instead Oh and Berri does have training, he knows not to demand anything from me or he'll get ignored. I have several training sessions with him every day, but he's a chronic escaper. If he gets bored or frustrated he escapes. It's my job to keep him well exercised so that he doesn't find his own entertainment. He is good on leash though, doesn't pull etc. I guess it's me craving the off leash walks as much as them, I just love to see them run around with the wind in their ears :D

I only use the clicker when I am doing specific work with one dog or the other, usually for day to day obedience I'll use a marker word. As for Roxy, just reward her for good behavior as well. If either of them gets jealous and hassles you for the food just IGNORE them, when they stop hassling you reward them for being good. Berri used to bark every day in the car the whole way to the dog park. Now he doesn't let out a squeak. He knows that if he's quiet, every now and again a treat will appear through the side of the crate for him (and I'll slowly and gently say "Good quiet Berri" as it appears). He also knows, when we get there (and he is most excited and used to bark the most) that I do not unbuckle my seat belt, open my car door, open the back door, open the crate door, release him from sitting and waiting in his crate (you get the picture, I'll stop at each point and not move an inch or look at him) unless he is quiet. I don't need a clicker, just me moving vs not moving during getting him out of the car to run with the other dogs is enough of a signal to him that if he is not behaving something had better change or he'll be stuck barking in the car forever. He's great now Hope that makes sense!