Dogs Playing With Dogs

[corvus]

So... you're saying that you think your dogs obeying you around distractions has nothing to do with how much they value you? That's it's nothing to do with how exciting or rewarding hanging out with you is?

No. I'm saying that my dogs obeying me around distractions they value more than me is conditioning. Rewards are a fairly integral part of attractive conditioning, so I must be rewarding to my dogs. I've been so rewarding in such a variety of situations that they don't even think about whether it would be a good idea for them to come and hang out with me when I call them. They just do it. Conditioning and "value" for a reward are not the same thing.

Although as I did point out a couple of posts ago, Daisy bounced back very well after being attacked (grabbed by the throat, pinned to the ground and shaken) by another dog the other night, so perhaps I don't need to take her to the dog park every single day and expose her to loads of strange dogs in order for her to have a stable view about other dogs.

No need to get dramatic. I didn't say anything about needs or visiting dog parks every single day. You said you failed to see the benefit and I told you what I thought the benefit was. Whether you think that benefit is worth the risk or not is up to you. I have access to a lot of good dog parks and off leash beaches, so my risk assessment is going to be different to others'.

Some people seem to think that their dog must be able to play with any strange dog. I think that is an unhealthy view, because it ignores the individual personality of your dog and forcing a dog to socialise when they don't want to is cruel and counter-productive. On the other hand, I know people that think along those lines because of the environments their dogs spend the most time in. If they regularly are thrown in with a lot of strange dogs, then yeah, it's a really good idea that they should find playing with dogs rewarding, or at least be able to politely tell another dog that they do or don't want to play. Otherwise, I think dogs should be given the opportunity to learn to like playing with dogs, the same way I think my dogs ought to be encouraged to learn to like swimming. There are benefits if your dog likes it. If your dog doesn't, then IMO it's often not worth trying to teach them to like it. Like the OP, I'm a bit mystified with the notion that a dog must enjoy playing with other dogs. Maybe they think that playing is the epitome of happiness and if their dog won't play he's not happy.

[shoemonster]

I know what my dogs would choose to do for fun if I put a flyball ring next to a dog park lol,

I would rather my dogs be comfortbale but not interact closely with other dogs, due to past bad experiences and also the dog sport (and I do not believe they are deprived in any way)

[alpha bet]

These days I'm not interested in having either of my dogs play with other dogs. A greeting is OK and I expect them to be polite to other dogs given that they are around others every day of the week, but I don't want them to play, I want them focussed on me.

BUT.........More and more lately I been wondering why is there this fixation with having dogs 'play' with each other? Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs the don't know and what is the benefit in it?

Why? A whole host of reasons.

1. Because its good for them..... When they know how to play watch the fun they have.

2. Because they need to develop skills to deal with OUR world......

Wild dogs would naturally be suspicious of strangers especially on their territory (humans and dogs). Learning proper social skills teaches dogs how to compromise.

3. Because its good for their health.....

Im sure that future studies (once they get going) will prove that dogs who can play well are fitter and healthier both mentally and physically. Prior to any scientific studies we only have the actual case history of experienced dog handlers and trainers to go by.

4. Because its good for their owners.....

Let the owners learn how to socialise their dogs properly and the dogs and humans will have a better relationship together and the owners will spend more good times with their pooches.

5. Because you can use play to develop better focus.....

learn how to incorporate play into your training and your dog's focus will shift to you as the major player in his games. Like with kids in a playground they all want to hang out with the cool guy. So you learn to be the cool guy.

6. Because it releases stress.....

dogs who have "emotional" issues tend to have them because humans tend to pander to them. If a dog has a bad experience he needs the chance to work thru it and come out the other side more confident. I have had many dogs (of varied ages) learn to be more relaxed by developing their play skills.

I don't mean to go on. However this is my specialist subject and I am passionate about it.

Most of the time you take dogs out and about (yes even to dog parks) and they have a great time. Yes, sometimes they can have a bad experience but this is something the owner needs to develop skills to deal with or even prevent.

Sometimes people feel that two dogs having rough play is aggression.... and step in and panic creating more stress to what could be a normal situation for the dog. Often in fact dogs have a tendancy in a group to exhibit "social conflict" which is a normal dog behaviour of teaching each other when the boundaries have been pushed to far.

The trick is that the owners need the skills to interpret when to step in and when to count to three and let it play out.

More social classes needed that are geared to the owners learning.

[huski]

Most of the time you take dogs out and about (yes even to dog parks) and they have a great time. Yes, sometimes they can have a bad experience but this is something the owner needs to develop skills to deal with or even prevent.

How does one develop skills to deal with or prevent a serious dog attack? Sure you can learn how to ready body language to see the warning signs but unfortunately you cannot control the actions of irresponsible or naive dog owners that often frequent dog parks.

To give you an example - I had my puppy at the dog park. A woman came in with her rotty. He immediately came up to my puppy and grabbed him by the throat, pinned him to the ground and shook him - it happened in a split second and there was no way to have intervened in time even if the rotty had displayed body language that had set off warning bells.

Now I know better, I avoid areas where unknown dogs run free like dog parks because despite being more dog savvy than the average person I still cannot control other owners or their dogs.

I agree that we need to get owners in situations where they can learn to read doggy body language more effectively, but I don't think this will happen simply taking your dog to the dog park - owners need someone to educate them and organised socialisation or play date classes run by a professional could be an answer to this. I don't think simply telling people to go to the dog park is the answer. Spend one day at the local dog parks around me and you will agree you have probably never before met so many dog owners with such scary inability to read dog body language.

Edited March 18, 2010 by huski

[Golden Rules]

These days I'm not interested in having either of my dogs play with other dogs. A greeting is OK and I expect them to be polite to other dogs given that they are around others every day of the week, but I don't want them to play, I want them focussed on me.

BUT.........More and more lately I been wondering why is there this fixation with having dogs 'play' with each other? Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs the don't know and what is the benefit in it?

Why? A whole host of reasons.

1. Because its good for them..... When they know how to play watch the fun they have.

2. Because they need to develop skills to deal with OUR world......

Wild dogs would naturally be suspicious of strangers especially on their territory (humans and dogs). Learning proper social skills teaches dogs how to compromise.

3. Because its good for their health.....

Im sure that future studies (once they get going) will prove that dogs who can play well are fitter and healthier both mentally and physically. Prior to any scientific studies we only have the actual case history of experienced dog handlers and trainers to go by.

4. Because its good for their owners.....

Let the owners learn how to socialise their dogs properly and the dogs and humans will have a better relationship together and the owners will spend more good times with their pooches.

5. Because you can use play to develop better focus.....

learn how to incorporate play into your training and your dog's focus will shift to you as the major player in his games. Like with kids in a playground they all want to hang out with the cool guy. So you learn to be the cool guy.

6. Because it releases stress.....

dogs who have "emotional" issues tend to have them because humans tend to pander to them. If a dog has a bad experience he needs the chance to work thru it and come out the other side more confident. I have had many dogs (of varied ages) learn to be more relaxed by developing their play skills.

I don't mean to go on. However this is my specialist subject and I am passionate about it.

Most of the time you take dogs out and about (yes even to dog parks) and they have a great time. Yes, sometimes they can have a bad experience but this is something the owner needs to develop skills to deal with or even prevent.

Sometimes people feel that two dogs having rough play is aggression.... and step in and panic creating more stress to what could be a normal situation for the dog. Often in fact dogs have a tendancy in a group to exhibit "social conflict" which is a normal dog behaviour of teaching each other when the boundaries have been pushed to far.

The trick is that the owners need the skills to interpret when to step in and when to count to three and let it play out.

More social classes needed that are geared to the owners learning.

Great post!!

I agree that we need to get owners in situations where they can learn to read doggy body language more effectively, but I don't think this will happen simply taking your dog to the dog park - owners need someone to educate them and organised socialisation or play date classes run by a professional could be an answer to this. I don't think simply telling people to go to the dog park is the answer. Spend one day at the local dog parks around me and you will agree you have probably never before met so many dog owners with such scary inability to read dog body language.

You seem to be focusing on 'dog parks', you had a bad experience there so you have cut them out of your life (and your dog's) forever? Do you never go anywhere else where there are strange dogs off lead? Eg a dog beach?

I had my little Norwich Terrier attacked by a big dog the minute we got out of the car at the river. I didn't even see the big dog coming. She wasn't hurt thankfully, but my approach was not to avoid the river forever and always, but rather immediately find some friendlier dogs down there for my little one to have a positive interaction and experience with. She was nervous to start with but came round quickly and appeared to forget all about the unfortunate incident with the big dog.

This part of the river is an off leash area for dogs, it's always busy in summer and few dogs are really under control but there are very few incidences of dog aggression. In fact I have never seen it, have only heard of it from other users. It doesn't stop anyone from returning to the river with their dog either, I see many different regulars there on different days and always new people as well.

Same goes for the dog beach - which is actually busier and dogs running amok. Never any incidences of dog aggression. I'm sure it must happen occasionally but the owner of the aggressor would be loath to return, such would be the wrath of all the other dogowners

I do think owners are sometimes more anxious about certain things than their dogs are, or the anxiety is transferred to the dogs.

[huski]

You seem to be focusing on 'dog parks', you had a bad experience there so you have cut them out of your life (and your dog's) forever? Do you never go anywhere else where there are strange dogs off lead? Eg a dog beach?

Not just one bad experience... dozens over a four year period (at more than just one dog park).

You will find I am not alone in feeling dog parks are accidents waiting to happen. Perhaps it's not so bad if you are at a big dog beach or a large, unfenced dog park but the ones in my area and the majority of the dog parks in Brisbane are small fenced areas where you can get up to dozens of dogs running together in a small enclosed space at one time.

I have no choice with one of my dogs - he has lasting behaviourial issues from too many bad experiences at the dog park and taking him to one is only ever an option if it is empty.

The only time I set foot near a dog park is at the occasional DOL meet or if they are totally empty. They are not worth the risk IMO. I have a dog who will be dog aggressive forever because of a few "bad experiences" at our local dog park.

We don't really have many dog beaches around here - I get nervous taking my dogs anywhere that large numbers of strange, off leash dogs frequent. If I were to take them somewhere like a dog beach I would probably try and go at a time that's likely to be less busy.

I had my little Norwich Terrier attacked by a big dog the minute we got out of the car at the river. I didn't even see the big dog coming. She wasn't hurt thankfully, but my approach was not to avoid the river forever and always, but rather immediately find some friendlier dogs down there for my little one to have a positive interaction and experience with. She was nervous to start with but came round quickly and appeared to forget all about the unfortunate incident with the big dog.

This part of the river is an off leash area for dogs, it's always busy in summer and few dogs are really under control but there are very few incidences of dog aggression. In fact I have never seen it, have only heard of it from other users. It doesn't stop anyone from returning to the river with their dog either, I see many different regulars there on different days and always new people as well.

Same goes for the dog beach - which is actually busier and dogs running amok. Never any incidences of dog aggression. I'm sure it must happen occasionally but the owner of the aggressor would be loath to return, such would be the wrath of all the other dogowners

Unfortunately that's not the case at any of my local dog parks. Fights, attacks, incidents of aggression are not uncommon or rare and happen frequently. Daisy was attacked at obedience club last week and I am hardly going to avoid going down there (have been there twice since it happened already) because I know the likelihood of it happening again is rare. That is not the case at my local dog park.

One of the only times I took Daisy into my local dog park, a regular's large dog would not stop humping her and biting her on the neck. He chased her around the park trying to do so, even as I was trying to put her leash on so we could leave. She was obviously not enjoying herself at all because the dog would not leave her alone, irregardless of how many times she'd snap at him for mounting her. The owner didn't give a shit. The owner takes the dog down there almost every day, it's just one example of the kind of people who use our local parks and their complete disregard for their dog's behaviour.

Another example of a different dog park also in my area - a man came into the park with a small BC and all the regular dogs immediately flocked to the gate to "greet" it. The poor BC was so scared by the six large dogs crowding over her that she snapped at them to get back. The group of dogs retaliated by attacking her all at once. The owners of the large dogs blamed the owner of the BC for it snapping first (even though it was because their dogs were intimidating her and had zero manners). One of the owners even started kicking the BC as it started trying to defend itself. The poor bloody dog didn't even have a chance to get into the gate before all the "regulars" dogs ripped into her - fights breaking out at the gate of the park is hardly uncommon and something I've seen happen literally dozens of times over the years.

I do think owners are sometimes more anxious about certain things than their dogs are, or the anxiety is transferred to the dogs.

Seeing your dog ripped into by other dogs on more than one occasion can do that to an owner. A dog was killed by another dog at our local dog park once, you can bet that woman is hardly going to be comfortable going near them ever again.

Edited March 18, 2010 by huski

[Kavik]

Yep there was a death at my local park too - didn't see it but heard about it - Dachsy gotten by a Malamute.

[Odin-Genie]

Yep there was a death at my local park too - didn't see it but heard about it - Dachsy gotten by a Malamute.

Is that a recent incident? I didn't hear about it.

[Mas1981]

These days I'm not interested in having either of my dogs play with other dogs. A greeting is OK and I expect them to be polite to other dogs given that they are around others every day of the week, but I don't want them to play, I want them focussed on me.

BUT.........More and more lately I been wondering why is there this fixation with having dogs 'play' with each other? Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs the don't know and what is the benefit in it?

Why? A whole host of reasons.

1. Because its good for them..... When they know how to play watch the fun they have.

2. Because they need to develop skills to deal with OUR world......

Wild dogs would naturally be suspicious of strangers especially on their territory (humans and dogs). Learning proper social skills teaches dogs how to compromise.

3. Because its good for their health.....

Im sure that future studies (once they get going) will prove that dogs who can play well are fitter and healthier both mentally and physically. Prior to any scientific studies we only have the actual case history of experienced dog handlers and trainers to go by.

4. Because its good for their owners.....

Let the owners learn how to socialise their dogs properly and the dogs and humans will have a better relationship together and the owners will spend more good times with their pooches.

5. Because you can use play to develop better focus.....

learn how to incorporate play into your training and your dog's focus will shift to you as the major player in his games. Like with kids in a playground they all want to hang out with the cool guy. So you learn to be the cool guy.

6. Because it releases stress.....

dogs who have "emotional" issues tend to have them because humans tend to pander to them. If a dog has a bad experience he needs the chance to work thru it and come out the other side more confident. I have had many dogs (of varied ages) learn to be more relaxed by developing their play skills.

I don't mean to go on. However this is my specialist subject and I am passionate about it.

Most of the time you take dogs out and about (yes even to dog parks) and they have a great time. Yes, sometimes they can have a bad experience but this is something the owner needs to develop skills to deal with or even prevent.

Sometimes people feel that two dogs having rough play is aggression.... and step in and panic creating more stress to what could be a normal situation for the dog. Often in fact dogs have a tendancy in a group to exhibit "social conflict" which is a normal dog behaviour of teaching each other when the boundaries have been pushed to far.

The trick is that the owners need the skills to interpret when to step in and when to count to three and let it play out.

More social classes needed that are geared to the owners learning.

Great post!!

I agree that we need to get owners in situations where they can learn to read doggy body language more effectively, but I don't think this will happen simply taking your dog to the dog park - owners need someone to educate them and organised socialisation or play date classes run by a professional could be an answer to this. I don't think simply telling people to go to the dog park is the answer. Spend one day at the local dog parks around me and you will agree you have probably never before met so many dog owners with such scary inability to read dog body language.

You seem to be focusing on 'dog parks', you had a bad experience there so you have cut them out of your life (and your dog's) forever? Do you never go anywhere else where there are strange dogs off lead? Eg a dog beach?

I had my little Norwich Terrier attacked by a big dog the minute we got out of the car at the river. I didn't even see the big dog coming. She wasn't hurt thankfully, but my approach was not to avoid the river forever and always, but rather immediately find some friendlier dogs down there for my little one to have a positive interaction and experience with. She was nervous to start with but came round quickly and appeared to forget all about the unfortunate incident with the big dog.

This part of the river is an off leash area for dogs, it's always busy in summer and few dogs are really under control but there are very few incidences of dog aggression. In fact I have never seen it, have only heard of it from other users. It doesn't stop anyone from returning to the river with their dog either, I see many different regulars there on different days and always new people as well.

Same goes for the dog beach - which is actually busier and dogs running amok. Never any incidences of dog aggression. I'm sure it must happen occasionally but the owner of the aggressor would be loath to return, such would be the wrath of all the other dogowners

I do think owners are sometimes more anxious about certain things than their dogs are, or the anxiety is transferred to the dogs.

I agree with you GR, Mason was attacked at our off lead dog park in our area, I was a bit nervous to go back but 2 days later I took him back, he wasnt at all nervous or worried etc and went in quite happily, I think I was more nervous than he was!! I dont think his bad experience has had a lasting impact on him at all because I kept socialising him with other dogs ( granted they were dogs I knew) and I dont mind him playing with strange dogs now but it depends on the breed. For example I feel much happier letting him play with spaniels, retrievers and terriers than I do about letting him play with huskys any of the bull breeds or staffys.

[huski]

I agree with you GR, Mason was attacked at our off lead dog park in our area, I was a bit nervous to go back but 2 days later I took him back, he wasnt at all nervous or worried etc and went in quite happily, I think I was more nervous than he was!! I dont think his bad experience has had a lasting impact on him at all because I kept socialising him with other dogs ( granted they were dogs I knew) and I dont mind him playing with strange dogs now but it depends on the breed. For example I feel much happier letting him play with spaniels, retrievers and terriers than I do about letting him play with huskys any of the bull breeds or staffys.

I think with Micha, had it been a one off attack, he might have been ok in the long run - although he was attacked at a critical stage in his development (five months of age) and it happened on a number of occasions from then on over a lengthy period of time. We were told to keep socialising him so he could learn to hold his own with the dogs who would attack or dominate him, this just made his behaviour worse. By the time he starting displaying aggression taking him to the dog park just gave him opportunity to learn aggression was the way to get in first, so the aggression was reinforced.

The reason I think Daisy bounced back from her attack last week is because she's three years old and already has a stable view of other dogs. Micha learnt from an early age on more than one occasion that other dogs would attack or dominate him and that they were something to be feared.

I've met dogs who were attacked badly as puppies, usually in their first fear period, who then became fear aggressive almost instantly... more "socialisation" at the dog park made them worse not better.

[~*Shell*~]

Yep there was a death at my local park too - didn't see it but heard about it - Dachsy gotten by a Malamute.

Is that a recent incident? I didn't hear about it.

One happened at a local dog park here too - a large mix breed dog was playing with other large dogs and a 4 month old toy poodle x got caught in the middle. The mix breed grabbed it by the neck and killed it. There was no growling or posturing, it was done in play but it only took a few seconds of the owners not watching. The puppy was in the park with it's 17 year old (first time) owner who was on her phone at the time and who didn't realise what was happening.

Sadly, the mixed breed belonged to a girl I worked with (I was working with Zero outside the fenced off-leash area and saw it happen). They were threatened with legal action and had to pay for the price of the puppy (which of course, the owners said they spent $3000 for a pedigree "moodle") - their dog ended up with a dangerous dog order out on it which they contested and eventually had lifted.

I don't let Zero play with strange dogs - he's not the biggest "playing" dog but he now does enjoy playing occasionally. He has about 10 dogs that I'll allow him to play with and all of them, I trust him to be off leash around. I don't encourage him or push him to play but I also don't stop it if the mood strikes him with those dogs. It usually only happens for a few seconds.

[Serket]

Gypsy LOVES to play with other dogs and I think that it's important for her to interact with other dogs and people as she's an 'only dog'.

Having said that, she has particular friends at obedience/agility/dogs belonging to friends who she plays with. She would love to play with absolutely any dog she met, I'm sure, but she also has enough focus and attention to work while in the presence of dogs she'd love to play with and only plays when she's allowed to/when it's appropriate.

At agility quite often in between our runs she plays wrestling and chasey with a kelpie friend of hers - and as soon as it's our turn, she's back to focusing on the task at hand. I think training the focus/ability to switch between play mode and work mode is important - I think it's sad if a dog is never allowed to interact with other dogs in case it 'ruins' their training.

I'm not saying dogs should play and be allowed to play anywhere, any time, with any dog they see - of course not. But play with other dogs, generally speaking, is something I see as a very positive thing. Gypsy and I do play "rough" (it looks rough, but isn't) but I'm not a substitute for another dog, I'm not going to want to run around madly chasing/being chased, or play other 'doggy' games, why shouldn't she interact with her own species? She loves it, she's much, much happier for being allowed to do it. It doesn't cause us any problems in training - because from a very early age I made sure to practice switching 'modes'

And I'm not even touching the issue of dog parks.

[16Paws]

Our pup was attacked by a dog at an off-leash park when she was younger and we have never returned to that park. Not just because of this particular incident but from the talk in the park at the time, aggressive dogs were quite a common occurrence there. It is also very busy and I feel that the more dogs there are the more chances of an incident happening.

Our lab pup adores other dogs but we keep her away from dogs that we're not familiar with for everyone's safety. We are lucky enough to have met some very nice 'regulars' at our local dog park and we are more than happy to let our dogs have a play session with these dogs when there are no other strange dogs around.

In the first few months we had our lab, we took her daily to the local off-leash park before hours (i.e 5am) where she was BFF with a cattle dog a few months older. I could have cried at how beautiful they were together, she has never played with another dog like she did with the ACD, she could spot her and her owner before we could see a spec in the distance and would wait patiently at the gate. ACD’s owner told us that he always knew when we were there as his dog would make a very determined beeline for the off-leash area.

Isn’t it a bit like having a child (which I don’t) and not letting them attend birthday parties or play with their friends on the weekend. Sure they might get used to the routine and entertaining themselves but this doesn’t mean they wouldn’t get enjoyment and fulfilment from those other activities. I’m talking about my own dogs here, I don’t have any experience with working dogs/farm dogs/sports dogs.

[sallyandtex]

It's strange, but my sibling pups seem a bit "racist"

Given a group, they are attracted to certain breeds, even tones of another dog!

One is bigger and brown, and goes for the more chunky, and brownish.

One is classic dark brown Kelpie-ish and goes for similar to play!

(But they always try to catch the whippets if they are around LOL)

I try to go when there is only a small number, and they really enjoy playing those other than themselves.

[RottPerth]

Because dogs need to be dogs. When they play wrestle and chase each other around, it's something that humans can't give them which they absolutely love doing. My dogs have all loved swimming, without going to a public dog area they would never be able to swim. To take them to the public swimming areas they need to be socialised with other dogs

[huski]

Isn’t it a bit like having a child (which I don’t) and not letting them attend birthday parties or play with their friends on the weekend. Sure they might get used to the routine and entertaining themselves but this doesn’t mean they wouldn’t get enjoyment and fulfilment from those other activities. I’m talking about my own dogs here, I don’t have any experience with working dogs/farm dogs/sports dogs.

Not really... my dog doesn't find other dogs all that interesting and will rarely play with other dogs, there are many things that she finds more enjoyable and fulfilling. There are SO many things our dogs can get enjoyment from than just playing with other dogs.

I could use the same argument for people who don't do dog sports - why not when the dog finds it so enjoyable, aren't their dogs missing out on something great too? In reality many dogs don't do much more than laze around at home and go for the odd walk, that doesn't mean their lives are any less enjoyable or fulfilling than a dog who is trained every day and competes in dog sports and is always being taken out and about - or that the dog that doesn't do any dog sports isn't "happy".

[huski]

Because dogs need to be dogs. When they play wrestle and chase each other around, it's something that humans can't give them which they absolutely love doing.

We can still play with and engage our dogs... I play with my dogs everyday

[RottPerth]

Because dogs need to be dogs. When they play wrestle and chase each other around, it's something that humans can't give them which they absolutely love doing.

We can still play with and engage our dogs... I play with my dogs everyday

I play with my dogs too, but they both really enjoy the rough play with other dogs, which wouldn't be a good thing to encourage with humans. Not all dogs like this, but for the ones that do, I think why not let them have their fun

[Nic oh lah]

Isn’t it a bit like having a child (which I don’t) and not letting them attend birthday parties or play with their friends on the weekend. Sure they might get used to the routine and entertaining themselves but this doesn’t mean they wouldn’t get enjoyment and fulfilment from those other activities. I’m talking about my own dogs here, I don’t have any experience with working dogs/farm dogs/sports dogs.

Not really... my dog doesn't find other dogs all that interesting and will rarely play with other dogs, there are many things that she finds more enjoyable and fulfilling. There are SO many things our dogs can get enjoyment from than just playing with other dogs.

I could use the same argument for people who don't do dog sports - why not when the dog finds it so enjoyable, aren't their dogs missing out on something great too? In reality many dogs don't do much more than laze around at home and go for the odd walk, that doesn't mean their lives are any less enjoyable or fulfilling than a dog who is trained every day and competes in dog sports and is always being taken out and about - or that the dog that doesn't do any dog sports isn't "happy".

Also just want to point out that having met Huski's Daisy, shes a happy well adjusted little dog, and definately the apple of her mumma's eye (-: She'll happily have a sniff and lick with my GSD Sophie, she's a curious little munchkin!

She's a really happy little dog, you can just tell. For example at training so many dogs are straining like moron's trying to play with other dogs or getting frustrated at waiting (like mine - LOL) but Daisy is happy go lucky, I held onto her for 5mins while Huski went up to pay and again she was happy enough, wagging tail and smelling all the nummy smells.

I just don't want anyone insinuating that Huski is somewhat depriving her dogs for not having them down at a park regularly because from what i've seen of Daisy as an example she's such a happy little doggie and a real credit to Huski.

Edited March 19, 2010 by NicGSDlover

[RottPerth]

Isn’t it a bit like having a child (which I don’t) and not letting them attend birthday parties or play with their friends on the weekend. Sure they might get used to the routine and entertaining themselves but this doesn’t mean they wouldn’t get enjoyment and fulfilment from those other activities. I’m talking about my own dogs here, I don’t have any experience with working dogs/farm dogs/sports dogs.

Not really... my dog doesn't find other dogs all that interesting and will rarely play with other dogs, there are many things that she finds more enjoyable and fulfilling. There are SO many things our dogs can get enjoyment from than just playing with other dogs.

I could use the same argument for people who don't do dog sports - why not when the dog finds it so enjoyable, aren't their dogs missing out on something great too? In reality many dogs don't do much more than laze around at home and go for the odd walk, that doesn't mean their lives are any less enjoyable or fulfilling than a dog who is trained every day and competes in dog sports and is always being taken out and about - or that the dog that doesn't do any dog sports isn't "happy".

Also just want to point out that having met Huski's Daisy, shes a happy well adjusted little dog, and definately the apple of her mumma's eye (-: She'll happily have a sniff and lick with my GSD Sophie, she's a curious little munchkin!

She's a really happy little dog, you can just tell. For example at training so many dogs are straining like moron's trying to play with other dogs or getting frustrated at waiting (like mine - LOL) but Daisy is happy go lucky, I held onto her for 5mins while Huski went up to pay and again she was happy enough, wagging tail and smelling all the nummy smells.

I just don't want anyone insinuating that Huski is somewhat depriving her dogs for not having them down at a park regularly because from what i've seen of Daisy as an example she's such a happy little doggie and a real credit to Huski.

If Daisy is doing what she enjoys, then that's all that matters. All dogs enjoy different activities. You wouldn't want to force a dog to go to dog parks if they don't like it. I only take them because they love going, if they didn't enjoy it I wouldn't take them.