My First Scary Dog Park Experience - And It Was My Own Dumb Fault :(

[poodlefan]

I get cross when people make wild generalisations about the useless people at dog parks. I go to dog parks and off leash beaches all the time and you have to expect the unexpected. You have to assume that there will be dogs that will run up to your dogs. You have to assume the owners won't help you if their dog gets up to mischief. I treat them as a series of environmental variables.

Seems to me that based on your own experiences, a conclusion that there are a lot of useless owners frequenting dog parks is not a "wild generalisation".

One person's "environmental variables" are another's "reason to avoid like the plague".

No way in hell would I take a SWF to a general dog park and expect it to be left alone by the large dogs. All it takes is one prey driven dog and one owner with no control and you will be in a world of hurt.

[corvus]

One person's "environmental variables" are another's "reason to avoid like the plague".

But that's the thing. IME even when I expect these things to happen they rarely do. I go a lot. And not just to one dog park. We spontaneously drive to different shires to take the dogs to new dog parks. We just haven't seen a need to worry much. We have made hundreds of visits and I still think they are safer than the streets.

Dog parks aren't suitable for every dog and you have to be sensible. But if you want to use them it's not that big a deal. If we went only to one park at only one time we would see the same people and dogs every time with just the odd addition. That makes for a surprisingly stable socialisation experience. Erik has 6 dogs he has basically grown up meeting every few days at the dog park. They are well socialised dogs that self-handicap to accommodate Erik's size. That's something to be sought out rather than avoided like the plague. My only concern is that they don't meet ENOUGH dogs that don't want to talk to them. Overall, they have much more positive expectations for meeting strange dogs than my last dog who didn't go to dog parks.

[jackie_a1]

I think dog parks are fun! I enjoy watching other dogs playing and romping however IMO I feel some breeds just aren't suited to the dog park regardless of how well socialised and balanced the dog may be. It all comes down to genetics just keep in mind what breed of dog you own and be sensible. You may have tight control over your own dog but the other owners may not and even if they are responsible owners with good knowledge they may not want to see there dog being pinned to the ground or growled at etc.

Razor has been to a few dog parks however he is quite confident and he does have a click switch I don't know when he will click it but I know it's there and I don't think it's fair of me to bring him to a dog park and play Russian Roulette.

But if your dog enjoys the dog park and you know the people and dogs and the settings are familiar and your dog enjoys going then by all means go and have fun.

[Adnil444]

I think dog parks are fun! I enjoy watching other dogs playing and romping however IMO I feel some breeds just aren't suited to the dog park regardless of how well socialised and balanced the dog may be. It all comes down to genetics just keep in mind what breed of dog you own and be sensible. You may have tight control over your own dog but the other owners may not and even if they are responsible owners with good knowledge they may not want to see there dog being pinned to the ground or growled at etc.

Razor has been to a few dog parks however he is quite confident and he does have a click switch I don't know when he will click it but I know it's there and I don't think it's fair of me to bring him to a dog park and play Russian Roulette.

But if your dog enjoys the dog park and you know the people and dogs and the settings are familiar and your dog enjoys going then by all means go and have fun.

I also think dog parks are great fun, however we do have some issues with some small dogs and the bigger dogs - I personally would love to have a divided park for large and small dogs as in my opinion that would stop all issues and everyone then can have a great time.