Small Dogs + Dog Parks

[deltoid]

Those of you with small dogs, how do you socialize them? We try taking ours to the dog park but most times an over excited big dog gets too rough or invades on our our dogs personal spaces and we have to leave.

Today for example. Our two were running around playing happily with the other dogs in the park. Our smallest came over to us for a rest and a big dog followed, she went to hide behind us and the big dog growls and held her down with his teeth. This instantly setoff our other dog who started growling and barking at the big dog so I grabbed him before things escalated. As I did that the big dog let go of our little one and then started jumping at me to get the one I was holding. This went on for a good 30 seconds before the owner came over and grabbed their dog.

After this we decided to leave as the one I picked up was quite worked up and keep growling when he could see the other dog (the other owners didn't leave). We noticed everyone else with a little dog leave too. Luckily our little dog was fine and no damage was done but Bing that she is only 3kg the big dog could have done damage if it wanted to.

It makes us feel bad because it seems to happen too often though that we can't socialise our dogs without a big dog causing a problem.

We socialise our dogs with friends dogs and they go well. It'd just he nice if there was another way.

[Henrietta]

I'm personally not a fan of dog parks. I would keep socialising with trusted friends' dogs. I would also join a training club so you can socialise in a controlled environment. You may meet more like-minded people with dogs that would suit yours. I have many more friends now with dogs than I did when I got my first dog, so now socialisation will not be a big issue for me with my next dog.

[jr_inoz]

Went to a dog park once - never again. Too many idiots who have no idea and don't care at all.

I socialise my girl at a small park with others I know and at training.

[Adnil444]

I'm personally not a fan of dog parks. I would keep socialising with trusted friends' dogs. I would also join a training club so you can socialise in a controlled environment. You may meet more like-minded people with dogs that would suit yours. I have many more friends now with dogs than I did when I got my first dog, so now socialisation will not be a big issue for me with my next dog.

Agree with you - dogs don't need to go to dog parks - there are other ways of exercising and socialising - meeting with a group of friends with their dogs is a great way of socialising as is joining an obedience club. Meet up with other likeminded people and all walk together with your dogs - keeps you and the dogs fit. I'm not a fan of dog parks if they are not segregated - dog parks should have a small dog area and a large dog area in my opinion. I've seen many accidents with small dogs playing with larger dogs and accidents do happen, not to mention any issues of aggression. I've had the opposite, where the small dogs have gone for my larger dogs and that has caused some issues.

[fuzzy82]

I have two small dogs too, and have stopped going to dog parks. I personally don't prioritise socialisation with other dogs, because they have each other and I see no value in running around with unfamiliar dogs. They socialise with other small dogs they know at training classes, but that's about it.

If I only had one dog I would probably look for a small dogs playgroup to let it socialise. If you're in Brisbane there is a poodles in the park playgroup twice a month that welcomes all small dogs. Just google "poodles in the park" and you should find it.

[poodlefan]

I socialise my dogs with the dogs of people I know. That's it.

Public dog parks are way to risky for the little dogs I think. I know that folk have been using them for years without incident but I also know people who've lost small dogs to attacks and it's a risk I'm simply not prepared to take.

I think its the equivalent of expecting your toddler to deal with anything a bunch of 16 year olds are prepared to toss at them. Ah, no.

Edited September 7, 2011 by poodlefan

[Weasels]

I find enclosed dog parks to be largely populated by dogs that haven't had enough training (and sometimes socialisation) to be allowed off-leash otherwise.

OTOH, in my experience open off-leash areas like parks or ovals more often contain dogs that are reliable and well-trained, with only a few cowboys who just let their dog off regardless. I have met some great ppl and dogs in these places

[W Sibs]

I have 2 small dogs. They are socialise with dogs I know but I also take my 2 to the park.

No fence park though.

I don't really let my dogs play with other dogs. They are there to walk around, be around other dogs and people, but don't have to play or acknowleadge them. If a dog rushes over, I do step in front and divert the other dogs attention to me so my dogs are ready for it and it also calms the big dog down.

I also go at a time where I know when it's not busy too.

Edited September 8, 2011 by CW EW

[coogie]

Our local dog park is massive so if you need to get away from rowdy dogs you can,there is also a completely separate small dog area for dogs under a specified height and weight. There are sometimes boisterous large dogs in the main area but not a lot of bad behaviour. I keep a close eye on my dogs and always check who is there when we arrive and who is coming in the gates, so on the off chance one of the few dogs I am not comfortable with my two running with arrive; I can leash up and move away or leave. I find my two do need the socialisation and we don't have a lot of friends nearby with dogs so for us it is important. There has only really been one day when I have left without taking the dogs off their leads - there were a lot of newbies with very large dogs and I just didn't feel comfortable - there was nothing specific just felt wrong. Our two are medium sized so maybe it is not as worrying if your dog is a bit bigger?

Are you able to check out any other local parks?

[deltoid]

I've tried a few parks and same situation. Owners turn up with rowdy dogs and then go off and read the paper instead of watching them.

A small dog dog park would be good. At least if things got out of hand they'd be similar sized dogs

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I have small dogs and consider dogs parks to be way too dangerous. In this area there have been deaths and attacks, not always on small dogs but if it is a large dog then the small dog often dies or gets such a savage mauling it doesn't survive.

Simply not worth it. People don't keep their dogs under control, go there for a gossip and pay no attention, have dogs that get possessive over them, over toys etc, are untrained and so on.

I only socialise my dogs with friends' dogs in safe environments.

[HugL]

I avoid dog parks. Have had too many unsocialized, untrained, aggressive smaller dogs try to attack my big dog. If my boy retaliated, he would be labelled the aggressor due to the size difference and it's just not worth it.

It's a pity that people think good exercise it to turn up at these places and read, use phone, chat and have coffee instead of supervising and watching. It is the perfect opportunity to learn their dog's mannerisms and behaviour and they waste it.

I socialize at dog obedience, shows and while out walking with others who have calm, social dogs.

Could you arrange a doggie afternoon with other DOL'ers that live in the same area. I notice Adelaide have a separate meet for smaller dogs.

[mita]

I also think that the open-slather off-leash dog parks are too dangerous for small dogs. Though the Brisbane City Council has several dog parks where a section is fenced off for small dogs only. I'd like to see all dog parks provide that option.

Overall, I think 'play dates' with other dogs belonging to friends are good in meeting socialisation needs.

[W Sibs]

I must go to the most nicest dog park or something... there are rarely any incident at that park, or not when I'm there anyway.

[megan_]

I must go to the most nicest dog park or something... there are rarely any incident at that park, or not when I'm there anyway.

Same with me. I live in Melbourne - there is no such thing as a dog park here. There are parks that allow dogs to go offleash, but they are shared spaces, with kids playing etc around the dogs. So people with crazy dogs don't last very long.

I have no choice but to use off leash areas (for my well socialised boy, not my girl), otherwise my dog would never get to run off leash (I have no garden at present). On leash walking doesn't provide the same amount of exercise. That said, I only go at quiet times, I leave as soon as the few trouble makers arrive (if they're there when I arrive, I drive to another park) and I leave when - gasp - certain breeds pitch up because they have a different playing style to my boy and are very powerful.

I never walk directly into a park, take off the leash and let him run off. I enter through the quieter entrance, get his focus, take off the leash and then play a game with him. I never let him play with the main "pack" of dogs at the centre of the park either. Often simple precautions ensure the safety of your small dog.

[W Sibs]

I must go to the most nicest dog park or something... there are rarely any incident at that park, or not when I'm there anyway.

Same with me. I live in Melbourne - there is no such thing as a dog park here. There are parks that allow dogs to go offleash, but they are shared spaces, with kids playing etc around the dogs. So people with crazy dogs don't last very long.

I have no choice but to use off leash areas (for my well socialised boy, not my girl), otherwise my dog would never get to run off leash (I have no garden at present). On leash walking doesn't provide the same amount of exercise. That said, I only go at quiet times, I leave as soon as the few trouble makers arrive (if they're there when I arrive, I drive to another park) and I leave when - gasp - certain breeds pitch up because they have a different playing style to my boy and are very powerful.

I never walk directly into a park, take off the leash and let him run off. I enter through the quieter entrance, get his focus, take off the leash and then play a game with him. I never let him play with the main "pack" of dogs at the centre of the park either. Often simple precautions ensure the safety of your small dog.

This is pretty much what I do too. I take Em to the park because she is huge on zoomies and needs a lot of room just to run around and be an idiot. Charlie likes the parks because lizards are bigger at the park and more fun to hunt (he rarely catches them though but he enjoys the hunt)

[**Super_Dogs**]

Like most others - I do not take my dogs to the dog parks. I do not see the need for my dogs to be able to run around and play with random dogs. For me, socialised is my dogs having good doggy manners when greeting other dogs and people on lead.

Your dogs will get far more stimulation and enjoyment from short training activities. It makes them think and they get one on one time. My dogs love there few minutes one on one training time.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

another of the main complaints in the parks around here in summer and after was that people's dogs (who were flea treated) were coming out covered in fleas.

One stupid owner at the local park apparently "doesn't like chemicals" so goes in with her 3 dogs with hairloss and constantly scratching. I'm sorry but I consider that extremely irresponsible and selfish and although it may be a belief she has, it's not doing her dogs any good to be left in that condition either.

[aussielover]

Given the choice (if I had an acerage) I probably wouldn't take my dog to dog parks.

I do not agree with Buddy1- I beleive that some dogs (not all) do need have a free runto burn off some energy and have fun. This doesn't neccessarily mean with other dogs.

At the moment I do take her to dog parks but I'm not keen on her playing with or even interacting with smaller dogs that we don't know. Unfortunately most of the aggressive dogs we encounter are little dogs and really pick on my submissive girl. Its probably not their fault- they may have had bad exeperiences with big dogs and are just acting defensively but all the same I prefer my dog not to go and greet any strange dogs willy nilly.

Having said that, I do trust her judgement her judgement around other dogs.

[HazyWal]

I don't go to dog parks simply because I have greyhounds (muzzled in NSW)and a playful nip to my dogs can result in a gash and stitches.I don't let my dogs offlead anyway as they have pretty much no recall and there is no point upsetting everyone in the offleash park.I'm lucky I have a huge backyard and they can romp around with friends dogs.I think a small dog park or area would be great for smaller dogs although most small dogs I know have the heart of a lion.I have a friend who has a one eyed foxie and she puts the fear of God into my two greyhounds every time she walks in my front door.