Small Dogs + Dog Parks

[Guest Willow]

I don't use them either. I went to a dog park once, and was hassled & followed continually by a large dog whose owner didn't give a stuff about watching it....turns out they were a regular DOLer!!!..you'd have thought they would have known better ;)

My staffy was getting cranky at being flattened every three seconds, and was at the point where he was going to stop playing nicely, and my little guy kept getting bailed up by big dogs, so we left and have never gone back.

They have each other and they have the odd playdate with friends dogs, and they don;t seem any the worse for it. Neither is particularly social anyway.

[megan_]

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.

The two are not mutually exclusive :-).

I also believe my dogs should know how to great other dogs off leash.

Since when is going to an off leash area about playing with random dogs? I go to them and my boy only plays with dogs he knows. He spends most of his time playing and walking with me.

Watch a running dog move, duck, weave etc - they're using a whole different set of muscles.

[wuffles]

One of my dogs definitely needs free running and play with other dogs. She has energy to spare and I can do two one-hour obedience classes with her at dog club and she is still working nicely at the end of it. She needs a physical outlet as well as a mental one.

I can't keep up with her, and my other dog can't keep up with her. She needs to run flat out and the only time she does this is with other dogs. She does get to play with known dogs, and that is my preference, but at times when that is not practical we do go to dog parks. I am hypervigilant and remove ourselves from bad situations immediately.

[deltoid]

Thanks guys, I think we will just socialise them away from dog parks unless we find a small dog one.

Our little one loved it the other day though (only her second time at a dog park). She was exhausted after her 5 minutes playing. She literally slept for close to 12 hours after having the run around. She was so exhausted.

[Fatsofatsoman]

Thanks guys, I think we will just socialise them away from dog parks unless we find a small dog one.

Our little one loved it the other day though (only her second time at a dog park). She was exhausted after her 5 minutes playing. She literally slept for close to 12 hours after having the run around. She was so exhausted.

whereabouts in QLD are you deltoid?

[julesluvscavs]

I dislike doggy parks full stop !

I had the worse traumatic experience years ago at one with my med sized dog, that cost me lots of money, my dog many painful months after and a lot of psychological suffering for me..

I won't got into doggy parks with the Cavs at all. Ok I lied I have been to a couple of doggy meet and greets where I have kept them on their leashes and close to us, but then all the dogs off leashes come up and not always been too friendly.(not all of them of course) but Its just too risky! Owners say they have their dogs under full control still , but yeah right.. not all of them do !

It's just not worth the chance imo. They are too precious to me to take unnecessary risks..

I will let them play off leash with other dogs (at our place or friend's places) if we know them well, and what they are like compatibility wise ..

Edited September 9, 2011 by Jules♥Cavs

[**Super_Dogs**]

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.

Sorry - was not clear as I totally agree dogs must run and play. IMO this does not have to be at a dog park - It can be at home, a park or wherever.

Since when is going to an off leash area about playing with random dogs? I go to them and my boy only plays with dogs he knows. He spends most of his time playing and walking with me.

I did not say that. The OP was talking about her dogs running and playing with other dogs.

The problem with dog parks, like others have mentioned, is those who are not with their dogs like you are, they are not even paying attention to what there dog is doing. Do if something happens the owners are not there to quickly react.

People like dog parks, others don't. It is what best suits you and your dog. IMO there are ways to soclialise your dog other than dog parks.

[mita]

Thanks guys, I think we will just socialise them away from dog parks unless we find a small dog one.

Our little one loved it the other day though (only her second time at a dog park). She was exhausted after her 5 minutes playing. She literally slept for close to 12 hours after having the run around. She was so exhausted.

That is such a good sign that she had a good time. I agree with the person who said that dogs of all sizes need and love a good 'free play'. I hope you're able to find a dog park with a section for the small dogs. If you're in Brisbane, that Council provides several.

You might also be able to locate other owners of small dogs who'd be happy to take part in a play-date in someone's backyard.

[megan_]

buddy1 - I assume that most people refer to a "dog park" as a park that allows dogs offleash - not a special park just for dogs. So if you don't have a big backyard and you want your dog to have a run around, it needs to be at a so-called "dog park".

[**Super_Dogs**]

buddy1 - I assume that most people refer to a "dog park" as a park that allows dogs offleash - not a special park just for dogs. So if you don't have a big backyard and you want your dog to have a run around, it needs to be at a so-called "dog park".

Very true I sometimes forget that some people do not have a suitable yard for their dogs to run and play.

[Kelly_Louise]

I find we have the opposite problem - I don't take my dogs to dog parks because too many people in my area with small dogs seem to think it's okay for their littlies to have no manners, find it funny when they 'bail up' much bigger dogs, and think it's okay for them to not be well trained because 'they can't do much harm they're so small'. But they can... just not in the way most people assume.

[mgardner89]

Having a Chihuahua I understand your problems with some dogs in the park! Our first few visits didn’t end well!

My suggestion is join an agility or flyball or obedience group. This is not only fantastic training for the dog but they socialise as well. You can more often than not count on the other dogs being well behaved (you do get the occasional nut case but my flyball group has been fantastic!)

Play dates with friends dogs you can trust is always good.

If you do want to attempt the dog park I always survey the dog park first before entering – if there are too many big dogs we walk around the outside and Johnny can sniff the dogs through the fence.

Most major cities also have “dog day care centres” which are geared towards small dogs. That is also an option, just make sure you check out their reputation first!

Good luck with socialising!

[Shaar]

I take mine to the dog park in the "off" times. I know just before 5pm and around school knock off time it is usually dead so that's when we go.

If I do encounter another dog at the park I usually do a bit of a lap around it before going in. I watch the other dogs interacting and if I think they are too boisterous or do not like the way they are behaving I simply don't go in.

I only take older dogs to the park, younger pups socializing time is spent sitting outside cafes in town, we have a bakery right outside our local supermarket so that is perfect for the pup to sit and watch everyone go by.

[fuzzy82]

Having a Chihuahua I understand your problems with some dogs in the park! Our first few visits didn’t end well!

My suggestion is join an agility or flyball or obedience group. This is not only fantastic training for the dog but they socialise as well. You can more often than not count on the other dogs being well behaved (you do get the occasional nut case but my flyball group has been fantastic!)

Play dates with friends dogs you can trust is always good.

If you do want to attempt the dog park I always survey the dog park first before entering – if there are too many big dogs we walk around the outside and Johnny can sniff the dogs through the fence.

Most major cities also have “dog day care centres” which are geared towards small dogs. That is also an option, just make sure you check out their reputation first!

Good luck with socialising!

I'm sure for a lot of clubs that's true, but I do both agility and flyball with one of mine, at two different clubs. In agility, our group has no other small dogs, and my dog doesn't really like big dogs. In our flyball group there are several ACD's, all of which are dodgy with all other dogs, several neurotic BC's, and a semi-aggressive standard poodle (I suspect it's really just prey drive gone over the top). The only other dogs I will let her socialise with are the other two small dogs in the group, and while training there isn't much time for it and when we finish they both want to go home because they are both owned by older people.

I guess I've just been unlucky. My other dog finds dogs to socialise with in our obedience classes though.

[wuffles]

Having a Chihuahua I understand your problems with some dogs in the park! Our first few visits didnt end well!

My suggestion is join an agility or flyball or obedience group. This is not only fantastic training for the dog but they socialise as well. You can more often than not count on the other dogs being well behaved (you do get the occasional nut case but my flyball group has been fantastic!)

Play dates with friends dogs you can trust is always good.

If you do want to attempt the dog park I always survey the dog park first before entering if there are too many big dogs we walk around the outside and Johnny can sniff the dogs through the fence.

Most major cities also have dog day care centres which are geared towards small dogs. That is also an option, just make sure you check out their reputation first!

Good luck with socialising!

I'm sure for a lot of clubs that's true, but I do both agility and flyball with one of mine, at two different clubs. In agility, our group has no other small dogs, and my dog doesn't really like big dogs. In our flyball group there are several ACD's, all of which are dodgy with all other dogs, several neurotic BC's, and a semi-aggressive standard poodle (I suspect it's really just prey drive gone over the top). The only other dogs I will let her socialise with are the other two small dogs in the group, and while training there isn't much time for it and when we finish they both want to go home because they are both owned by older people.

I guess I've just been unlucky. My other dog finds dogs to socialise with in our obedience classes though.

Yep. While I agree in principle that dog clubs SHOULD be better places for socialising your dogs, unfortunately I haven't found this to be the case. We have had more serious incidents at dog club or even obedience trials than at dog parks.

The best thing about dog clubs, IMO, is meeting similar-minded owners with similar-minded dogs that you can meet with both in class and out of hours.

I think the key to socialisation is vigilance and common sense, and the realisation that things can go wrong no matter what the situation.

Edited September 9, 2011 by wuffles

[mgardner89]

I think I am pretty lucky with my flyball group.

There is only one border collie. All the other dogs are mixes and there are quite a few smaller dogs. Must just be the area.

I’ve seen huge benefit in my club because Johnny has gone from a shy and sometimes aggressive dog to a confident, happy and totally different dog. It is simply a suggestion as it has worked for me.

Obviously you need to assess things for yourself and I am not saying all groups are like mine.

[wuffles]

I think I am pretty lucky with my flyball group.

There is only one border collie. All the other dogs are mixes and there are quite a few smaller dogs. Must just be the area.

I’ve seen huge benefit in my club because Johnny has gone from a shy and sometimes aggressive dog to a confident, happy and totally different dog. It is simply a suggestion as it has worked for me.

Obviously you need to assess things for yourself and I am not saying all groups are like mine.

I don't deny that dog sports are great to get into for various reasons!

[mgardner89]

They really are - Johnny even got a dog cake for his birthday lol!

[Alkhe]

I take my toy poodle to a few off leash parks (which I call dog parks, but are just off lead ovals etc) and if there are dogs there that I don't know or look like they're playing too boisterously for mine, we just walk around. She's quite happy to just run and play and walk with me, anyway. However my dog is now far, far more confident than when I got her, and that is a lot to do with a few owners and dogs in particular, who were great with my dog. Gentle, patient, etc.

I would also suggest investigating obedience school - the main reason we started going there is for socialisation also, and there all dogs are under control. That also worked wonders for my dog.

[ZAUBISTAR]

I have high energy dogs, but I don't take them to off lead parks to socialize. Mostly I'll take them when things are quiet and just one at a time, play a game then go home and swap dogs. If someone else is there we just simply walk past and go to the other end of the park. I don't expect my dog to take it's focus off me, if it does then it's back on lead and we go.

My other exercise is the occasional jog of a few km's or a long bush walk, both on lead.

If your dog enjoys fetch then you can usually get a pretty good work out in a small area with total focus from your dog. I wouldn't try it at a populated dog park though in case possession issues came into play.

Best of luck with it