Grrrr...idiots At Off Leash Dog Only Parks

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

So a couple of you are using the fenced dog parks because you don't have reliable recall yet. And this is where the trouble begins.

Even a whippet can have a classically conditioned recall.

I guess it's obvious that fully fenced dog parks are going to attract owners that don't quite have control over their dogs and may or may not be paying attention or close enough to intervene when something goes wrong.

And the agility equipment - I'm not allowed to use the agility equipment at our club unless I'm "supervised" by an instructor for insurance reasons. And the jumps are designed to fall if a dog hits one, the tunnels are mostly made of soft stuff, so if the dog connects with their shoulder on entry they're not hurt and similar deal with the weave poles, they flex if a dog hits them. Not so the stuff they've put in at our local fully fenced dog park (dogs on lead are allowed too and children and families having picnics on the ground (ARRGGHHH)).

And the benches they've put in there have dog paw traps ie just the right spacing of slats to catch and trap a dog paw should they jump up on the bench. And then there's the grass seeds, weeds, dirt, dust, mud, and taps for the water bowls that require superman to operate. I sent a very long detailed email to the man at our council who is responsible for sorting such things. I'm hoping council can get the contractor and consultant to give their money back or fix it.

[Juddabug Whippets]

So a couple of you are using the fenced dog parks because you don't have reliable recall yet. And this is where the trouble begins.

Even a whippet can have a classically conditioned recall.

I guess it's obvious that fully fenced dog parks are going to attract owners that don't quite have control over their dogs and may or may not be paying attention or close enough to intervene when something goes wrong.

And the agility equipment - I'm not allowed to use the agility equipment at our club unless I'm "supervised" by an instructor for insurance reasons. And the jumps are designed to fall if a dog hits one, the tunnels are mostly made of soft stuff, so if the dog connects with their shoulder on entry they're not hurt and similar deal with the weave poles, they flex if a dog hits them. Not so the stuff they've put in at our local fully fenced dog park (dogs on lead are allowed too and children and families having picnics on the ground (ARRGGHHH)).

And the benches they've put in there have dog paw traps ie just the right spacing of slats to catch and trap a dog paw should they jump up on the bench. And then there's the grass seeds, weeds, dirt, dust, mud, and taps for the water bowls that require superman to operate. I sent a very long detailed email to the man at our council who is responsible for sorting such things. I'm hoping council can get the contractor and consultant to give their money back or fix it.

Our dogs have great recall, we take them to unfenced dog parks with no drama, though the closest one is over 30mins drive away. This fenced park is the only off leash area in the surrounding suburbs for dogs. Hence being 5 mins walk up the road. Inside the park our dogs come as soon as they are called. So please don't insinuate that I have no control over my dogs and am in the same category as the owner I was referring to.

Any sight hound on the scent of a rabbit, seeing one bound out of the bushes when off leash has the capability to move very quickly before you realise. There are a lot of rabbits in the estate.

Yes we have a new addition who by being able to go into a large fenced area we can check her recall, and she's always sticking close to our dogs and comes straight away.

I agree the solid agility course they've pit in made of concrete tunnels and metal pole jumps is an accident waiting to happen.

Went back up to the park tonight. 3 groups of people there. The cockers were there and two staffies and our guys played ball at one side after introducing themselves. So a lot better experience for our dogs and us.

MnDM