He Just Wants To Say Hi

[RallyValley]

I told off a guy the other day, I had my 10kg Brittany puppy on leash and his enormously fat lab (never seen one as fat) waddled over and started humping her! I shouted out "Sir can you come get your dog?" to get "Oh he's being friendly" to which i replied "Oh well my dog is tiny and she's getting crushed!"

Even after he came over and got the dog he was making excuses...

[Nic.B]

It was such subtle body language in many ways though so meaningful and worthwhile. I love watching dogs interact and teach.

This is why I love dog parks. So much goes on in them that is below the notice of most people, but it's really interesting when you start watching. Kivi has left me picking my jaw up off the ground several times because he handles tense social situations in quite complex ways with such success sometimes. I learn a lot from him.

Do you ever find it stressful? I know I do, seeing all this underlying talk going on between the dogs and the owners are oblivious. My partners German Shepherd Ricky was for example, becoming extremely stressed by another GSD who was being very rude and pushy, it was like this other dog was trying to push ricky into a confrontation.(Putting his head over his shoulder, growling, getting right into his body space).

I could see in the way Rickys face was tense, ears back, hackles going up, tail curling, lip curling a little that it was a matter of moment before he snapped at the dog out of most likely fear. I intervened, blocking the other dog from Ricky with my body and then moving Rickys attention to his frisbee and getting him away from the other dog. This all happened in a matter of moments of course.

My partner had no clue, and the owner of the other GSD told me off because I should "Let them sort themselves out"

I dont visit dog parks Lovemesideways.

I agree there is a lot of 'talk' between unknown dogs, Some of it damaging and I would find it stressful to navigate with unknown dogs and my own dogs running together. Dog owners (when introducing) need great communication skills, and a high level of common sense also great experience. My own dogs are bomb proof in many respects with unknown people and dogs. We have had hundreds of dogs through here, you need to know what you are doing though and that is probably the difference IMO. I would not trust people I dont know or have no faith in.

[corvus]

This is why I love dog parks. So much goes on in them that is below the notice of most people, but it's really interesting when you start watching. Kivi has left me picking my jaw up off the ground several times because he handles tense social situations in quite complex ways with such success sometimes. I learn a lot from him.

Do you ever find it stressful?

Short answer, not really, or I wouldn't love them! I rarely feel like I'm helpless. We have halt and exit strategies and the boys are quite responsive if we need to call them away. I don't sit around and watch a scene play out if I think it's going to have a less then stellar ending. If one of my dogs is uncomfortable I usually use it as a training opportunity to prompt them how they can handle this. R- is a very powerful tool. I think it's worth taking a small risk to take advantage of it.

The more time I spend in dog parks the less stressful they are. Fewer surprises. I like playing prediction games. It helps that my dogs are good at staying out of trouble and read other dogs well.

[Trisven13]

It was such subtle body language in many ways though so meaningful and worthwhile. I love watching dogs interact and teach.

This is why I love dog parks. So much goes on in them that is below the notice of most people, but it's really interesting when you start watching. Kivi has left me picking my jaw up off the ground several times because he handles tense social situations in quite complex ways with such success sometimes. I learn a lot from him.

Do you ever find it stressful? I know I do, seeing all this underlying talk going on between the dogs and the owners are oblivious. My partners German Shepherd Ricky was for example, becoming extremely stressed by another GSD who was being very rude and pushy, it was like this other dog was trying to push ricky into a confrontation.(Putting his head over his shoulder, growling, getting right into his body space).

I could see in the way Rickys face was tense, ears back, hackles going up, tail curling, lip curling a little that it was a matter of moment before he snapped at the dog out of most likely fear. I intervened, blocking the other dog from Ricky with my body and then moving Rickys attention to his frisbee and getting him away from the other dog. This all happened in a matter of moments of course.

My partner had no clue, and the owner of the other GSD told me off because I should "Let them sort themselves out"

Yes I find it incredibly stressful but not because of my dogs. Its always other people's dogs interacting with other people's dogs that cause me the most stress - my dogs are normally either hanging out with me or far removed from the dogs who are behaving oddly.

I will never forget going to a dog rescue get together at the newest off-lead park. I'm sure Rebanne will remember the GAP Christmas Party we were both at when no-one was supervising the number of greyhounds in the off-lead park. Just before it got a bit narky Rebanne said "Oh my there are too many dogs in there, ? (can't remember her name) is going to be mad that people are ignoring her". Sure enough, minutes (or less) later there was a dispute - thankfully all dogs were muzzled as was required and no-one was hurt - though a few were frightened. I felt the same way at the dog rescue get together - I could SEE that it was going to get ugly, I could SEE which dogs were going to cause it but everyone told me I was imagining it and then it happened. Again thankfully no-one was hurt but it was STRESSFUL. I feel the same whenever I'm somewhere and too many dogs are off-lead without manners - so many dogs are rude and offensive but their owners just don't see it. As a result my dogs are ONLY off lead with dogs I know. ;)

[Rebanne]

Yes I find it incredibly stressful but not because of my dogs. Its always other people's dogs interacting with other people's dogs that cause me the most stress - my dogs are normally either hanging out with me or far removed from the dogs who are behaving oddly.

I will never forget going to a dog rescue get together at the newest off-lead park. I'm sure Rebanne will remember the GAP Christmas Party we were both at when no-one was supervising the number of greyhounds in the off-lead park. Just before it got a bit narky Rebanne said "Oh my there are too many dogs in there, ? (can't remember her name) is going to be mad that people are ignoring her". Sure enough, minutes (or less) later there was a dispute - thankfully all dogs were muzzled as was required and no-one was hurt - though a few were frightened. I felt the same way at the dog rescue get together - I could SEE that it was going to get ugly, I could SEE which dogs were going to cause it but everyone told me I was imagining it and then it happened. Again thankfully no-one was hurt but it was STRESSFUL. I feel the same whenever I'm somewhere and too many dogs are off-lead without manners - so many dogs are rude and offensive but their owners just don't see it. As a result my dogs are ONLY off lead with dogs I know. ;)

yes remember it well, the dogs packed up, as dogs are inclined to do and it was on, all after the one dog who was damn near scared to death and none of the owners could see it, none of them reacted, they all thought the dogs were having a great game of chasey and they were standing right there! They had no idea, even the owner of the one they wanted to kill. Thank God for muzzles or there would have been at least one dead dog.

[anniek]

yes remember it well, the dogs packed up, as dogs are inclined to do and it was on, all after the one dog who was damn near scared to death and none of the owners could see it, none of them reacted, they all thought the dogs were having a great game of chasey and they were standing right there! They had no idea, even the owner of the one they wanted to kill. Thank God for muzzles or there would have been at least one dead dog.

We were there that day too - as you said it was a disaster waiting to happen and so very scarey to "hear"

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I was just sent this after telling someone about this article. Sort of sums it up!!

[happypaws]

Great article thanks for sharing