alpha bet Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 so she should take her tiny puppy to a dog park? She should get her "tiny puppy" out and about to socialise with friends and clubs, preferably controlled environments until SHE and her dog have build further experience and then a dog park is just another new experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 so she should take her tiny puppy to a dog park? She should get her "tiny puppy" out and about to socialise with friends and clubs, preferably controlled environments until SHE and her dog have build further experience and then a dog park is just another new experience. yes - but the OP's question was about whether an iggy puppy should go to a dog park for socialisation. The owner seems to think - like many dog owners - that this means playing with lots and lots and lots of dogs. And it doesn't. Hence my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 The puppy is an Italian Greyhound so you can imagine why I think she should steer clear. OMG - can't think of a LESS suitable breed for a dog park. She should steer clear of occupied dog parks FOR LIFE. Small, fragile, fast - likely to inspire prey drive in quite a few dogs and they can snap a leg at home on their own. If she needs further convincing and she bought from a responsible breeder, tell her to ask the breeder what he/she thinks. They'd veto the idea on the spot. I agree with this completely. I would never in a million years take an adult Italian Greyhound to a dog park let alone a puppy. Same. Not a chance in hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 It seems that there's also a difference between "dog parks" and parks that have off-leash areas. I go to the latter, and credit it with helping my formerly very scared and unsocialised Toy Poodle to become a much more well adjusted dog. If I hadn't found this park (which thankfully and coincidentally is where I used to live, and a key reason why I ended up staying and buying in this area!) I might have a different attitude toward them. But the majority of dogs at my park are small, and I now know basically everyone who goes there, plus their dogs. Whenever a new person comes or someone brings a new dog/puppy, they are welcomed with open arms. We thankfully don't get many idiots, and those that have dogs that cause trouble never last long. I have met wonderful people, received and dispensed advice, met wonderful dogs and made friends for life through my park. There are some larger breeds, but by and large the large dogs play together, the small dogs play together, and on most nights there are two groups of people/dogs at opposite ends of the park. It just happens organically, and everybody is looking out for each other. There is another park in my area that seems to attract idiot owners who are largely absent (mentally, if not also physically) when they are there. There tend to be more large breeds there too; the area is bigger, and I know small dog owners who no longer go there for that reason. Horses for courses. So, look - they're not for everybody, or every dog. Nothing is. But I personally am not staying away from mine any time soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 We take our dogs to dog parks, beaches, markets and cafes, whenever possible. The vast majority of the people are terrific and they and their dogs have a great time. We run classes and show people how to handle themselves so they can walk the streets and have fun in the parks - There is a lot to be said for creating the education to make this a positive experience. The more the dog fraternity complain the more rules the councils will end up bringing in to restrict dogs in public places. We should all be trying to help people enjoy their dogs not being so negative. That's great that you like them and haven't had any issues, I wish it was the same for me, but unfortunately it's not. After my experiences, I won't be using them, and I will continue to look at them in a negative light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiesha09 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 so she should take her tiny puppy to a dog park? She should get her "tiny puppy" out and about to socialise with friends and clubs, preferably controlled environments until SHE and her dog have build further experience and then a dog park is just another new experience. The tiny puppy has been out and about alot - more so than nearly all dogs I know - shes goes on walks, the shops, the pub for afternoon drinks (in outside area of course), dinner parties, friends houses etc. But a dog park is alot different to that as it is largely uncontrolled so the potential for things to go wrong is quite high eg injury or bad experience with other dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiesha09 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Yes I think dog parks are vastly different to parks where dogs are allowed off lead. I often go to a large park where dogs are allowed offlead and it's fine. There is alot of space (think racecourse size) so you can easily move yourself away from other dogs). I walk with the dogs around the park and control all interactions with other dogs. They say hello for a minute or two and then we move on. If there is a dog that I don't like it's body languange I don't allow my dogs to approach. Most owners get the picture when you start walking away from them :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Even perfectly "friendly" dogs can do unintentional damage to a pup. Just through there sheer body size difference. Certain breeds have a much rougher play style and can unintentionally do damage even if they don't mean to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Socialisation is not about getting a pup to meet lots of dogs, it is about providing GOOD experiences with SELECT dogs in a CONTROLLED environment. This is not something a dog park can generally offer. In most cases you have no control about the dogs in there, whether they will be a good experience for the pup or how controlled they will be. Basically it is a high risk environment, particularly for a puppy. Add to that the fact that this is an Iggy? NO WAY would I be taking it anywhere near a dog park. Run into or bowled over even by another small dog and you have a VERY high risk of injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiesha09 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Espinay that is absolutely perfectly worded. THank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann21 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Timely discussion for me ask am reevaluating whether I should continue bringing my dog to the local dog run. I watch my dog carefully and take note of other dogs to see whether how they interact with my dog. If I don't like what I see I slap on the leash and take him for a walk around the non off leash part of the park. I would like my dog to be able to run off lead (and here local enclosed dog runs are nearly the only way you can do that), but there are a lot of unsocialised dogs that people bring into the runs. It's not an ideal situation I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Timely discussion for me ask am reevaluating whether I should continue bringing my dog to the local dog run. I watch my dog carefully and take note of other dogs to see whether how they interact with my dog. If I don't like what I see I slap on the leash and take him for a walk around the non off leash part of the park. I would like my dog to be able to run off lead (and here local enclosed dog runs are nearly the only way you can do that), but there are a lot of unsocialised dogs that people bring into the runs. It's not an ideal situation I know. Check the place out at different times during the day and week - you will probably find (as I did) that the good owners and dogs go at a certain time that is different to the ones who allow their dogs to run riot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickasyoucan Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 We go to the dog park every weekday but at 6 am only the same small group of people there and everyone knows everyone else. I would never go at weekends when the once a week walkers are out sometimes I drive past on a Sunday arvo and it is mayhem. You might also want to tell your friend about the greyhound in full prey drive after a small fluffy who broke his run careening into my solid boy and whose own harness skinned all that delicate skin off at the ribs. Fragile dogs and dog parks are a risky mix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 One of my grooming clients lost her darling little Papillon to a dog park accident, they were there on their own didn't see people enter the park with a young Lab, who in turn didn't see the Pap owner and her dog because the owner was sitting on the grass. Lab bumped the Pap at speed and broke its neck. Both parties were devastated, Yes I am sure it could have been prevented, but accidents happen and it is too late afterwards to say what if or but Owning a very strong and extremely playful Lab myself I can see exactly how it happened, just a tragic accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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